Optimization Strategies for Algorithm Problem Practice | Generated by AI
Question: For algorithm problem practice, should we finish one problem at a time, work on 2–3 problems simultaneously, or skip a problem and move to another one?
Answer:
The best approach depends on your current level, but here are the most common successful patterns observed among competitive programmers, interviewees, and people who improved fastest:
Recommended strategies by experience level
Beginner / Early-intermediate (rating < ~1600–1800 on LeetCode / < ~1400 on Codeforces)
→ One problem at a time + very strong finish policy
- Pick one problem
- Spend 20–45 min thinking completely alone (no hints, no editor open yet)
- If still stuck → read editorial / solution carefully
- Implement it yourself without copy-paste
- Write clean code + add your own comments explaining why each step is needed
- If you still don’t fully understand → find 1–2 more problems of the exact same pattern and solve them immediately
→ Do not open 3 problems at once at this stage — you will learn shallowly and forget quickly.
Mid-level (roughly 1600–2100 LeetCode / 1400–1900 Codeforces)
→ 1 + 1–2 in the background (the most popular productive style)
Typical daily rhythm:
- Pick the main problem of the day (usually a new / slightly hard one)
→ aim to solve + fully understand + clean code - While thinking / waiting for ideas / stuck → open 1–2 easier / medium problems of the same topic or recent contest problems
→ solve them quickly as “active rest” - Come back to the main problem with fresh eyes
This way you get depth on one topic + volume on related problems.
Advanced / very time-constrained people (interview prep, high-rated coders)
→ Parallel + aggressive skip policy
Common workflows:
- Have 3–5 problems open at the same time
- Spend only 20–40 minutes on a hard problem → if no promising idea → skip / park it
- Come back 1–7 days later — very often it becomes much easier
- Goal is high volume of solved problems + repeated exposure to the hardest ideas
- Many top performers solve 800–1500+ medium/hard problems → impossible without skipping liberally
Quick decision table
| Situation | Recommended action | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| First 6–12 months of serious practice | One problem → finish or full editorial | Build deep understanding, avoid confusion |
| Preparing for interviews (3–8 months) | 1 main + 1–2 easier in parallel | Balance depth and volume |
| Stuck > 30–45 min, no idea | Read editorial / discuss / park it | Avoid frustration, keep momentum |
| Very short time left (1–2 months) | Solve + understand ≥ skip | Coverage matters more than perfection |
| Seeing the same pattern repeatedly | Do 3–5 problems of that pattern in a row | Pattern recognition becomes automatic |
Most common mistake
Opening 4–6 problems at once → reading solution for all of them → feeling “I solved 6 problems today” → actually remembering almost nothing a week later.
Bottom line (2025–2026 meta)
- Beginners → mostly one at a time + deep understanding
- Intermediate → 1 deep + 1–2 satellite problems
- Interview crunch / advanced → parallel + skip aggressively
Choose the style that keeps you motivated and moving forward without getting stuck for days — that is usually the correct one for you right now.
References:
- None (based on common competitive programming and interview preparation patterns)