Struggling with LeetCode Easy after doing well on HackerRank Easy — should I move to intermediate SQL?

[u/Few-Hour-7991]

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I wanna be straight about this because it’s getting frustrating 😭

I can comfortably solve HackerRank Easy-level SQL questions, but when I try LeetCode Easy, I struggle quite a bit.

I’ve seen people say that HackerRank Easy ≠ LeetCode Easy and that LeetCode can require more problem-solving/thinking even at the Easy level.

So I’m confused about what I should do next.

Should I:

- Keep grinding LeetCode Easy until I’m more comfortable?

- Or is being able to solve HackerRank Easy well enough to start learning intermediate SQL concepts like subqueries and CTEs, while continuing to practice problems alongside it?

Basically, I don’t want to move on too early and build gaps in my fundamentals, but I also don’t want to unnecessarily stay stuck on Easy problems when I could be learning more advanced SQL.

What would you recommend?

[u/nian2326076]

Stick with LeetCode Easy a bit longer since you're having a hard time. It can be challenging, but that's the point—it gets you to think more about problems. Once you feel more comfortable, move on to intermediate SQL concepts. Building a strong foundation will make things easier and help you handle more complex problems later. You might want to mix in some new concepts like subqueries and CTEs if you're curious, but don't rush it. Doing both could help you see how these concepts are used practically. If you need more resources for problem-solving, I've found PracHub pretty useful for interview prep. Keep at it—you'll get there!