Deccan Chronical article

By: Dhagam Krishna Murthy

THE TENTHE TENTHE TENTHE TEN----POINT FORMULA FOR SUCCESS IN IITPOINT FORMULA FOR SUCCESS IN IITPOINT FORMULA FOR SUCCESS IN IITPOINT FORMULA FOR SUCCESS IN IIT----JEEJEEJEEJEE

1. Strong Fundamentals:

Develop basic aptitude towards Mathematics and Sciences right from High School

2. Perfection in Intermediate Syllabus:

This is a key aspect for success going forward. Students should attend a good

college where Intermediate (11th & 12th) syllabus is taught and learned with utmost

sincerity

3. Conceptual Learning:

Thorough understanding of the concepts is absolutely necessary. This understanding

should be complemented by practice. Students should not get stymied by seemingly

tricky problems based on the basic concepts in the syllabus.

In a multiple choice question where there are four choices for the correct answer,

knowing the correct answer can only take you so far. Based on the problems in the

earlier screening tests, students should also know why the other three are incorrect

4. Selection of the Coaching Centre:

Good coaching centres can help students boost their JEE rank. Students and parents

should be able to differentiate between the best and the rest. Talking with senior

students, experienced educational professionals and various other sources will help

them make a discerning choice. Students should join the coaching centres which

follow conceptual and scientific methods of teaching and not confuse them with

those that dump unnecessary study material into their laps. Again, a thorough

understanding of the intermediate syllabus can assist in understanding which

coaching centers teaches B.Sc. or M.Sc. syllabus in the name of IIT JEE.

5. Method Of Approach:

It is imperative that students learn to solve problems and thoroughly understand the

logic behind the solution. Following mechanical methods (and shortcuts) and not

concentrating on the logic will only be disastrous in the long run. Students should

be spending their time and effort to understand and solve one problem by five

different possible methods rather than solving five identical problems.

6. Quality Not Quantity:

While hard work is essential, efficiency is equally important. How many concepts

the student has mastered in a given time period, rather than how many hours the

student has spent with the book, is what matters more.

7. Objective Type Vs Descriptive Problems:

These are two strengths that cannot be compromised between. To cross the

screening hurdle, which is highly objective type oriented, you need one and to get

through the main exam, which stresses on descriptive problems, you need the other.

8.Time Management:

Solving a problem is important and more important is doing it within the set time

limit. This comes only by practice, not by reading alone. A cricket player cannot

actually play the game by reading ‘how to master cricket in 30 days’.

9.Equal Weightage To All Subjects:

In IIT-JEE equal time and the marks allotted to all the three subjects, namely

Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Neglecting one over the other is not a good

approach. In fact, students should try not to play to their strengths. If someone feels

that he/she is particularly strong in Chemistry, for example, then that person should

concentrate more on Physics and Mathematics and try to attain the same level of

confidence on all the three. By spending more time and effort on your strengths,

rather than weaknesses, you are putting all your eggs in one basket, which is always

risky.

10.Choosing The Right Question:

Getting into the nitty-gritty, students should develop the skill to identify simple

problems from complicated ones. During the examination, solving the simpler ones

first before attempting the more difficult ones ensures maximum points. Though

there is no solid proof to this, earlier students have vouched that clearly explaining

the method you are attempting to solve problems, as long as it is the right one, gives

you partial credit. Grading descriptive questions, by definition, are not digital (all or

none). Graders recognize a correct approach and credit it appropriately. The

examiners and graders are, as a bottom line, looking for students with a thorough

understanding of the subject at hand and the capability to think logically.