Hello everyone, I finally reached specialist after 34 contests! I just wanted to write this quick blog to motivate others and inform newbies/pupils some tips (probably most of which are unoriginal). There were a few contests that I almost made specialist, but it just so happens I made it in a div4 contest.↵
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Here is a list of topics that I believe are helpful:↵
↵
<spoiler summary="Topics">↵
- Binary Search↵
- Prefix Sums↵
- General Number Theory: Prime factorization, GCD, and Modular arithmetic↵
- DFS and BFS↵
- Bitwise Operators↵
- Basic DP↵
</spoiler>↵
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Once you are familiar with a topic, maybe do a practice problem related to that topic and continue solving random problems (within a reasonable rating range). I suggest spending at least 45 minutes on a problem, and if you cannot solve it, either read the editorial (I save this for somewhat easier problems) or look at it next week.↵
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I also want to share a list of problems I enjoyed and recommend solving:↵
↵
<spoiler summary="Problems">↵
- [problem:1948C]↵
- [problem:1937C]↵
- [problem:1913C]↵
- [problem:1881D]↵
- [problem:1882C]↵
- [problem:1904C]↵
- [problem:1918C]↵
</spoiler>↵
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Personally, I do not have a strict schedule for practicing CP, but I try to log on at least once every two days. I will continue to study theory and practice plenty of problems.↵
↵
Big thanks to [user:MikeMirzayanov,2024-03-29] for Codeforces and [user:BigBadBully,2024-03-29] because why not.
↵
Here is a list of topics that I believe are helpful:↵
↵
<spoiler summary="Topics">↵
- Binary Search↵
- Prefix Sums↵
- General Number Theory: Prime factorization, GCD, and Modular arithmetic↵
- DFS and BFS↵
- Bitwise Operators↵
- Basic DP↵
</spoiler>↵
↵
Once you are familiar with a topic, maybe do a practice problem related to that topic and continue solving random problems (within a reasonable rating range). I suggest spending at least 45 minutes on a problem, and if you cannot solve it, either read the editorial (I save this for somewhat easier problems) or look at it next week.↵
↵
I also want to share a list of problems I enjoyed and recommend solving:↵
↵
<spoiler summary="Problems">↵
- [problem:1948C]↵
- [problem:1937C]↵
- [problem:1913C]↵
- [problem:1881D]↵
- [problem:1882C]↵
- [problem:1904C]↵
- [problem:1918C]↵
</spoiler>↵
↵
Personally, I do not have a strict schedule for practicing CP, but I try to log on at least once every two days. I will continue to study theory and practice plenty of problems.↵
↵
Big thanks to [user:MikeMirzayanov,2024-03-29] for Codeforces and [user:BigBadBully,2024-03-29] because why not.
