To improve problem-solving speed, practice regularly, focus on recognizing patterns, and learn how to quickly break down problems. Efficient time management is key during contests.

Improving your problem-solving speed in competitive programming contests is all about practice and experience. The more problems you solve, the faster you'll become at recognizing common patterns and choosing the right approach. One of the most important skills in competitive programming is the ability to quickly break down a problem into smaller components. Start by identifying the type of problem—whether it's a dynamic programming, graph, or greedy algorithm problem—and then look for any patterns that resemble problems you've solved before. Time management is also crucial during contests. You need to be able to decide quickly whether a problem is worth attempting based on your familiarity with the topic and its difficulty. If a problem seems too difficult, it's often better to skip it and move on to something else rather than wasting time. Another important factor is being comfortable with your coding environment and knowing how to implement standard algorithms efficiently. Memorizing common algorithm templates, such as Dijkstra's algorithm or binary search, can save you a lot of time during contests. Finally, practice solving problems under time pressure, such as participating in mock contests or timed practice sessions, to simulate the conditions of a real contest.