How to Level Up Your Competitive Programming Skills

It’s common for competitive programmers to hit a plateau at some point in their journey, especially when tackling challenging problem sets like CSES. Recently, a user expressed their struggles with understanding Online Assessment (OA) questions and managing to solve just 2-3 questions during contests. If you find yourself in a similar situation, you’re not alone, and there are effective strategies you can adopt to improve.

Current Situation

The user mentioned they are currently working on the CSES Problemset but are facing difficulties, particularly with OA questions. In contests, they are able to solve 2-3 problems, which indicates a foundational understanding of competitive programming but also highlights the need for improvement.

Suggestions for Improvement

1. Leverage LeetCode

One of the top suggestions was to do more LeetCode problems. LeetCode is an excellent resource for honing your problem-solving skills, especially for those preparing for job interviews. Here are some tips for maximizing your LeetCode experience:

• Diverse Topics: Focus on a variety of topics (e.g., arrays, strings, dynamic programming) to build a well-rounded skill set.
• Timed Practice: Simulate contest environments by timing your attempts on problems to improve speed and efficiency.
• Review Solutions: After solving a problem (or struggling with one), review the solutions and explanations provided to learn different approaches.

2. Participate in Contests and Upsolve

Joining contests regularly is crucial for improving your competitive programming skills. Here’s how you can make the most of it:

• Upsolve: After each contest, spend time upsolving the problems you couldn’t solve during the contest. This practice encourages learning from mistakes and helps reinforce concepts.
• Analyze Performance: After each contest, analyze your performance. Identify the types of problems you struggled with and focus on those areas in your practice sessions.

3. Explain Problems to Others

Another valuable suggestion was to explain problems to a friend or peer. Teaching someone else is one of the best ways to solidify your understanding. When you articulate your thought process, you reinforce your own knowledge and often discover any gaps in your understanding.

4. Explore Other Competitive Programming Platforms

While CSES and LeetCode are fantastic platforms, diversifying your sources can expose you to different problem styles and techniques. Consider trying other platforms like Codeforces, AtCoder, or HackerRank. Each platform has its unique set of problems and community that can enhance your learning experience.

5. Focus on Medium and Hard Problems

One of the comments recommended not to solve easy problems for now, advocating instead for a focus on medium and hard problems. While this approach can be daunting, it can significantly accelerate your learning curve. Here’s how to implement this strategy:

• Gradual Increase: If you find medium problems too challenging, gradually increase the difficulty. Start with easier medium problems before tackling hard ones.
• Quality Over Quantity: Prioritize understanding and solving fewer, harder problems rather than churning through a large number of easy ones.

6. Prepare for Low-Level Design Questions

As the tech industry evolves, some companies are beginning to ask low-level design questions during interviews. Familiarizing yourself with these concepts can give you an edge. Study system design basics, think about how to break down larger problems, and practice designing systems from scratch.

Conclusion

Improving your competitive programming skills takes time, dedication, and a strategic approach. By leveraging resources like LeetCode, participating in contests, and diversifying your practice, you’ll be well on your way to solving more complex problems and performing better in contests. Remember, every programmer has faced challenges on their journey, so stay persistent and keep pushing your limits.

Good luck on your coding journey, and may there be no recession during your placement! 😂

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