Hi everyone,

I recently started taking competitive programming very seriously. I don’t come from a strong olympiad or elite math background, but I am extremely determined to change my life through focused hard work.

My question is simple but very important to me:

Is it realistically possible to reach Codeforces Grandmaster in 2 to 2.5 years?As I have only 3 years and some months to take preparation for IOI.

I am ready to:

Practice 6–10 hours a day if needed

Follow a strict learning plan

Compete in every contest

Study editorials deeply

Track my weaknesses honestly

But before I fully commit my life to this goal, I want brutally honest feedback from experienced competitive programmers.

What I want to know:

How fast do top improvers usually gain rating?

What kind of background do most GMs have?

How many people actually make it compared to how many try?

What mistakes should I absolutely avoid from day one?

Please don’t sugarcoat the answer. I am here to learn the truth, not just motivation.

Thanks a lot in advance.