I'm gearing up for the British Informatics Olympiad next year and would love some advice on preparation. I'm currently in Year 11 and I have a good understanding of the basics like functions, loops, recursion, and basic object-oriented programming. However, I find myself struggling with code optimization and frequently looking up syntax—like converting a multi-line string into separate lists.
I've checked out some past Olympiad questions to get a feel for what to expect. The format includes problem-solving and logic-based questions, so I'm considering going through the Competitive Programmer's Handbook and tackling problems on Codeforces and Project Euler to sharpen my skills. A big focus for the competition is ensuring solutions run under one second, so I need to think about time complexity and efficiency in my designs. Does this strategy sound solid? What else should I be working on? Thanks!
1 Answer
Definitely check out the USACO Guide! It's a great resource for competitive programming. Don't stress too much about syntax; during the competition, you'll get access to documentation for Python or C++. Just make sure you practice enough to familiarize yourself with different functions. Building a strong problem-solving mindset is what really counts!
Thanks for the tip! I wasn't aware of the USACO Guide, but I’ll definitely look into it since it seems like a helpful resource.