Hi Codeforces! I'm Ahnaf, a beginner in competitive programming aiming to reach pupil within the next month. I’ve been solving about 5 problems daily, mainly 800–900 rated, by filtering recent problems by rating.

My current routine is: think about the problem for 30 minutes, then read the editorial if I get stuck, and finally implement it on my own. I use C++ and feel a bit comfortable with basic STL like vector, map, set, sort(), and unique().

I’d love feedback on whether this is a solid strategy to improve. Should I keep this approach? Also, what beginner-level topics should I focus on next to solve more problems and improve faster?

So far, I’ve practiced basic C++, math, brute-force, and implementation problems. Any suggestions, topic lists, or schedules from experienced folks would really help!

Thanks in advance! — Ahnaf