4/5/2018 The last mile - The Hindu

EXAM PREP EDUCATION

The last mile

R.L. Trikha
APRIL 01, 2018 17:00 IST
UPDATED: MARCH 31, 2018 13:54 IST

Quick pointers to give your JEE Main preparation the finishing touches

Aspirants are geared up, with JEE Main 2018 less than a week (or two) away. JEE Main,
organised by the CBSE will be held on April 8 (Offline) and April 15 and 16(Online –
Computer-Based Test or CBT). With around 12 lakh students appearing for the JEE Main,
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only the top 2.24 lakh will be eligible to appear in the computer-based JEE Advanced
2018.With limited time left, it is essential to take up several online mock tests. Start with
the revision of the covered syllabus, rather than learning new topics.

Follow these tips:

• Make a systematic plan for revision and follow it strictly.

• Know the pattern well: most likely, there will be 30 questions from each
subject; selective study is never recommended. In mathematics, pay more
attention to calculus and algebra. Electromagnetism and mechanics in physics
cover a higher proportion of questions asked in the Main exam. And as per the
trend, more questions are expected from physical and organic chemistry.
• Be prepared for trickier question types. Most students get stressed when
tackling questions related to: match the following, or statement and assertion.
• Spending too much time on questions that you are uncomfortable with will
give you less time to solve the easy ones. So, practise enough to be quick to
adapt to the level of the paper and act promptly.
• Don’t do anything new that you have not done in the last one or two years.
Revise formulae/scientific names that you are familiar with.
• Always clear your doubts with teachers, mentors, and peers. Don’t hesitate to
ask questions.
• Set your goals: note the chapters which need to be revised subject-wise. Make
further small notes for you to revise two to three days before the Main exam.
• Repeatedly tell yourself that you can do it. Keep a check on your sleep pattern,
and try to become an early riser.
• Make preparation interesting: use the Internet to interact with your friends,
teachers, or read blogs by, or forums of ex-IITians. Ask questions and help your
friends.

Points to remember for computer-based JEE Main:

• Remember, in the CBT, the correct options are submitted with a click of the
mouse.
• Take several mock tests, but in online mode.
• Scroll to check if all questions are appearing on the screen before starting to
attempt the questions.
• As all pages can be viewed through a tab on the top right side of the screen,
select the subject you wish to take up first and ensure to click on the right
option and save the option immediately.
• One must be careful to submit the paper only after all the questions in the
three subjects have been dealt with.
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• Points to remember for the pen and paper JEE Main:

• Check that you have got the entire question paper and no page is missing in-
between, because of a printing mistake.
• Attempt all subjects in three rounds, instead of subject-wise.
• Attempt questions in the order of ease of doing them, where ease depends
upon both the ability to solve a question and time taken to solve it.

Do’s

• Carefully read the entire question paper in the first five to ten minutes.
• Attempt easy questions first. Choose sections that have less risk and more
gain.
• Double-check before marking the OMR sheet.

Don’ts

• Don’t start from a question you don’t know.

• Don’t get upset if one section is tough. You can score in other sections.
• Don’t guess if you have no idea about the concept involved in a question.
• Don’t be nervous if you find the paper tough, since it is the relative
performance that counts.
• Don’t take the CBT if you are not comfortable with computers.

The author is Director, FIITJEE.

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