Introduction

Hey Codeforces community,

I’m currently rated 1150~1200 and I dedicate 6–7 hours daily to competitive programming. I solve problems rating-wise, aiming for ≥50 problems per rating tier, and I participate in virtual contests regularly.

I have 1.5 years before graduation, and I don’t want to waste a single day. I want to reach Expert (~1700–1800) efficiently, and I want to know how far behind I am compared to others who already did it.

I’d love to hear from those who have grinded to Expert, Candidate Master, or higher:

My Current Stats Parameter Value Current Rating 1150~1200 Daily Practice 6–7 hours Problems per Rating Tier ~50 Questions for the Community

When you were grinding from ~1200–1300 to Expert/CM, how many hours per day did you code?

Approximately, how many problems per rating tier did you solve?

Did you focus mostly on rating-wise, topic-wise, or contests?

How long did it take you to go from ~1200–1300 → Expert (~1700–1800)?

What advice would you give someone with 1 years to push hard to reach Expert?

Are there any shortcuts or high-leverage strategies you used to accelerate your grind?

I usually aim for 5-6 effective problems/day, focusing on medium → hard problems, and carefully analyzing mistakes.

I want to quantify the gap between myself and those who have already reached Expert. I want to know how many hours, how many problems, and what strategies are realistic so I can plan the next 1-1.5 years perfectly.