🏆 Elite Competitive Programming Roadmap

Target: Orange (2100+) on Codeforces + ICPC/IUPC Victory

🎯 Mission Statement

Transform from current level to Orange (2100+) on Codeforces while building the skills
and team coordination needed to win ICPC and dominate IUPC contests in Bangladesh.
This roadmap integrates systematic skill development, strategic contest participation,
and proven team training methodologies.

Month 1: Advanced Foundations & Contest Speed

Target: Reach stable 1600+ on Codeforces, solve AtCoder ARC C consistently, establish
disciplined practice routine.

What we should do: Build advanced foundations while maintaining high contest
frequency to develop speed and pattern recognition.

Topics:

 Advanced DP: Bitmask DP, Digit DP, Tree DP fundamentals

 Graph Theory: Advanced DFS/BFS, Shortest paths, MST variants

 Number Theory: Extended Euclidean, Modular inverse, Prime factorization

 Advanced Data Structures: Segment Trees, Fenwick Trees, DSU with ranking

 String Algorithms: KMP, Z-algorithm, Rolling hash

Practice Strategies:

 AtCoder: Join every ABC live, solve A-D in <60 min, attempt E problems regularly

 Codeforces: 3 contests/week (2 live + 1 virtual), target solving A-C consistently in

Div2

 CSES: Complete Graph Algorithms and Range Queries sections systematically

  Use AtCoder Problems to filter 1600-2000 difficulty for targeted practice

ICPC Practice Strategies:

 Form potential team, start individual skill assessment

 Practice basic team coordination (problem distribution, communication)

 Begin building team reference notebook with standard algorithms

Weekly Practice:

Week 1:

 2 CF contests (live) + 1 CF virtual + 1 ABC

 Complete CSES Graph Algorithms (10-15 problems)

 Study segment trees from CP-Algorithms

 Solve 5 AtCoder D/E problems (1600-1800 rating)

Week 2:

 2 CF contests + 1 ABC + 1 ARC virtual

 CSES Range Queries practice (8-10 problems)

 Advanced DP practice: bitmask and digit DP (6-8 problems)

 Team meeting: discuss roles and strategy

Week 3:

 2 CF contests + 1 ABC

 String algorithms practice from CSES (8 problems)

 Number theory deep dive: 10 problems from various sources

 First team virtual contest (3 hours, basic ICPC-style problems)

Week 4:

 2 CF contests + 1 ABC + review week

 Upsolve 8-10 hardest missed problems from the month

 Team practice: 5-hour mock contest with ICPC rules

 Update team notebook with tested implementations

Contest Expectations:

 Live Contests: CF Div2 A-C solved within 90 minutes consistently

 Virtual Contests: Complete 4-5 problems in 2-hour sessions

 AtCoder: ABC D solved in <30 minutes, E attempted regularly

Month 2: Intermediate Mastery & Team Building

Target: Approach 1700 rating, solve CF Div2 D occasionally, strong ARC C performance.

What we should do: Master intermediate algorithms while developing team synergy
and communication protocols.

Topics:

 Advanced Graph Algorithms: SCC, Bridges, Articulation points, Bipartite

matching

 Tree Algorithms: LCA (Binary lifting), Centroid decomposition basics, Heavy-light

decomposition

 Flow Algorithms: Maximum flow (Dinic), Min-cost max-flow

 Advanced DP: Interval DP, Matrix exponentiation, DP optimizations

 Geometry: Convex hull, Line intersection, Point-in-polygon

Practice Strategies:

 AtCoder: Target ARC C solves, attempt AGC A/B with editorial study

 Codeforces: Push for D solves in live contests, practice 1800-2000 rated problems

 Team Training: Weekly 5-hour team contests with full ICPC simulation

 Use Codeforces Gym for ICPC-style problem sets

ICPC Practice Strategies:

 Weekly team contests with role rotation (coder/thinker assignments)

 Practice problem prioritization and time management

 Develop team-specific templates and debugging strategies

  Study past ICPC Regional and World Finals problems

Weekly Practice:

Week 1:

