Blind 75 questions: Why structure matters for interview prep

If you’ve ever stared at a mountain of LeetCode problems, picked one at random, and hoped it would somehow help you crush your next technical interview, you’re not alone.

But here's the truth: grinding LeetCode without structure often leads to shallow learning, burnout, and little pattern recognition. Meanwhile, those who use curated sets like Blind 75 questions tend to progress faster, build stronger intuition, and perform better in real interviews.

In this blog, we’ll explore why Blind 75 questions give you an edge over random practice—and how structure dramatically improves learning efficiency, retention, and confidence.

The problem with random LeetCode grinding#

Practicing randomly selected problems might feel productive, but it has major flaws:

• No pattern reinforcement: Without repeated exposure to similar problem types, it’s harder to recognize common patterns like sliding window, recursion, or two-pointer techniques.

• No progress tracking: You don’t know if you’re covering all the key topics companies actually test, which leads to knowledge gaps.

• Mental fatigue: Constantly solving unfamiliar problem types increases decision fatigue and slows you down. The lack of momentum makes it harder to stay motivated.

What feels like variety is often just chaos, and chaos is hard to build mastery on.

Why Blind 75 questions are different#

Blind 75 is a curated list of the most common and high-impact coding interview problems. But more importantly, it’s structured in a way that:

• Covers core topics that come up in real interviews across top tech companies.

• Prioritizes patterns over difficulty, focusing on long-term skills rather than brute-force challenges.

• Encourages depth of understanding through revisiting and reflection.

Rather than bouncing between string manipulation and complex tree problems randomly, you get a learning path that builds intuition gradually, in a way that mirrors how interviews are designed.

Structure builds retention#

One of the key advantages of solving Blind 75 questions is the repetition of patterns across related problems, which enhances retention.

For example:

• Solving several sliding window problems in a row cements how and when to use the pattern effectively.

• Working through multiple recursion or DP problems strengthens your understanding of base cases, memoization, and state transitions.

This kind of reinforcement is backed by learning science: structured exposure + active recall = deeper understanding and long-term retention.

Structured prep = better interview pacing#

Technical interviews are more than solving problems. You have to:

• Understand the prompt

• Plan a solution while thinking aloud

• Communicate your approach clearly

• Write clean, readable code

• Debug and test in real time under pressure

Blind 75 gives you enough repetitions in each problem type to improve not just coding, but full interview execution. You develop internal timers and instincts that help you pace yourself within the 45-minute interview window.

The compounding effect of solving with intent#

Each Blind 75 problem acts like a building block in a larger system of knowledge:

• Arrays lead to two-pointer problems that teach you how to minimize time complexity.

• Two-pointers lead to sliding window problems that demonstrate memory efficiency.

• Trees lead into recursion, which forms the basis of dynamic programming.

• Graph problems introduce traversal patterns that appear in real-world architectures.

This intentional sequencing leads to compounding benefits. You’re not just solving problems—you’re developing a framework of thinking.

How to structure your own study plan using Blind 75#

Even if you customize the problem list, the core principles remain:

1. Categorize by topic – Arrays, Trees, Graphs, Dynamic Programming, etc.

2. Solve in batches – Tackle 3–5 problems per topic to reinforce patterns before switching.

3. Track patterns – Maintain a log of techniques used and which problems helped reinforce them.

4. Revisit regularly – Reattempt difficult problems after a few days to test your memory and build confidence.

Structure isn’t rigid—it’s flexible, and most importantly, it's intentional.

Case study: Two devs, two strategies#

Meet Alex and Jamie.

• Alex picks random problems every day. Some hard, some easy. They never revisit problems or track progress.

• Jamie uses Blind 75, solves problems in logical categories, and sets aside weekly time for review.

Three weeks later:

• Alex has solved more problems in total, but struggles with new variations.

• Jamie has solved fewer problems but demonstrates faster recall, clearer thought process, and better results in mock interviews.

Structured learning doesn’t always look like speed, but it builds lasting clarity and consistency.

Don’t just do the list—reflect on it#

The true power of Blind 75 questions comes when you treat them as prompts to reflect, not just puzzles to solve. For each problem:

• Could you recognize the underlying pattern or transformation?

• How would you explain the solution to a peer or interviewer?

• How would the solution need to change with additional constraints (e.g., memory limits, streaming input)?

Reflection is where mastery happens. The best candidates are the ones who think beyond correctness.

Blind 75 helps you build a personal interview narrative#

Every strong interview candidate has a story—a structured prep strategy, a reasoned approach, a set of tools they rely on. Blind 75 helps you build that narrative with consistency.

It shows interviewers that you:

• Prepared deliberately rather than randomly

• Recognize common coding interview patterns and explain them well

• Understand trade-offs between brute force and optimized solutions

This makes you not just a coder, but a thoughtful engineer who can explain their reasoning clearly.

Avoiding burnout through focused practice#

LeetCode grinding without focus leads to a loss of motivation and energy. You hit walls, don’t know what to improve, and start doubting your abilities.

Blind 75 limits the problem space so you can:

• See clear progress

• Learn from mistakes in context

• Regain confidence through small, focused wins

Focused practice isn’t just more efficient—it’s also more sustainable.

Blind 75 aligns with real-world expectations#

Most tech companies don’t care if you’ve solved 1,000 LeetCode problems—they care whether you can solve the right kind of problems under pressure.

Blind 75 maps directly to the recurring patterns seen in FAANG and top-tier interviews:

• Recursion and dynamic programming

• Graph traversals and tree operations

• Hashing and frequency counting

• Sliding windows and greedy logic

It’s prep that reflects reality, not just reputation.

From confidence gaps to clarity under pressure#

Structured problem-solving gives you language and mental models:

• "This is a two-pointer problem on a sorted array."

• "This tree recursion can be optimized with memoization."

• “This DP solution has overlapping subproblems and optimal substructure.”

That vocabulary becomes confidence, and confidence under pressure is the final differentiator in high-stakes interviews.

Final thoughts#

Random problem solving feels productive, but structure leads to mastery.

Blind 75 questions aren’t just a list—they’re a system. They help you:

• Focus your effort on what matters

• Build real-world pattern recognition

• Develop consistency, clarity, and long-term momentum

If you’re tired of aimless grinding and want to train like someone aiming actually to pass interviews, it’s time to switch from scattered practice to strategic progression.

Start smart. Start structured. Start with Blind 75.