Preparation strategy for XII, JEE Main

With JEE Aspirants provided a second chance to improve their scores and ranking in the JEE Main April session 2019, simultaneous preparations for boards will be an added advantage for them. 

There is hardly any time left for the class XII Board exams and JEE Main (April Session), it is high time for aspirants to align their preparation schedules for better outcomes in both the exams. 

Utilising this essential time to score well as well as perfect the concepts will be helpful for both the life changing exams- Boards and JEE Main. Though preparing for these two exams at a time seems to be a daunting task, a well conceived study plan will streamline the complete process to achieve progressive perfection in their preparations. 

With NTA’s decision to conduct the JEE Main exams twice a year from 2019, many aspirants are at an added advantage. The first phase of the JEE Main 2019 recently concluded on 12th January and the results were declared on 30th January and the students who are not sure of getting a better rank also have a second chance in April. 

Plan your preparations meticulously for Boards and JEE Main
Being a closely packed schedule for Boards and JEE Main second session, preparations for these needs to be planned meticulously. Board exams usually kick-start in the month of March while JEE Main is conducted in the month of April. Students need to overcome the challenge on how to focus and go about it to emerge victorious in both the exams.

Most of the questions in the boards are subjective type and usually get more weightage from reach subject. Certain topics from each subject are often ignored by students as it is not a part of JEE Advanced, but regularly asked in the JEE Main exam. It is thus important for the aspirants to cover such questions from each subject while attempting sample papers for a comfortable handling of the descriptive part from boards point of view.

After the first sessions of JEE Main in January recently concluded, a hint about the pattern is known. Here are some tips to master the simultaneous preparation of Board exams and JEE Main (April session):

1. Make a feasible plan - In order to attain what you aspire for, it is vital to have the right preparation strategy and follow it strictly.  Make the most of the preparation time for board exams to optimize your JEE Main preparation.  Be wise & plan out a well-structured strategy that caters to the requirement of both Board exams and JEE Main preparations.

2. Focus on the common topics in each subject – There are various topics from each subject that are commonly asked in JEE Main and boards, but not in JEE Advanced. A well strategic planning to cover the common and important topics will be advantageous for both the exams.

3. Divide your preparation time wisely - To ensure each subject is given equal emphasis, it is better to divide your preparation time into various sections.  Spend equal time to revise each section and then on the following day, attempt the sample papers of respective subjects. Preparation should be a mixed basket of revision of the syllabus and taking the sample papers. This way, you will be able to revise the syllabus while taking the sample papers simultaneously.

4. Opt the apt study material - In this phase when school students are flooded with all kinds of reference books from different publishing houses, it is vital to follow the right book without losing the track. NCERT textbooks serve the best purpose for students.

5. Set the right temperament of exams - Preparing for two exams simultaneously needs to be done cautiously especially when it about getting used to the exam pattern. Be aware of the differences between the board exam paper pattern and the JEE pattern. Do not get jumbled between the two.

6. Practise more and more mock tests - Taking mock tests will acquaint you with your current preparedness and your shortcomings. You still have enough time to mend your ways to success. With JEE Main being conducted in Online mode, practicing the same mock tests will be highly beneficial.
7. Give special emphasis to the exclusive Board type questions - There are certain sub-topics in various subjects which generally get more weightage in the Boards because the questions are subjective type. There are also some topics which are part of JEE Main but not part of the JEE Advanced exam which some students tend to ignore during their preparation.

The Common Rank List for JEE Main 2019 will be available in the first week of May after the declaration of the results of the April exam. The better of the scores of candidates who have appeared in both JEE Main January and April will be considered for the ranking purposes while the scores of the candidates who have appeared for just one exam will be used as it is. The common rank lists will denote the All India and Category ranks of the candidates in addition to the details of the candidates and marks obtained. The JEE Main rank will be the basis for admissions to the NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. 

Remember, the grades or marks that you score in examinations do play a vital role in determining your career graph. So, stay focused on your goal & put your best foot forward to bridge the gap between your aspiration and reality. Just do your best with a positive attitude & confidence and there would be no reason for you to stumble.

 -Ramesh Batlish
(The author is IIT JEE expert, FIITJEE)