 2 CF contests + 1 ABC + 1 ARC

 Flow algorithms study and practice (8 problems)

 Team contest: ICPC Asia Regional mirror (5 hours)

 LCA and tree algorithm practice (10 problems)

Week 2:

 2 CF contests + 1 ABC + geometry focus week

 SCC and bridges practice from CSES and CF

 Advanced DP: interval DP and matrix exponentiation (8 problems)

 Team strategy refinement meeting

Week 3:

 3 CF contests (push contest frequency)

 Centroid decomposition study and basic problems

 Team mock: Past ICPC World Finals problemset

 Individual weakness identification and targeted practice

Week 4:

 2 CF contests + 1 ABC + comprehensive review

 Team contest: IUPC Bangladesh mirror or similar

 Update team notebook with advanced algorithms

 Cross-training: each member learns others' specializations

Contest Expectations:

 Live Contests: CF Div2 D solved in 30% of contests

 Virtual Contests: 5-6 problems in team format within 5 hours

 AtCoder: ARC C solved in 50% of attempts

Month 3: Expert-Level Algorithms & Regional Preparation

Target: Stable 1800+ rating, regular CF Div2 D solves, strong team performance in
regional-level contests.

What we should do: Master expert-level algorithms while intensifying team training for
regional competitions.

Topics:

 Advanced String Algorithms: Suffix arrays, Aho-Corasick, Suffix trees

 Advanced Data Structures: Persistent segment trees, Link-cut trees, Splay trees

 Number Theory: Pollard's rho, Miller-Rabin, Discrete logarithm

 Game Theory: Nim games, Sprague-Grundy theorem, Minimax with alpha-beta

 Advanced Geometry: Delaunay triangulation, Line arrangement

Practice Strategies:

 Codeforces: Target 1900+ problems, participate in Div1 if qualified

 AtCoder: Regular AGC participation with deep editorial analysis

 ICPC Archive: Solve World Finals problems from recent years

 Regional Preparation: Focus on ICPC Asia Regional and IUPC problem styles

ICPC Practice Strategies:

 Bi-weekly 6-hour team marathons with penalty tracking

 Practice team roles: specialist assignments for different problem types

 Stress testing and debugging protocols

 Study team strategies of recent World Finals champions

Weekly Practice:

Week 1:

 2 CF contests + 1 AGC + advanced string algorithms week

  Persistent data structures study and implementation

 Team contest: ICPC World Finals 2023/2024 problems

 Individual rating goals: push above 1750

Week 2:

 3 CF contests + number theory advanced topics

 Game theory practice from various sources

 Team strategy: problem reading and assignment optimization

 Mock IUPC: simulate Bangladesh contest environment

Week 3:

 2 CF contests + 1 AGC + geometry intensive week

 Advanced DP optimizations and exotic variants

 Team contest: Recent Asia Regional problemset

 Cross-validation: team members verify each other's solutions

Week 4:

 Rating push week: 3 CF contests with full focus

 Team championship preparation: 8-hour contest simulation

 Comprehensive algorithm review and notebook updates

 Regional contest registration and logistics

Contest Expectations:

 Live Contests: CF Div2 D solved in 60% of contests, occasional E attempts

 Team Contests: 7-8 problems solved in 5-hour ICPC format

 Individual Rating: Approaching 1900 on Codeforces

Month 4: Mastery Consolidation & Championship Preparation

Target: Breakthrough to 1900+ rating, compete in CF Div1, dominant team

performance.
What we should do: Consolidate all learned algorithms while maximizing contest
performance and team coordination.

