I’ve been doing Codeforces for a while now, and my current max rating is 1101. But lately, I feel completely stuck — I’m not improving, no matter how many contests I join.
I usually solve Div. 2 A and sometimes B, but after that, I freeze or make silly mistakes. I watch editorials, upsolve a few problems, and still don’t see much growth.
I know reaching Expert (1600+) takes consistency and smart practice — but right now, I just want to reach Pupil (1200) properly and build momentum.
Can anyone please suggest:
--How to practice efficiently between contests?
--What kind of problems (tags/difficulty) should I focus on?
--How to handle pressure and avoid silly mistakes in contests?
-- Any good routine or strategy that worked for you personally?
https://mirror.codeforces.com/blog/entry/118882
https://mirror.codeforces.com/blog/entry/141116
thanks man
Up solve A/B of all contest from 1000 to 1060(whatever the recent one is). Problem practice is the key.
Sometimes I struggle with 900–1000 rated problems — I can come up with the logic, but I have trouble implementing it efficiently in code
if u want to become pupil then do 1200 rated problems in practise and just solve problems consistently itis not so hard to become pupil
i understood man thanks
Practice greedy, math, and implementation problems from the range of problem numbers 1000 to 1200 and try to solve div2 A and B as fast as possible.
Thanks bro ..but sometimes i faced difficulties on 900 and 1000 rated problem is it okay for now..?
which type of problems are u facing difficulties on?
sometimes 900
Than start with 900 to 1200 for above topics. Once u can do 20-30 qus without any help/hint increase the difficulty level
thanks one last thing Sometimes I do this — I try solving recent problems rated 900–1200, but I often find them quite tough. When that happens, I sort them by popularity in ascending order and solve the ones that have been attempted more times; those usually feel easier. However, I struggle with the harder ones. What should I do — should I always stick to recent problems, or continue with my current approach?
don;t sort problems. If u can't solve some qus than leave it and try other, than go back to same qus after 10-20 days so that u don;t remeber the solution if u had seen and try again.
okhe thanks man
u can try solving cp sheet 800-1000 rated problems they are the best for practise https://www.tle-eliminators.com/cp-sheet
okhe man thanks
Do practice on Atcoder Beginner contests.
You can look A,B,C,D,E and sometimes F.
If you cannot solve ,use Editorial ,but you need to understand it fully.
I do that 40 days and become blue :)
is practicing only on AtCoder enough, or should I also upsolve problems on Codeforces? And which problem tags are must-try for improvement?
I make Codeforces some time but it does not help many, but when I start to make AtCoder ,I had good improvements on Codeforces. There are problems on new themes, algorithms (sorry for my English).So I think yes.
thanks man and suggest me what should i need to learn for now ..i only know stl...is this time to learn anything new..?
Bin-Search Greedy Dynamic Programming Strings Math(really important)
or anything else ..?
thanks, for your information. i also think to do this. i stuck in 1100 can't go forward. last few days i solve some problem in atcoder(c,d) . then i notice my improve and thinking about codeforces div2(a,b) like easier for me. I think , i need to go forward e and f also. (sorry for bad english)
https://www.tle-eliminators.com/cp-sheet Try this out, this might help. Also give more virtual contests of all previous ones,solving til C problem, that may help you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMcxQ3IY-qc&list=PLauivoElc3ggagradg8MfOZreCMmXMmJ-
This has really good topics covered, follow this playlist.
Thank you..I think the links you shared will really help me.
I suggest doing problems higher than your target (~1300) and refrain from looking at editorial or topics until you tried everything.
Its gonna be really challenging and slow but I firmly believe slow grind on harder problems is the way to go. All the best!
thank you bro one thing I try solving recent problems rated 900–1200, but I often find them quite tough. When that happens, I sort them by popularity in ascending order and solve the ones that have been attempted more times; those usually feel easier. However, I struggle with the harder ones. What should I do — should I always stick to recent problems, or continue with my current approach?
There's a natural rating inflation over the years as resources get better, but also from cheaters artificially pushing up the ratings. I don't know if recent/popular is better, but the idea is just do harder problems, it doesn't have to be an exact rating. Just keep in mind a 1400 from a few years ago might be 1200 or 1300 now.
But seriously, don't shun from harder problems. You have solved many easy problem so I think your foundation is set. Now you need to be a little delusional and just pretend you can solve 1500s. Even if a lower rated problem stumps you sometimes, don't let it get to your head that you're stuck at that level.
I understood clearly..thanks
sn
..
To be very honest practice and just learn all the basic algo and try to solve problem which is quite out of your range like 1300-1400 rating problems..
Okhee bro..
You can vp educational round first. I have done almost 40 of them, and it has actually helped a lot. Try the very early rounds first, most of the problems are not very diffcult.
thanks
trying atcoder problems might be a good way to practice
try to solve A-D in each ABC, you will see some common tricks that will help you a lot
for codeforces, these problems around *1200 usually is just about to "think for a while"
when you have learned some tricks or algorithms, gained a deeper understanding of programming, or just grown up, you will naturally learn it... if you can't solve it during the contest, leave it to tomorrow is ok
thanks man your explaination is good
To advance above 1100 you gotta be able to sometimes solve problems of rating 1200-1300, often solve 1000-1100, and solve 800-900 nearly every time (rough guess but it's around that).
Based on data provided by the CF Analytics chrome extension (I recommend you install this one), you solved:
197 800s, 90 900s, 44 1000s, 16 1100s, 21 1200s. The numbers decline VERY quickly with increase of difficulty.
Based on that information, you definetly need to solve problems of higher difficulty. As you said, you usually solve div2A implying you are good at solving 800-900 rated problems, which is quite expected from the data above. div2B's fall around 1000-1400 in difficulty, you solved less of these, and so you struggle.
If you solve more difficult problems you'll see rating gain. You don't look like the kind that lacks discipline so I think you'll reach pupil after switching your focus to higher rated problems. Best of luck on your journey!
thanks for your kind words