I have been stuck as a Newbie for a long time and don't know how to improve further in competitive programming. Sometimes I feel like quitting because despite putting in effort, I don't see the results I expect. However, there is still an inner spark that keeps pushing me forward and makes me want to continue. I would really appreciate advice from people who were once stuck at the Newbie level but eventually improved. What changes helped you grow in competitive programming? Please help me out... Sorry for my poor English...








Work at USACO Guide, and upsolve nearly all tasks, which you don't able to solve:
In Div-4 try to upsolve first 6 problems.
In Div-3 try to upsolve first 5 problems.
In Div-2 try to upsolve first 3-4 problems.
In Div-1+2 try to upsolve first 3-4 problems.
I know but I am not able to solve them... Sometimes I couldn't grasp the editorial too
I am not at that level to give advice to you now, but
i like your efforts , keep it up
Thanks bro, Good luck for future :)
maybe just focus on greedy,search sort and basic math problems, cuz the starting 2-3 questions are generally of this tag only,so getting a grip on this will help you a lot to increase your rating, try cses problemset (it has standard questions) and read cp handbook .
Congrats for Expert
In greedy problems, sometimes I couldn't derive proof and go by intuition, sometimes it gets accepted, sometimes not... What should I do?
1) Bro, as I see you are solving mostly low rating problems. That doesn't improve your skill. For example you can solve 1000 problems with rating 800, but you won't be possible to solve even 1200. So, the point is trying to solve not 5 800's per day. Try to solve 1 task, that would really buff you. For example, I had task, that I upsolved for 3 days, but it improved me very very much.
2) Try to learn theory. I don't know how about guides on it in india, but in russia you can: 1) Find some youtube lessons on some usefull algorithms (for example "young&&yandex" channel (parallels "C","B'","B") foor the firs time it surely enougth). 2) Find for some websites with it. 3) At least use an AI, why not. Try using it to explain you algorithms, so you would clearly understand them. BUT! do not learn all algorithms in world, most of them are so rare-used, that you would spend many time on something you woldn't even meet in real contests. And again you at least can ask AI for the most needed algorithms to start. So, for now, learn basic algorithms, you would always use. Try to make it good quality and fast-writable in real contests.
3) You just have to love CP and try to improve every day. Not just solving many easy tasks without some "cool ideas". Just solve 1 task that make your brain working hard. Also: watch for others code, read editorials, but it is things that anybody say to you. Personally I reccomend you to watch some Shayan videos on youtube: LINK that are year or more old. Actually, there would be answers on your questions He even has video called "from newbie to expert in 3 months".
Good luck and high rating!
Thanks I'll grind...
Could you give the links to those guides and channels? Thank you so much! ❤️
@Young_and_Yandex youtube. It is on russian. https://wiki.algocode.ru/index.php?title=%D0%A1%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BA_%D0%B2%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%85_%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9 it is on russian, but u can easily translate with ai
I'm in the same boat as you, but I'd still say don't lose hope and keep grinding consistently. And try to do harder problems.
hey so I made myself a goal to get 1200 in month and a half and just been studying essentials 2-3 hours a day and solving problems which were hard, tried to break them down to math problems and then try and solve those math problems, I really recommend the python guide, if you code on python, i didn't really like c++ and might be a pussy but thats what works for me https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/index.html, here is the link, just grind, and do lots of hard problems
You could try to upsolve old Div4s, it works for me.
CSES Problemset — Sorting and Searching section
Solve it entirely, you'll never struggle in Div2 A, B and most Cs
First, stop stressing about rating dude.
practicing problems and learning new approaches and topics is better than writing complaint blog.
https://www.tle-eliminators.com/cp-sheet loving this so far
IDK if I am qualified to give advice, but this is what I'd do if I were u,
do abc's try to full solve them I guess ABC acts as a bridge between concepts and applications and perfect for guys like us to apply concepts and recognize patterns, do cses, maintain a specific journal for hard problems u upsolve, do virtuals a lot of them, every missed cf round, Time ur upsolve, attack the problem with full focus for 40 minutes if u did not get it then see editorial and implement urself, believe in golden rules or something like that, that helps u
Teja-Smart refer his blog for golden rules, I personally believe those things simplify probs massively at even higher ratings. He is Teja Dronadula and has even contest screen casts, where u can see his thought processes how he simplifies things using golden rules.
Um_nik blogs are golden, I am pretty sure u have read some of his, but just make the most of each blog and implement them in solving problems, Wishing you the best
A and B are always trash. Solve problems, which would buff you. Do not try to do abc and same crap. Solve D instead.
I meant atcoder beginner contests
me too
Focus on atcoder and 1300 rated problems!
That would be enough, and if the rating does not increase much then after solveing 30 to 40 problems of 1300 rated, start 1400, you will find breakthrough at some point!