prateek_jhunjhunwala's blog

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

By prateek_jhunjhunwala, 9 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.

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Comments Comments (19)
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9 years ago, # |
  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)

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    9 years ago, # ^ |
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    Thanks for the link. And any idea how can I make this blog visible on the home page of codeforces so that more people could view it?

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9 years ago, # |
  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.

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    9 years ago, # ^ |
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    What's up with your avatar? When I click on your profile my brain starts melting :)

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      9 years ago, # ^ |
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      No idea.. Been like that since I uploaded it, something messed up with Codeforces I guess...

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9 years ago, # |
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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.

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9 years ago, # |
  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.

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9 years ago, # |
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You have to be more patient.You become an expert quickly think you have everything in front.Sorry for my bad english

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9 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +6 Vote: I do not like it

If you are stuck, What do you call this?

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    9 years ago, # ^ |
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    He writes on Paskal, it is difficult

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      9 years ago, # ^ |
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      I did not write that comment to say that ruban is not a good coder, I'm just showing an example of what getting stuck looks like

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      9 years ago, # ^ |
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      He's a senior man who did not have such training in childhood.

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        9 years ago, # ^ |
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        Maybe. I think if someone take a part in fees it really will move his level in ACM :)

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    5 years ago, # ^ |
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    Who’s he?

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9 years ago, # |
  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".

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    9 years ago, # ^ |
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    Initially I sorted DP problems by tags, then solved problem on 1st page. These had submissions >=1000. Then I found this link A2OJ.COM and have been practicing Div2 D problems from there. Is this a good way?

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      9 years ago, # ^ |
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      Is this a good way?

      If you learn something from the problems you solve, then yes, otherwise no. By "learn something" I mean: "learn something that helps you solve other problems".

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9 years ago, # |
← 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.

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