Tips for prepration without coaching

 Strategies and Tips to Crack IIT JEE without Coaching

Taking small steps and following the right strategies can make a huge difference. From your study pattern and reference books to the way you solve the paper, all

can go a long way in helping you achieve your IIT dream. Here are a few tips you

should follow in your preparation, which if done properly, can be game changers. 

1. Start with the NCERT

NCERT books form the base for the JEE entrance exams, especially for the JEE

Main. A common mistake made by many students is to start with reference books

directly while their concepts and theoretical knowledge are not very strong. NCERT books will give you a firm grounding of concepts and, thus, are the best

books to start your preparation. It is also worth noting that 60-70% of the JEE

Main paper is based on NCERT books. However, they are not enough for practical

questions. 

2. Have a Curious Mind

You should have a curious mind and ask questions whenever you are reading a

particular theory. You should be able to question every concept you are reading to

gain a better understanding of each concept. Questioning concepts will help you

widen your understanding and will, thus, help you solve various twisted questions

based on the same theory. You can never solve problems if you are simply

mugging concepts.

 3. Solve with the Multiple Solution Technique

Whenever you are solving questions of a particular chapter, don’t try to solve 100

questions for each topic, rather try solving a particular question in multiple ways. For example: In Mathematics, calculus problems can be solved using co-ordinate

geometry and any complex number problem can be solved using vector calculus.

This will help you in learning alternative methods of approaching a problem. In the

actual paper, there will be times when you won’t be able to solve a question using

your preferred method. Knowing multiple methods of solving a question will help

you arrive at result even if another approach is required.

 4. Revise Wisely

Students generally either revise too much or they don’t revise at all. Once you are

through with a chapter, revise it thoroughly but don’t spend more than 2-3 hours on

the revision. Amplify your revision by solving practice questions on the topic from

reference books instead. This will help you immediately understand the concepts

you have just studied. 

5. Manage your Time Efficiently

No matter how many efforts you put in or how many papers you solve, if you do

not utilize your time effectively, you will never be able to complete and practice in

time. To keep a better track of the time you allot to various chapters, revision, and

practice, you can make use of time management apps. Even a simple tool like

Google Calendar can be used to allot time or days to chapters/sections. It can be

more effective than a printed calendar since it will give you reminders for different

events.

 6. Solve Multiple Mock Tests

Practice at home is the most effective when you test yourself at regular intervals. Now, the question is how to maximize your benefit from these mock papers. The

common mistake made by most students is they never review what they have

solved. You should spend at least 6-7 hours to review the process. Whenever you are solving a paper, try to analyze the questions or chapters you are

facing a problem with and the areas you are quick to solve. After the first mock test, you will have a list of your strong areas as well as the topics that require more attention. Utilise these insights to work on the areas you lack and with each mock

test you would find yourself getting better. Also, develop a smart strategy while solving the paper. 50% of the questions in the

paper have a low difficulty level, so solve them first. Never attempt the paper in a

sequence and avoid the questions you face difficulty in while solving your mock

papers. 

7. Choose the Right Reference Books

Once you are thorough with your NCERT books, move on to reference books. These books cover topics from the basic to advanced level application-based

questions. Reference books will help you greatly in building knowledge about

concepts through practice. These are specifically designed for JEE preparation by

the top experts in the market.

 Some recommended reference books for JEE preparation:

Physics

• NCERT Physics – Class 11 and 12

• Concepts of Physics (Vol 1 & 2) – H.C. Verma (Highly Recommended) • Understanding Physics Series (5 books) – D.C. Pandey

• Problems in General Physics – I.E. Irodov (Arihant Publications) (Only for JEE

Advanced)

Chemistry

• NCERT Chemistry –Class 11 and 12

• Organic Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry – O.P. Tandon

Organic Chemistry –Jagdamba Singh

Mathematics

• Course in Mathematics for IIT-JEE – Tata McGraw Hill • Mathematics for Class 11 and 12 – R.D. Sharma

• Coordinate Geometry for IIT-JEE – S.K. Goyal • Differential Calculus for IIT-JEE – Amit Agarwal

When to Call it off?

No one is a better judge than you. Now as your class 12th is ending, you can easily

take a call on your chances of cracking the exam in a few months. The qualifying

marks for the JEE Main are generally around 85-90. Even after spending hours on

revision and solving multiple mock tests you are scoring around 80 on the mocks, it is not a very high score. You would need at least a score of 170 to get into a centrally funded college. If you

are getting 35%, you should take a call if you can manage a 60% or not. If you

cannot, you should explore other career options beyond engineering too to keep

your options open. It is not too late! Just pull up your socks and start working in the right direction. Knowing the basics and concentrating on the right plan is the key to cracking the

JEE Main and JEE Advanced. Follow the tips above, and make your own

customized plans based on them. With the right efforts, you will be able to get

through. All the best!