The Joint Entrance Exam 2018 (JEE-2018) is just around the corner and a cloud of tension will inescapably haunt all JEE applicants as the days go by. The main challenge one faces is managing / balancing study time for both the Board exams and the JEE. Also, you are expected to write the entrance exam shortly after your Boards exams, giving you a small window to prepare for the JEE. So when JEE knocks on your door, don’t be discouraged, all you need is a foolproof plan to start your readiness in full swing starting today and make the most of your time. Read on to understand how you can establish a plan to achieve your goal of passing the JEE exam.
A Foolproof Study Plan: Organized Preparation is KEY
First things first, know all the important dates and deadlines related to the JEE exam. This will help you plan your approach to conquering the exam along with calculating the effort you will have to put in each day.
A good strategy is often the crucial factor that differentiates success from failure. Make organized preparation your strategy and make sure every day counts.
Here is a checklist of items to do when preparing for the JEE and formulating an effective study plan
1. Make sure you plan the entire JEE and Board curriculum. JEE is a superset of Boards when it comes to Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, but you need to spend time on other subjects that will also be on your Board Exams
2. Set deadlines for completing each topic. Measure your progress as you go
3. Adopt a systematic learning method. Try to plan your study taking into account the time available and the topics to be covered in the given time period.
4. Create notes and mind maps while you study. These will be vital when it comes to review.
5. Last but not least, be sure to include recreation in your schedule because all work and no play can be exhausting and, in most cases, even counterproductive.
Effective Preparation – Stay focused on your goals and work towards them.
Now, let’s dive deeper into understanding how to drive your approach effectively as it will be THE crucial part of preparing for JEE.
Identify your STRONG and WEAK themes
It is vital to examine yourself carefully and identify your strengths and weaknesses. Break it down from a subject level to a subject level. This way, you can have laser-sharp focus on what needs to be done. Make a list of these topics and be sure to prepare a schedule that allocates time efficiently with higher weighting for the topics you are weak on.
Identify and acquire the best study material
You will mainly need to evaluate the period of your NCERT books. This is because JEE Main is organized by CBSE. So the exam is certainly based on the content provided in these books.
Gather a list of practice questions and old question papers so you know what questions are being asked. An additional list of reference books by topic has been shared at the end of this article.
Weighing quality over quantity: JEE requires understanding and application of logic
You must have heard the adage that quality matters over quantity over and over again. An aspiring JEE should take this seriously because only quality preparation can help you achieve your goal, regardless of the countless hours you spend reading your books.
You will have to adapt to the practice of embracing concepts qualitatively. An enthusiastic approach to JEE preparation can force you to accumulate concepts even if it means not understanding them correctly. This can backfire and your preparation can go wrong. JEE is definitely not about superficialities at all; tests your conceptual knowledge to the core. This means absolutely mastering the topics. So you need to go to the root of the concepts and clear each and every doubt instantly and consistently to make sure you can handle any questions on that topic.
Reinforce a positive mindset
Poor test results are said to be attributable to a negative mindset, usually in the form of stress, anxiety, and a lack of self-confidence. As you prepare for the exam, always remember that stress and anxiety are normal, but what you choose to do with them is what matters. You could either let it be your downfall or use it to push yourself to improve your work. Use these tips and use them to take advantage of your anxiety and stress and reinforce a positive mindset.
1. Test worries often stem from fear of the unknown. Not knowing what to expect under the conditions of the exam can lead to panic. Get over this by studying past exams to get a realistic idea of what’s to come.
2. Organized approach: Being organized should be part of your strategy. Little attributes like organizing your written material into captions, graphics, bullets, and diagrams can help you clear clutter. By dividing your work, exam preparation becomes more productive
3. Fear of making mistakes is an obvious trigger for stress and, sadly, mistakes are an unavoidable component of exams. So keep learning from your mistakes as you practice the sample jobs and experience the failure as a comment to stay positive.
What NOT to DO while preparing for JEE:
As a precaution, here is a list of common mistakes that students make when preparing for JEE entry so that you can stay away from these mistakes.
1. Ignore the NCERT books
2. Not meeting a schedule or not keeping it
3. Ignore chemistry and focus only on math and physics
4. Ignore theory in mathematics and physics
5. Hoarding reference material but not completing it completely
6. Advance without understanding the concepts thoroughly
Annex: List of reference books:
Choose the right books to decipher the JEE
Only after you have mastered your NCERT books is it recommended to move on to these reference books. Here is the list of books that you can refer to to understand the topics and practice problems. These are the books recommended by IIIT teachers and students.
Best Physics Books for JEE Preparation:
Physics Concepts by HC Verma (Part 1 and 2)
IIT-JEE Physics by DC Pandey
Fundamentals of Physics by Resnick, Halliday, and Walker
General Physics Problems by IE Irodov
Once you have finished the NCERT Physics books, start studying from HC Verma’s book because it provides many questions at the end of the chapter graded on the difficulty level. An honest attempt to resolve them can go a long way.
Simultaneously, try Halliday, Resnick and Walker’s book. This book has a great reputation around the world because each chapter offers some conceptual questions that again can help build a solid foundation.
IE Irodov’s book is one of the most difficult books in physics. It is very useful for problems in Mechanics and Electromagnetism for IIT JEE Preparation.
Best Chemistry Books for JEE Prep:
Chemistry is roughly divided into a) general chemistry with a great emphasis on physical chemistry, b) organic chemistry, and c) inorganic chemistry.
Organic Chemistry by Morrison and Boyd for Organic Chemistry
Solomons and Fryhle Organic Chemistry for Organic Chemistry
JD Lee’s Concise Inorganic Chemistry for Inorganic Chemistry
Modern Approach to Chemical Calculations by RC Mukherjee
Best Math Books for IIT JEE Preparation:
Hall and Knight Higher Algebra for Algebra
Coordinate Geometry by SL Loney
Differential and integral calculus by N. Piskunov
Calculus and Analytical Geometry by Thomas and Finney for Calculus
Mathematics IIT by ML Khanna
Mathematics Course for IIT-JEE by Tata McGraw Hill Publications
Problems Plus at IIT Mathematics by A Das Gupta
Trigonometry by SL Loney
I hope this guide has shed some light on how to plan and strategize for your JEE 2018 readiness.
