_go_to_hell's blog

How to start solving 1600 rated problems?
By _go_to_hell, history, 13 days ago, In English

I want to start solving 1600 rated problems. How should I start & what should be the strategy? How much time I should give to one problem before seeing editorial?

  • Vote: I like it
  • -9
  • Vote: I do not like it

»
13 days ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

I am also interested in knowing strategy of people who practice regularly, please comment, commenting to better reach.

→ Reply
»
13 days ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Start from most solved 1600 rated problems

→ Reply
»
13 days ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +16 Vote: I do not like it

Just start.

And if you get stuck, see the editorial. If you still don't get it, you aren't probably ready for solving them, try easier and less rated ones first.

→ Reply
»
13 days ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +14 Vote: I do not like it

I think you should almost never read editorials of problems you failed to solve. If you can't solve a problem for an entire day just give up, maybe try again after a month.

If you fail 3 times on the same problem maybe it's too hard and you should consider solving lower rated problems, or maybe you need to learn some theory. only if you are almost sure thats the case should you read the editorial (and then some tutorial on that topic, solve a few problems on that topic, etc)

On the other hand, you should ALWAYS read (and really reflect on) editorials of problems that you succesfully solved, in order to learn how to think of simpler ideas and so on. Also compare your solution with some LGMs to learn simpler ideas and implementation tricks.

But that's just my opinion. There is no consensus on this topic as far as I can tell.

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    12 days ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    In my experience, returning to a problem after a day or 2 is enough. By returning 4-5 times to the same problem in a span of several days, I am able to solve problems that are way above my level

    → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      12 days ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

      That's fair. I personally prefer to move on to a different problem that I might be able to solve within a day and only retry after I've kinda forgotten about a problem

      → Reply
»
12 days ago, # |
← Rev. 4   Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

No magic strategy , it's same as practicing $$$\le1500R$$$ problems , just start

→ Reply