What it takes to cross the first round of google code jam?

Question

well, I'm pretty beginner still now and on previous year I participated in code jam and solved only one problem. This year too I'm thinking about participating in code jam. Though I completed some of the programming courses suggested by OSSU, I have still very little knowledge of graph theory and other algorithm based topics. So is there any way to give my best for this year's code jam and at least pass the beginner level?? ( code jam is in April)
any type of suggestion is welcome

Answer 1

Try to compete in codeforces, topcoder etc.. Try to learn and understand data structures(binary trees, TRIE...) and algorithms(graph theory, number theory, search algorithms, algorithms with strings etc.. A lot of stuff) and learn a lot of technical stuff about your programming language.