The remaining 90 days are crucial as far as JEE preparation is concerned; these days must be largely utilised for quick revision and taking lots of mock tests. Each test must be followed by an in-depth analysis to focus on eliminating problem areas. Taking help from subject experts to work on these areas will be beneficial. Ideally, by this time, all serious aspirants should have covered the syllabus. Making a strategic plan for preparation will help students achieve better outcomes. Plan three phases of 30 days each that will cover the entire syllabus.
Phase 1 (January)
The first 30 days are very crucial and must be used effectively for revision. Plan subject-wise by identifying all the important chapters, with the help of subject experts. This will ensure better understanding of the concepts and plug the remaining loopholes in the preparation. This phase requires essential time management skills.
Phase 2 (February)
The time should be efficiently utilised for taking mock test on lines of JEE (Main) & JEE (Advanced). Analysis of each paper is important to check the mistakes and to avoid repeating them in the actual JEE. Join a crash course for topic-wise revision.
Phase 3 (March)
The days between consecutive Board exams should be used to prepare for both Boards and entrance exams. Make a systematic revision plan involving rigorous testing — concept-wise and chapter-wise — along with several mock Take tests from reliable sources as per current pattern of the JEE.
NCERT books not enough
Only solving problems in NCERT books may not be sufficient to crack the conceptual problems asked in the entrance exams. Every entrance exam is designed with a particular goal; the syllabi may look similar but the pattern and level of questions differ in some way or the other. Being familiar with the pattern of each exam will only make them easier to crack. Some of the questions in NCERT books are oriented to the Board exam as well. Entrance exams ask questions involving multiple concepts and are generally of higher difficulty levels. For JEE, practise as much as you can from well-known sources.
Preparation
For JEE Main, many students tend to think that preparing for JEE Advanced exams will be sufficient. While preparing for JEE Main, they will have to cover additional topics from CBSE syllabi as well. Also, JEE Main tests the aspirants for their speed and accuracy.
Generally, the questions asked in the JEE examination include topics from both Class XI and Class XII syllabi. Some of the following topics may hold more importance.
Mathematics: Quadratic Equations & Expressions, Complex Numbers, Probability, Vectors, Matrices in Algebra; Circle, Parabola, Hyperbola in Coordinate Geometry; Functions, Limits, Continuity and Differentiability, Application of Derivatives, Definite Integral in Calculus.
Physics: Kinematics, Gravitation, Fluids, Heat and Thermodynamics, Waves and Sound, Capacitors and Electrostatics, Magnetics, Electromagnetic Induction, and Optics and Modern Physics.
Chemistry: For Inorganic Chemistry, go through the Periodic Table, and read NCERT. For Organic Chemistry, first build up your all basic concepts and then start doing lots of practice. For physical chemistry the following topics are essential: Coordination Chemistry and Chemical Bonding in Inorganic Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Chemical and Ionic Equilibrium, Mole Concept in Physical Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry.
The remaining time must be used wisely to perfect problem-solving with understanding of concepts involved, improving the time needed to solve a given problem, identifying the weaknesses and correcting them. This time should generally be utilised to consolidate one’s preparation by focusing on problem-solving and overcoming the weaker areas in preparation. If you are a serious aspirant and have been preparing for some time and covered most part of the JEE syllabi, the following tips will be of help.
However, the following points should be kept in mind:
Develop speed by solving JEE-level problems using time management techniques.
Refer to mock-test series to build a winning exam temperament. Sample papers give a fair idea about the pattern of questions and help one improve time management.
Focus on your weak areas and improve your concepts.
Practice of JEE level questions is necessary as it improves your reasoning and analytical ability. Solving previous years’ papers will surely give a fair idea of the kind of questions that will be asked and help you familiarise yourself with the pattern of the paper.
Remember it is the quality of time spent and not the quantity alone. Hence, take short breaks of five to ten minutes after every one or two hours of serious study. Relax completely when you take a break.
Finally, it is the relative performance that will matter on the exam day. Gather and implement tips, gain confidence, be positive, and you will ace JEE (Main) 2018.
The author is a FIITJEE expert.