What is a good score on LeetCode?

A good score on LeetCode can depend on various factors like your goals, whether you’re focused on coding interviews or competitive programming, and how you define personal success on the platform. LeetCode contests give you a score based on how many problems you solve and how fast you solve them. If you're preparing for interviews or simply aiming to improve your skills, a good score generally reflects strong problem-solving abilities, accuracy, and speed. Let’s explore what constitutes a good score on LeetCode:

1. LeetCode Contest Scoring System

In LeetCode contests (Weekly and Biweekly), your score is determined by:

• Problems Solved: The number of problems you solve correctly during the contest.
• Speed: How fast you solve the problems. Solving problems faster gives you a higher score.
• Accuracy: The fewer wrong submissions you make, the better your score will be. Incorrect submissions lead to penalties in some contests.

2. What is a Good Score in LeetCode Contests?

a. Top 10% Score

• What It Means: Scoring in the top 10% of a contest means you performed exceptionally well compared to other participants. This requires solving a significant number of problems quickly and accurately.

• Achievement Level: Being in the top 10% is an excellent result. It indicates that you have strong problem-solving skills, a good grasp of algorithms and data structures, and can perform well under time pressure. For competitive programmers or those aiming for top-tier tech company interviews, this is an ideal score range.

b. Top 20% to 30% Score

• What It Means: Scoring in the top 20% to 30% is also a great achievement. You’re solving a good number of problems and demonstrating solid coding skills, even if your speed or accuracy could be slightly improved.

• Achievement Level: This is a good score for someone preparing for coding interviews or competitive programming. It shows that you’re consistently solving problems and can perform well under pressure.

c. Top 50% Score

• What It Means: A score in the top 50% means you’re doing average or slightly above average compared to other participants. You might be solving Easy and Medium problems, but Hard problems or speed might still be a challenge.

• Achievement Level: While this is a solid score for those who are still learning and improving, you should aim to increase both your speed and ability to solve more difficult problems if you want to improve your rank and performance in future contests.

d. Below 50% Score

• What It Means: If your score falls below the top 50%, it may mean you’re either new to coding challenges or having difficulty solving problems quickly and accurately.

• Achievement Level: If you’re just starting out, this is perfectly normal. Focus on solving more problems consistently, practicing algorithms and data structures, and participating in contests to improve.

3. Factors That Contribute to a Good Score

a. Speed of Problem Solving

• Faster Solutions: LeetCode contests reward speed. Solving problems quickly after reading the prompt is key to scoring higher. You should practice coding under time constraints to improve your speed.

b. Accuracy of Solutions

• Fewer Wrong Submissions: Making incorrect submissions during contests can lower your score. Focus on improving accuracy by planning your approach before coding and double-checking your solutions.

c. Solving Harder Problems

• Solving Medium and Hard Problems: Contest problems are typically ranked by difficulty, with Hard problems yielding higher points. To score better, focus on solving not just Easy but also Medium and Hard problems during contests.

4. How to Achieve a Good Score on LeetCode

a. Consistent Practice

• Solve Problems Regularly: To improve your score, solve a variety of problems on LeetCode regularly. Start with Easy problems, then gradually tackle Medium and Hard ones to build up your skills.

b. Participate in Contests

• Join Weekly and Biweekly Contests: Participating in contests helps you practice under time pressure and builds your speed. Even if you don’t score high at first, consistent participation will improve your ranking and contest performance.

c. Optimize Time and Space Complexity

• Efficient Algorithms: Focus on writing code that is both time and space efficient. Solving a problem is one thing, but solving it with optimal performance can be the difference between an average score and a great score.

d. Study Solutions

• Learn from Others: After contests, review solutions from top competitors. This will help you learn new techniques and algorithms that you can apply to future contests.

5. LeetCode vs. Other Platforms for Scoring

a. LeetCode

• Contest-Based: Your score on LeetCode is largely determined by how you perform in contests. The platform emphasizes speed, problem-solving ability, and accuracy under timed conditions, making it highly effective for interview prep.

b. Codeforces/AtCoder

• More Competitive: Platforms like Codeforces or AtCoder also use scoring systems for competitive programming contests. These platforms often feature even more difficult problems, so LeetCode might feel easier in comparison. However, a good score on LeetCode contests can still translate well into other competitive programming platforms.

6. Conclusion: What is a Good Score on LeetCode?

A good score on LeetCode varies based on your experience level and goals:

• Top 10%: Excellent score for those aiming for competitive programming or interviews at top tech companies.
• Top 20% to 30%: A very good score, showing you have strong problem-solving skills and can tackle a variety of challenges.
• Top 50%: A solid score for those still learning, indicating average or slightly above-average performance.
• Below 50%: If you’re a beginner, this is a good starting point. With consistent practice and contest participation, you can steadily improve your score.

Remember, your score is just one metric. The most important thing is to keep improving your skills, participate in contests, and enjoy the process of learning and coding!