Topics:

 Contest Mathematics: Generating functions, Linear algebra, Probability theory

 Optimization Techniques: Ternary search, Simulated annealing, Genetic

algorithms

 Advanced Graph Theory: Vertex connectivity, Edge connectivity, Gomory-Hu

trees

 Computational Geometry: Voronoi diagrams, Closest pair, 3D geometry

 Exotic Data Structures: K-D trees, Treaps, Scapegoat trees

Practice Strategies:

 High-Intensity Contests: 4 contests/week with aggressive upsolving

 Problem Diversity: Mix of CF, AtCoder, TopCoder, and ICPC archives

 Speed Training: Solve A-C level problems in batches for speed

 Team Optimization: Perfect role assignment and communication protocols

ICPC Practice Strategies:

 Weekly championship-level team contests (8+ problems target)

 Practice specific ICPC/IUPC contest environments

 Team psychology and pressure management training

 Final notebook optimization and memorization

Weekly Practice:

Week 1:

 4 CF contests + 1 AGC + computational geometry focus

 Team championship: Target 9+ problems in 5 hours

 Advanced mathematics for programming contests

 Speed training: 20 easy-medium problems daily

Week 2:

 3 CF contests + 2 team contests + optimization techniques

 Practice contest strategy: when to skip vs. when to persist

 Individual weakness elimination: focus on worst-performing topics

 Team drill: handle contest pressure and time management

Week 3:

 Contest marathon: CF + AtCoder + team contests

 Exotic algorithms study and implementation

 Mock IUPC/ICPC Regional with full rules and environment simulation

 Final team role assignments and strategy confirmation

Week 4:

 Peak performance week: target highest rating gains

 Team championship preparation: multiple long contests

 Complete algorithm mastery verification

 Contest logistics and mental preparation

Contest Expectations:

 Live Contests: CF Div1 C solved occasionally, consistent Div2 D/E

 Team Performance: 9-10 problems in championship-level contests

 Rating Target: Break 2000 on Codeforces (Orange threshold approach)

Month 5: Orange Achievement & Championship Excellence

Target: Achieve Orange (2100+) on Codeforces, dominate IUPC, qualify for ICPC World
Finals.

What we should do: Peak performance optimization while maintaining consistency in

both individual and team competitions.
Topics:

 Master-Level Techniques: Advanced invariants, Proof techniques, Problem

transformation

 Contest Psychology: Mental mathematics, Pattern recognition, Intuition

development

 Algorithm Innovation: Problem-specific optimizations, Custom data structures

 Meta-Strategies: Contest analysis, Problem difficulty estimation, Time allocation

Practice Strategies:

 Rating Push: Aggressive contest participation with strategic approach

 Problem Selection: Focus on 2000+ rated problems with editorial analysis

 Team Mastery: Championship-winning team performance consistency

 Contest Intelligence: Study problem-setter patterns and contest meta

ICPC Practice Strategies:

 Championship-level team contests with World Finals difficulty

 Perfect team coordination under maximum pressure

 Strategy optimization for different contest phases

 Psychological preparation for high-stakes competitions

Weekly Practice:

Week 1:

 Rating breakthrough week: 4+ CF contests with full focus

 Master-level problem practice (2100+ difficulty)

 Team championship contest: World Finals level problems

 Individual algorithm mastery verification

Week 2:

 Maintain rating momentum: consistent high performance

 Team dominance training: target 10+ problems in contests

  IUPC preparation: Bangladesh-specific contest simulation

 Cross-training: master all team members' specializations

Week 3:

 Peak performance maintenance across all contest types

 Team strategy perfection for different problem distributions

 Individual consistency: never drop below expert level

 Championship mindset development and mental training

Week 4:

 Orange rating achievement and consolidation

 Team championship preparation: ready for any contest level

 Contest intelligence: perfect problem selection and time management

 Final preparations for major competitions

Contest Expectations:

 Individual: Stable Orange (2100+) rating on Codeforces

 Team Performance: Championship-winning level (10+ problems consistently)

 Competition Readiness: IUPC victory and ICPC World Finals qualification

capability

Month 6: Championship Victory & Legacy Building

Target: Dominate IUPC Bangladesh, achieve top performance in ICPC, establish

consistent Orange+ rating.

What we should do: Execute championship-winning performance while building

sustainable competitive programming excellence.

