Joint Entrance Examination
How to prepare for it..........
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) which is annually organised by the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)(Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Roorkee) is considered as one of the most fiercest competitive examination in India, and the toughest one at the school level, with a success rate of about 2% ( only 3500 candidates out of 1.5 Lakhs get through). This essay, however tries to make this competitive exam look far easier than the way you think it is.
The Statistics.................
Although JEE is written by about 1.5 Lakh of candidates, it can be easily comprehended that the majority of them ( about 60%) are not having a preparation that can make it to the IITs. Most of them dream of getting into IITs as soon as they complete there class X board examinations, buy a hell lot of study materials ( thereby making the various coaching centres all over the country rich and increasing the GDP), and instead of studying, continue to dream for the next 2 years and in the end wait for a miracle to happen and finally fail to qualify even the screening test ( it is expected that those who are reading this report are well acquainted with the JEE format, if not check any IIT site for it).
Out of the remaining 60000 candidates, 40 thousand guys ( and ofcourse girls) who write the JEE, try hard for the exam but in the end cannot reach the desired level of JEE understanding because of they lack one of the following two, viz merit or hardwork.
The final 20000 candidates are actually the real competitors for JEE. This people work hard through out the two years and write the JEE with full confidence.
Clearing the Screening Test...............
Hence it can be well understood that the JEE Screening Test has a success percentage of 75% ( 15000 out of 20000) and your first target is to be among this top 75%. However, keep in mind that screening test is only the first hurdle. For JEE Screening Test keep the following in mind :
It is common among all the students to practice an enormous quantity of multiple choice questions (mcqs) throughout the year. This is however a wrong way to do it. This is because, the mcqs that are present in most of the study materials and magazines do not reflect the exact nature of mcqs that appear in the Screening Paper.
Hence this mcq helps a student in no way. Your first job will be to keep away from this practice. JEE Screening test demands clarity of each and every concept. Hence, from the beginning of the year, try to assimilate the theory of each and every chapter given in the JEE syllabus ( JEE syllabus is available at https://iitd.ac.in/jee or https://jee.iitb.ac.in or at JEE sites at other IITs). One month before the screening test, get hold of each and every formula you know, so that if you are not clear with the concept you can still reach the answer with a derived formula. Also get hold of a few good practice screening papers (old JEE papers can be a good choice) and attempt those tests in strict examination conditions* keeping time. This actually helps you simulate the JEE Screening Test and helps you learn the aspects of time management.
During my study for JEE, I came across the test papers of two coaching centres which I felt are ideal for JEE. Since it is not wise to quote their name here, you can mail me.
The final hurdle ? Main Examination................
About one month after the screening test comes the JEE Main Examination, where all the 15000 candidates selected in JEE Screening Tests fight with their maximum power. Hence this is the ultimate challenge. The key to success in JEE Mains is extensive practice of subjective problems. You will have to excel your self at pattern recognition along with developing the concepts. Between the Screening and Mains, practice lots of subjective problems available in the books. Time management is also important. If you have not subscribed for any test series programme (and even if you have done so) you must practice a lot of test papers at home simulating the JEE day. In the end of the report I have provided a list of books which I myself consider important for JEE preparation. You are advised to practice problems from these books. Please donot go in for absurd problems as they are never asked in JEE. Also JEE problems do not require a 3 page long solution, so if you are next to recreating the Mahabharata, you can surely guess that your solution is wrong.
JEE mains nowadays give limited place for working out the solutions ( 1 page for 2 marks and 2 page for 4 marks questions). Hence work on this aspects of space management.
Books required for JEE preparation..........
The most important book required for JEE is your board books, as if you are not conversant with the theory you stand no chance. After practicing the problems from your board books, move on to the next level. For some books the names of the authors are mentioned.
Standard JEE books (contains questions similar to JEE standards ? do all the problems)
Physics : Concepts of Physics (Part 1 and 2)
Chemistry : P. Bahadur(Physical Chemistry) , R.K.Gupta(Organic and Inorganic)
Mathematics : IIT Plus Mathematics ? A.Dasgupta.
Advanced JEE books (questions are a bit higher than JEE standards - do selected problems ? take help of your mentor/teacher)
Physics : Problems in General Physics ? I.E.Irodov.
Chemistry : IIT Chemistry - Tata McGraw Hill.
Mathematics : Complete Course IIT Mathematics - Tata McGraw Hill.
For theory you can go through Resnick-Halliday in Physics, Morrison-Boyd in Organic Chemistry, and O.P.Tandon in Inorganic Chemistry.
The changing trend in JEE.....................
From the year 2002, a changing pattern of JEE can be observed. JEE papers which was once dreaded as the toughest papers set in school level, consisting of incomprehendable questions, is seeming to undergoing some reform as the level of the questions has been simplified. Questions now demand only basic concepts and no problems require extended B.Sc. Level knowledge. JEE can be now cleared by studying school level books. It is extremely encouraging that IITs have finally understood the way JEE has changed the way of school studies and are in a way of reforming it.
If you have any more queries on JEE , you are always welcome to contact me or mail me.