prateek_jhunjhunwala's blog

My rating has stuck around 1620. How do I improve from here on?

By prateek_jhunjhunwala, 11 years ago, In English

I started codeforces 5-6 months ago. Since then I am a regular here and I have done 13 contests till now but now I get a feeling that my rating has got stuck in this range of 1550-1630. I have basic knowledge of algorithms like dynamic programming (to some extent) and graph algorithms. But only sometimes I am able to solve Div2 C and almost never Div2 D and Div2 E. Any advice on how should I practice to improve form here? I tried to solve dp problems in problemset in descending order of number of submissions. Now I have done page 1. Should I continue to page 2 or should I solve other types of problems now like bitmasking, max flows? And also, will this kind of practice actually help me at all?

Thanks for any help.

  • Vote: I like it
  • +19
  • Vote: I do not like it

Comments Comments (19)
| Write comment?
»
11 years ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +2 Vote: I do not like it

Try to solve div.2 D problems from a2oj ladders(like I've done)

→ Reply
»
11 years ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +8 Vote: I do not like it

Make sure you always do a follow up on a contest, learning from your mistakes. If you finish a contest with 2 solved problems and got stuck on C, then read the editorial and solve C. If some of your solutions got WA or TLE, fix them.

→ Reply
»
11 years ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +20 Vote: I do not like it

So... You have been on blue for 4 contests, I wouldn't call that "being stuck". There have been so many blogs about "how to practise". You can search for them. You must solve problems that are hard for you. And solve different types of problems.

→ Reply
»
11 years ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +16 Vote: I do not like it

I do not understand why so many people are so obsessed with ratings.

One thing I learnt from high rated coders in my school is that they never worry about ratings. They think about learning new things and solving problems they cannot solve. They even go and solve an old sum they solved in better way.

If people like Haghani was worried about rating, he would have stopped participating for sometime after becoming international gm , if he had fear of low rating or vice versa.

→ Reply
»
11 years ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

You have to be more patient.You become an expert quickly think you have everything in front.Sorry for my bad english

→ Reply
»
11 years ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +6 Vote: I do not like it

If you are stuck, What do you call this?

→ Reply
»
11 years ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it -9 Vote: I do not like it

Understanding the reason, because of which you can't solve D and E, is the key to your skill improvement. Moreover, I'd give you a simple advice: don't do anything unless you exactly understand, for what purpose you do it.

Bad example: you solve DP problems to learn dynamic programming.

Good example: you want to increase your rating, but there are a lot of DP problems in contests that you can't solve, so you learn about DP in general, about different types of DP and practise by solving problems with tag "DP".

→ Reply
»
11 years ago, hide # |
← Rev. 2  
Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Upsolve the problems after the contest and practice those topics which you feel u r weak at.

→ Reply