Originally published on LeetCopilot Blog
Stop grinding randomly. Follow a repeatable seven-day LeetCode plan powered by LeetCopilot’s Chat, Study, and Interview modes to build skills, retention, and interview readiness.
When I finally stopped “winging” my LeetCode practice and followed a repeatable weekly plan, everything clicked: fewer plateaus, faster recall, and calmer interviews.
Here’s the exact seven-day routine I now use—and how I plug LeetCopilot into each step so it feels less like grinding and more like compounding gains.
The Week at a Glance
- Day 1 (Warmup + Setup): Quick wins and skill targeting.
- Day 2–3 (Pattern Reps): Focused practice on one pattern family.
- Day 4 (Debug Lab): Deliberate debugging reps to kill silent bugs.
- Day 5 (Mock & Review): Pressure test with an interview simulation.
- Day 6 (Retention Sprint): Turn this week’s work into durable memory.
- Day 7 (Rest + Light Recall): Low-effort review so you don’t burn out.
This cadence balances new learning, repetition, and recovery—while keeping you accountable.
Day 1 — Warmup + Setup
Start with one easy problem to shake off rust. Then pick a pattern of the week (e.g., sliding window, heaps, union-find).
- In Chat Mode, ask for a strategy-only hint on the first problem to set a mental template without spoiling code.
- Skim two past solutions in your Study Mode notebook. Note what tripped you up last time.
- Set a timer inside LeetCopilot (25–30 minutes per problem) so you don’t drift.
Goal: prime your brain and choose a focus area.
Day 2–3 — Pattern Reps (Depth Over Breadth)
Solve 3–4 problems in the same pattern family. Progress from easy → medium → one stretch challenge.
- Keep Smart Context on so the copilot can watch your code and test runs; when stuck, ask for one question that would unlock the next step.
- After each solve, generate Study Mode notes. Add one sentence on why this pattern beats the alternatives.
- For the stretch problem, request edge-case generation to stress test your solution before moving on.
Goal: build pattern recognition and transfer, not just a pile of solves.
Day 4 — Debug Lab (Kill Hidden Bugs)
Pick two old solutions that felt shaky. Your job: break them.
- Run execution traces to visualize control flow (great for recursion/graphs).
- Ask the copilot to compare this attempt to my last submission—it will highlight regressions you’d otherwise miss.
- Create a small “bug zoo”: inputs that previously failed, saved directly into notes.
Goal: make debugging a skill you practice, not an afterthought.
Day 5 — Mock & Review (Pressure + Feedback)
Do a 30–45 minute Interview Mode session.
- Choose an interviewer tone (supportive vs. challenging) to vary pressure.
- Let LeetCopilot score you on clarity, efficiency, and communication. Screenshot or save the breakdown to your notes.
- After the mock, run a Smart Context audit: “What exact edge cases did I miss?” Capture those in Study Mode.
Goal: close the gap between quiet practice and performance on the clock.
Day 6 — Retention Sprint (Make It Stick)
Spend 45–60 minutes turning the week into durable memory.
- Open this week’s Study Mode pages and trigger flashcards/quizzes from them.
- Tag patterns (e.g., “two pointers”, “heap”) and mark difficulty so future reviews are targeted.
- Re-solve one medium and one hard from earlier in the week with a timer. If you need a hint, restrict to Level-A strategy only.
Goal: convert practice into recall you can use next month, not just tomorrow.
Day 7 — Rest + Light Recall
Avoid heavy lifts. Instead:
- Do a 10-minute skim of your notes.
- Ask Chat Mode for a one-paragraph weekly recap: key wins, recurring mistakes, and one pattern to prioritize next week.
- If you’re itching to code, solve a single “comfort problem” without a timer for confidence.
Goal: recover while keeping neural pathways warm.
How to Scale Up or Down
- Short on time? Do Day 1 + one Pattern Rep day + Mock + Retention (4-day mini-cycle).
- Pushing harder? Add a second mock interview and double the Debug Lab cases.
- Burned out? Swap Day 2’s hard problem for a refactor/trace session.
Why This Works with LeetCopilot
- Less friction: Smart Context means you never re-explain the problem when asking for help.
- Faster feedback: Timers, inline test batches, and edge-case generators keep you in flow.
- Better memory: Study Mode auto-notes plus quizzes turn solves into reusable assets.
- Realistic practice: Interview Mode’s adaptive prompts simulate the pressure that throws candidates off.
When you stack these, every hour compounds. You’re not just solving more problems—you’re building a system that survives interview day.
Your Next Step
Pick a pattern for the week, set your Day 1 timer, and install LeetCopilot on Chrome. By next weekend, you’ll have a repeatable loop—and a notebook full of wins you didn’t have to write by hand.
If you're looking for an AI assistant to help you master LeetCode patterns and prepare for coding interviews, check out LeetCopilot.
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