I'm a rising ninth-grade student in Vietnam and recently started learning C++ from scratch in VS Code using the Bro Code beginner course. My main goal is to pass next year's entrance exam for a specialized high school computer science program.
I'm wondering whether this course is enough for learning the fundamentals, and what I should study afterward for algorithm-focused exam problems—especially arrays, sorting, searching, recursion, and basic data structures. I also need to balance programming with Math, Literature, and English, which are important subjects for the general high school entrance exams.
Would beginner-level LeetCode problems be useful for improving my logic, or should I focus on other competitive programming resources? With roughly one year available, how should I organize my weekly study schedule and make consistent progress without burning out?
3 Answers
The beginner course should be fine for learning C++ syntax, but you’ll need to move fairly quickly into problem solving. Focus on arrays, strings, sorting, binary search, recursion, complexity, and core data structures such as stacks, queues, sets, maps, and vectors. Once those feel comfortable, start solving timed problems similar to the entrance exam rather than only watching lessons.
LeetCode Easy problems are okay for practicing basic logic, but don’t stay there indefinitely. Competitive-programming problems and past entrance-exam exercises will probably match your target better. Set aside about an hour on school days and use one weekend session for a longer problem-solving practice, while keeping your main subjects a priority.
Make sure you learn the C++ standard library well, especially containers, iterators, sorting, searching, and common algorithms. Knowing the STL will let you spend your time thinking about the solution instead of rewriting basic tools.
A practical routine would be short, regular sessions: learn one concept, solve a few easy problems without looking at solutions, then review mistakes. Keep a notebook of patterns and errors. You don’t need to code for several hours every day—steady progress and enough rest are more valuable during an exam year.
After the basic syntax, use a visual or example-heavy algorithms resource to understand how the techniques work, not just how to type them. Study one topic at a time—such as sorting, recursion, or graphs—and immediately apply it to small problems.
For the one-year timeline, spend the first few months building fundamentals, the middle period covering standard algorithms and data structures, and the final months doing past papers and timed mock exams. Adjust the schedule around your school workload so programming supports your goals instead of taking time away from the subjects that also determine your admission.
At your age, building strong fundamentals matters more than rushing into advanced topics. Understanding why an algorithm works and being able to explain its complexity will help much more than memorizing solutions.