Common pitfalls include misunderstanding problem statements, ignoring edge cases, and inefficient code, which can be avoided through careful planning and testing.

In competitive programming, common pitfalls like misinterpreting problem statements, overlooking edge cases, and writing inefficient code can lead to incorrect answers or time limit exceeded errors. To avoid these issues, carefully reading and analyzing each problem statement is crucial; ensure you understand what the input, constraints, and output should be before diving into coding. Edge cases, such as empty inputs, large numbers, or boundary values, are also essential to consider as they often lead to unexpected results if overlooked. Planning your approach before coding, and breaking down complex problems into smaller sub-problems, can help you write more structured and efficient solutions. Testing your solution against diverse test cases, including edge cases, validates your code's correctness. Avoiding these common pitfalls through structured planning and testing improves reliability and performance, enhancing your success rate in competitive programming.