As many top rated programmers have said : Practice, Practice, Practice. I have been practicing since 1 year, I started with problem difficulty level around 1100 and solving around 60-70 problems of all levels till 1700. Now I am stuck at 1800. It takes me around 2 hours to solve 1 problem of this level(If I can't then after reading tutorial). I think this way learning is very slow.
Does someone have any alternate approach to improve the speed.
At first I misunderstood you had done 60-70 problems total, but I realized you meant for each level. I think you are looking at too many easy problems, and you should start looking towards more harder problems >= 2000 level, as it is those that will introduce you to more new concepts, and you should probably read editorial sooner unless you're having ideas that whole time.
2000+ problems for someone who's rated just above grey? IMHO that's absurd; for someone who is supposedly able to solve problems in practice but not able to do so in contests, solving even harder problem much higher in level makes no sense.
Well I prefer to do problems far above my level, even if I need editorial nearly every time, and this is how I always practiced. I think you need to do some problems on your level and some above, but looking above your level will teach you to see new techniques and if you look at people's code better coding styles, while on your level it will only reinforce stuff you already know, and should be done in a timed setting to simulate contests. It is just very important in any case you truly understand problem when you're done, and not just copy editorial, as you will surely learn something then.
It seems strange to me that with the quantity and difficulty of the problems that you've solved you are not at least stable specialist which is more or less solve DIV2 A, DIV2 B fast. It might be possible that you are just getting AC with the editorials and not understanding the ideas of the problems? Just guessing, I can't know.
I think your method of learning is incorrect practice problems +100/+200 of your level.So i think first if you did (60-70) question at 1500 rating then your current rating should justify that.I think you are getting AC by editorial and all otherwise if you have practiced so many questions at (1500-1700) level your performance in contest should be better that what is now. BTW i am working on same method (60-70) good questions of +100/200(current rating). Happy coding:)
Hit up venkat_46 he's a great teacher and an exceptionally good motivator!
If you don't care much about rating try this approach: in each context start with solving problem C, and don't go back to A & B till you solve C or keep trying solving it, you will probably loose rating at first but eventually will be able to solve it. it's a good way to get out of your comfort zone.