diff --git a/backend/alembic/versions/007_pattern_comparison.py b/backend/alembic/versions/007_pattern_comparison.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4db3c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/alembic/versions/007_pattern_comparison.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+"""add pattern_comparison to explanations
+
+Revision ID: 007
+Revises: 006
+Create Date: 2025-07-05
+
+"""
+
+from collections.abc import Sequence
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from alembic import op
+
+revision: str = "007"
+down_revision: str | None = "006"
+branch_labels: str | Sequence[str] | None = None
+depends_on: str | Sequence[str] | None = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    op.add_column("explanations", sa.Column("pattern_comparison", sa.Text(), nullable=True))
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.drop_column("explanations", "pattern_comparison")
diff --git a/backend/scripts/load_data.py b/backend/scripts/load_data.py
index 62b81ac..59e5ebe 100644
--- a/backend/scripts/load_data.py
+++ b/backend/scripts/load_data.py
@@ -236,6 +236,7 @@ async def load_question(
             explanation.time_complexity = exp_data["time_complexity"]
             explanation.space_complexity = exp_data["space_complexity"]
             explanation.complexity_explanation = exp_data.get("complexity_explanation")
+            explanation.pattern_comparison = exp_data.get("pattern_comparison")
         else:
             explanation = Explanation(
                 question_id=question.id,
@@ -246,6 +247,7 @@ async def load_question(
                 time_complexity=exp_data["time_complexity"],
                 space_complexity=exp_data["space_complexity"],
                 complexity_explanation=exp_data.get("complexity_explanation"),
+                pattern_comparison=exp_data.get("pattern_comparison"),
             )
             session.add(explanation)
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/editor/problem-workspace.tsx b/frontend/src/components/editor/problem-workspace.tsx
index 6a6078b..17d08dd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/editor/problem-workspace.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/editor/problem-workspace.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useState, useCallback, useMemo, useEffect } from "react";
 import { CodeEditor } from "./code-editor";
 import { TestResults } from "./test-results";
 import { usePyodide } from "@/hooks/use-pyodide";
+import { useTimeTracker, getTimeTrackerElapsed } from "@/hooks/use-time-tracker";
 import { submitSolution } from "@/lib/api";
 import { markQuestionCompleted, getSavedSolution, isQuestionCompleted } from "@/lib/progress";
 import type { QuestionDetail, TestResult, HiddenTestOutput } from "@/types";
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ import {
   ChevronRight,
   CheckCircle,
   XCircle,
+  GitCompare,
 } from "lucide-react";
 import Link from "next/link";
 
@@ -115,6 +117,9 @@ type RightTab = "code" | "results";
 type ViewMode = "split" | "left" | "right";
 
 export function ProblemWorkspace({ question }: ProblemWorkspaceProps) {
+  // Start time tracking for this question
+  useTimeTracker(question.slug);
+
   const starterCode = useMemo(
     () => generateStarterCode(question.function_signature!),
     [question.function_signature]
@@ -462,7 +467,14 @@ json.dumps(__result)
       const allVisiblePassed = visibleTestResults.every((r) => r.passed);
       const allHiddenPassed = response.total_passed === response.total_tests;
       if (allVisiblePassed && allHiddenPassed) {
-        markQuestionCompleted(question.slug, code);
+        const timeSpentMs = getTimeTrackerElapsed();
+        const primaryPattern = question.patterns[0]?.slug || "";
+        markQuestionCompleted(question.slug, {
+          primaryPattern,
+          difficulty: question.difficulty,
+          code,
+          timeSpentMs,
+        });
         setIsCompleted(true);
       }
 
@@ -480,6 +492,8 @@ json.dumps(__result)
     hiddenTestInputs,
     runTests,
     question.slug,
+    question.difficulty,
+    question.patterns,
     code,
     analyzeComplexity,
   ]);
@@ -719,6 +733,17 @@ json.dumps(__result)
                   </Callout>
                 )}
 
+              {/* Why This Pattern? */}
+              {question.explanation?.pattern_comparison && (
+                <Callout
+                  variant="pattern"
+                  icon={GitCompare}
+                  title="Why This Pattern?"
+                >
+                  <Markdown>{question.explanation.pattern_comparison}</Markdown>
+                </Callout>
+              )}
+
               {/* Complexity Analysis */}
               {(question.explanation?.time_complexity ||
                 question.explanation?.space_complexity) && (
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/questions/question-detail.tsx b/frontend/src/components/questions/question-detail.tsx
index d0cdefa..35a8cc7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/questions/question-detail.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/questions/question-detail.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
   Code,
   Clock,
   HardDrive,
+  GitCompare,
 } from "lucide-react";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import type { QuestionDetail as QuestionDetailType } from "@/types";
@@ -216,6 +217,14 @@ export function QuestionDetail({ question }: QuestionDetailProps) {
                 </ul>
               </Callout>
             )}
+
+          {question.explanation.pattern_comparison && (
+            <Callout variant="pattern" icon={GitCompare} title="Why This Pattern?">
+              <div className="prose-content">
+                <Markdown>{question.explanation.pattern_comparison}</Markdown>
+              </div>
+            </Callout>
+          )}
         </>
       )}
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ui/callout.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ui/callout.tsx
index c8c5107..490bfbe 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ui/callout.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ui/callout.tsx
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@ import {
   Lightbulb,
   ClipboardList,
   Brain,
+  GitCompare,
   type LucideIcon,
 } from "lucide-react";
 
-type CalloutVariant = "warning" | "success" | "info" | "insight";
+type CalloutVariant = "warning" | "success" | "info" | "insight" | "pattern";
 
 interface CalloutProps {
   children: React.ReactNode;
@@ -45,6 +46,12 @@ const variantConfig: Record<
     bgClass: "bg-[var(--callout-insight-bg)]",
     iconClass: "text-[var(--callout-insight-fg)]",
   },
+  pattern: {
+    icon: GitCompare,
+    borderClass: "border-purple-500/50",
+    bgClass: "bg-purple-500/10",
+    iconClass: "text-purple-500",
+  },
 };
 
 export function Callout({