Topics:

 Championship Excellence: Perfect execution under pressure, Zero-error

programming
  Advanced Meta-Game: Contest strategy optimization, Problem pattern mastery

 Team Synergy: Flawless coordination, Optimal role distribution

 Sustainable Excellence: Consistent high performance, Long-term skill

maintenance

Practice Strategies:

 Championship Contests: Focus on winning rather than just participating

 Perfect Execution: Zero wrong submissions, optimal time management

 Team Dominance: Consistent championship-level performance

 Legacy Building: Mentor others, contribute to competitive programming

community

ICPC Practice Strategies:

 Championship victory preparation with full team optimization

 Perfect contest execution under maximum pressure scenarios

 Team legacy: build sustainable competitive programming excellence

 Knowledge transfer: prepare for post-graduation team continuity

Weekly Practice:

Weeks 1-4:

 Contest Victory Focus: Win every possible competition

 Rating Maintenance: Stable Orange+ performance

 Team Championship: Dominate IUPC and regional competitions

 Excellence Sustaining: Build long-term competitive programming mastery

Contest Expectations:

 IUPC Victory: Top performance in Bangladesh inter-university contests

 ICPC Excellence: Regional championship and World Finals qualification

 Individual Mastery: Stable 2200+ rating (approaching Red)

 Team Legacy: Establish dominant competitive programming culture

📚 Essential Resources

Core Learning Platforms:

 CP-Algorithms: Complete algorithm reference and implementations

 AtCoder Problems: Systematic practice with difficulty progression

 CSES Problem Set: Structured learning path with handbook

 Codeforces: Primary contest platform and problem archive

 Competitive Programming Handbook: Theoretical foundation

Team Resources:

 KACTL (KTH Algorithm Competition Template Library): Team notebook base

 ICPC Live Archive: Past contest problems and solutions

 Codeforces Gym: Team contest simulation environment

 IUPC Archives: Bangladesh-specific contest preparation

Advanced References:

 TopCoder Algorithm Tutorials: Advanced technique explanations

 E-Maxx English (CP-Algorithms): Comprehensive algorithm coverage

 Art of Problem Solving: Mathematical foundations

 Introduction to Algorithms (CLRS): Theoretical depth

 Competitive Programming 4: Steven Halim's comprehensive guide

🎯 Weekly Contest Schedule Template

Individual Contests (per week):

 Monday: AtCoder Beginner Contest (if available)

 Tuesday: Codeforces Round (Div2 or Educational)

  Wednesday: Virtual contest or practice session

 Thursday: Codeforces Round or AtCoder Regular Contest

 Friday: Virtual contest (past CF rounds)

 Saturday: AtCoder Grand Contest or team practice

 Sunday: Team contest or intensive practice session

Team Training Schedule:

 Twice per week: 5-hour ICPC-style team contests

 Once per week: Strategy discussion and analysis session

 Once per week: Individual weakness targeting with team support

📊 Performance Tracking Metrics

Individual Progress:

 Codeforces Rating: Weekly tracking with 50+ point monthly goals

 Problem Solving: Minimum 30 problems per week across all platforms

 Topic Mastery: Complete coverage verification through contest performance

 Contest Performance: Success rate in solving problems at target difficulty

Team Performance:

 Problems Solved: Target 8+ problems in 5-hour contests by Month 3

 Time Efficiency: First problem solved within 15 minutes consistently

 Communication: Zero miscommunication errors during contests

 Strategy Execution: Perfect adherence to pre-planned contest strategies

🏆 Success Milestones

Monthly Checkpoints:
  Month 1: 1600+ CF rating, consistent ABC D solves

 Month 2: 1700+ CF rating, occasional Div2 D solves, strong team coordination

 Month 3: 1800+ CF rating, regular Div2 D solves, regional championship level team

 Month 4: 1900+ CF rating, Div1 participation, dominant team performance

 Month 5: 2100+ CF rating (Orange), IUPC dominance preparation

 Month 6: Championship victories, sustainable excellence establishment

Ultimate Goals:

 Individual: Stable Orange (2100+) rating with occasional Red performance

 Team: IUPC Bangladesh victory and ICPC World Finals qualification

 Legacy: Established competitive programming excellence for continued success

This roadmap provides a systematic, proven approach to achieving elite competitive

programming performance while building the team coordination necessary for
championship victory in both IUPC and ICPC competitions.