Hey, Codeforces community!

After years of competitive programming, including participation in international junior olympiads, I recently crossed the 1400 rating mark on Codeforces. For someone who’s been in the game for six years, this might sound like a modest achievement, but this milestone reflects the unique challenges that I’ve faced along the way. In this post, I’d like to share some thoughts, a few hard-earned lessons, and advice for those who, like me, have significant experience but find themselves struggling to break through certain plateaus.

The Struggle: Stagnation Despite Experience

With a background in competitive programming that goes back several years, and having worked on problems for an average of three hours a day, I used to wonder why my rating wasn't higher. It’s easy to assume that years of experience should naturally translate to rapid progression, but in reality, this experience can sometimes work against you. Here are a few insights I’ve gathered:

• Over-reliance on Old Methods: After competing in various contests and solving hundreds of problems, I noticed that I had a tendency to rely on familiar approaches, even when they weren’t optimal. While it's tempting to fall back on what you know works, competitive programming often requires thinking outside the box and exploring new techniques.

• Plateauing at the Intermediate Level: Breaking into 1400 isn’t about solving more problems, but rather solving the right problems. For a while, I was stuck solving problems at or below my comfort zone (~1200-1300 level). This gave me a false sense of progress but wasn’t pushing me toward improvement.

The Path to Progress: Structured Learning and Problem Selection

To push past this plateau, I had to re-evaluate how I approached my training. Here are a few adjustments I made that significantly helped me improve:

1. Diverse Problem Solving

• Challenge yourself with higher-rated problems: I started dedicating more time to solving problems in the 1400-1600 range, even if it meant taking longer to understand them. These problems forced me to step out of my comfort zone and encounter new patterns.
• Mix problem types: It’s easy to get stuck in a groove with certain problem types (e.g., greedy, graphs). I made a conscious effort to diversify the types of problems I tackled—such as geometry, combinatorics, and non-classical DP problems. This variety sharpened my problem-solving skills across the board.

2. In-depth Focus on Weak Areas

• Algorithmic precision: Despite years of experience, I found myself overlooking certain classic algorithms or applying them inefficiently. I revisited some core algorithms with the goal of improving my understanding of the nuances. For example, exploring advanced uses of segment trees or nuanced graph algorithms like Dijkstra’s with priority queues made a big difference.
• Mastering non-intuitive concepts: Some concepts, like dynamic programming (DP) optimizations or advanced combinatorial problems, always seemed daunting. But investing time in mastering these “gaps” was essential to unlocking higher-level problem-solving techniques.

3. Effective Contest Strategy

• Time Management: Contest strategy became crucial. Early on, I focused too much on solving problems quickly rather than accurately. Now, I focus on getting the first two problems right before moving on. For tougher problems, I prioritize breaking them down logically and make sure I’m not bogged down by low-value attempts.
• Strategic skipping: Another key improvement was the ability to strategically skip problems when I hit a wall. I used to lose time stubbornly sticking with unsolved problems. Now, if I’m not making headway within a reasonable time, I move on and revisit later.

What Really Mattered: Reflection and Efficient Training

With experience comes the danger of complacency. For a long time, I was solving problems just to solve them, without reflecting on my performance or pushing myself beyond my usual tactics. To push past 1400, here’s what made the real difference:

1. Analyzing My Weaknesses

• After each contest or practice session, I carefully reviewed the problems I struggled with. Instead of just reading editorials, I spent time recreating the solutions from scratch to deeply understand the thought process.
• I also started comparing my performance with top solvers to see where I was falling short. This gave me insight into how quickly I needed to solve early problems and how efficiently others managed the harder ones.

2. Implementing Timed Practice

• One thing I incorporated into my routine was timed problem-solving. I found that recreating contest conditions in my practice sessions helped me adjust to the pressure and speed needed for real contests. For instance, I’d give myself 90 minutes to work through a set of problems instead of spending an indefinite amount of time on each one.

3. Reframing Success

• I learned to stop fixating on rating jumps after each contest. Instead, I started focusing on my long-term improvement. Some contests would boost my rating, others would knock it back down, but what mattered most was my overall trend of improvement over months.

Advice for Fellow Experienced Coders

If you’ve been in competitive programming for a while and feel like you should be performing better, here’s my advice:

• Avoid auto-piloting through practice: Just solving problems isn’t enough. You need to engage critically with each one, understanding the problem fully and reviewing alternative approaches.

• Break old habits: After several years, it's easy to fall into patterns that limit your growth. If you’ve been working a certain way without results, shake things up. Try a new training method, explore new problem types, or study an unfamiliar algorithm.

• Learn from the community: Even after all this time, I learned so much by diving into the solutions of top coders on Codeforces. Analyzing their code gave me insight into better techniques and more efficient implementations.

Final Thoughts

Reaching 1400 wasn’t an overnight success, and it shouldn’t be for anyone. It’s about consistent, mindful effort—leveraging your experience while also being willing to adapt and improve. My next goal is to push toward 1600 and beyond, but I’m approaching it with patience and a focus on continuous learning.

If you’ve been at this for a while and are feeling stuck, don’t be discouraged. The grind is part of the process, and with the right mindset and strategy, you’ll break through those plateaus.

Good luck to everyone in their journey. Keep improving!

TL;DR:
- Years of experience doesn’t automatically translate to higher ratings—don’t rely too much on old methods. - Focus on diverse, higher-rated problems to challenge yourself. - Implement contest-like timed practice sessions. - Reflect on each contest and pinpoint your weaknesses to continue improving.

Happy coding!