Pretty much most senior level/grad algorithm classes are like this. They introduce a framework for solution and then give you about 2-3 example lecture problems that they walk you through. 2-3 weeks after being introduced to 5/6 frameworks its Exam day. You are given unique word problems that, in the eyes of someone experienced like a prof or PhD student, is trivial. But you are struggling with 1 week of homework experience to fit a word problem into one of the frameworks you studied. There just was not enough time dedicated to dissecting how to parse word problem, look for patterns, map it to a framework. It was basically left to the student to figure it out in 1 week based on 3-4 homework problems. On exam day you are just emotionally devastated looking at the problem not knowing where to start - you keep throwing various framework structures on the problem hoping some hints of a solution bounce back at you.
But there are smart people who get all this stuff "easily" (previous practice, exposure). The rest of us walk out of the exam wondering how many trucks hit us.
But there are smart people who get all this stuff "easily" (previous practice, exposure). The rest of us walk out of the exam wondering how many trucks hit us.