Making it to the IITs: Here is What You Need To Do

On April 4, 2015, some of India’s best minds will put their potential to test at the annual Joint Entrance Examination (JEE-Main) for IITs and other prestigious engineering colleges. Lakhs of students are expected to appear for this preliminary examination. Around 1.5 lac candidates will qualify for JEE(Advanced) scheduled to take place on May 24, 2015 , from which only 10,000 students will make it to the IITs.

Understandably, the competition is as tough as it gets. A brilliant mind alone is not sufficient to get you through to the qualifying stage. A systematic study programme, hard work and the right approach make a crucial difference. Two students of comparable intelligence can come out with drastically different results if their approach to the examination has been different. The right guidance can make all the difference.

While most students may spend equal number of hours studying the main subjects, some may wrongly approach their preparation. For example, a student may be inadvertently spend more time on mathematics while giving lesser time to physics and chemistry. This may hamper his/her effectiveness in the other two subjects.

Similarly, some students may spend a lot of time solving problems but not the complex problems required. Yet others may not solve problems in a time-bound manner, which is very crucial to establish speed and accuracy. Yet others have weak concepts and stagger while dealing with concept based questions. For students who appearing for class XII boards, there must also be enough time to revise the topics of class XI even as the major focus is on the topics of the boards.

Since JEE is a test of your analytical skills as much as it is of your knowledge in physics, chemistry and mathematics, what sets the winners apart is how much they have worked on their fundamentals. The focal points for JEE preparation include building concepts, learning proper application of concepts, practicing JEE level problems while working on speed and accuracy. A majority of JEE topics are also covered in board examinations. Hence it is recommended that one prepare for both the exams simultaneously. The student must practice all NCERT problems while brushing up JEE chapters.

Month-Wise Preparation

January-February: This period is a crucial time and one can utilise this for JEE preparation as most students will have completed their Board syllabi by now and will have time to devote to JEE topics with a proper action plan. Students must prepare a chapter wise plan while revising.

Each of the three subjects physics, chemistry and mathematics are equally important. Two-three hours per subject is the minimum time one must set aside on a daily basis to solve problems of JEE standard. The quality of time spent on self study is what counts.

The syllabi of Class 11 and 12 contribute to about 45% and 55% of IIT-JEE question papers respectively. Students are advised to avoid selective study in physics, chemistry and mathematics. The number of questions is greater in objective papers with intermingling concepts from various topics.

March: Keep this month devoted mainly for board exams except for certain days when you can still solve IIT-JEE level problems between exams.

Mock Tests: It is advisable to take a minimum of 10 mock tests in the new pattern from a reputed source and solve at least five previous IIT JEE papers before heading to the examination. Once the student has completed the syllabi of Class XII, he/she can start taking mock tests for JEE (Main).

These tests can be taken as part syllabi or full syllabi. The part tests cover topics of class XI and class XII separately whereas full syllabi tests are based on the complete XI and XII syllabi. For better preparation, one can join a test series program. These tests not only check the level of preparation of the individual for JEE but also make test their command over the subject, speed, accuracy, strengths and weaknesses.

Time management

• Divide these crucial three months aptly among the three subjects and allocate certain time for practising mock tests as well.
• Prepare a chapter-wise, topic-wise revision schedule.
• Create short notes, list all formulae and points to remember. This will help in quick revision before the examination.

Guru Mantra for the D Day:-

Always attempt theoretical questions first and then questions which require calculation. It’s human nature to attempt a few confident questions in the beginning to feel loaded with positive energy which increases your efficiency and speed for the rest of the paper. It is advisable to avoid numerical questions in the first 10 or 15 minutes of the exam.

Prioritize after a quick glance and start answering with the question you know best and move progressively to the ones you find difficult after attempting the complete paper. Don’t be nervous if you find the paper tough since it is the RELATIVE PERFORMANCE that counts. Hence put your best analytical mind to work.

By:Ramesh Batlish