Dear Aspirants,
Now the days for IIT exams are numbered, so now is the time
to plan your innings well to realize your dream of getting into IIT.
Its a time of intense deliberations and choosing the right
alternatives. Whatever you are going to do from now on will
determine the outcome of the efforts that you have put in JEE
preparation. This first first of the newsletters adresses the
immediate concerns of most of you. In the coming newsletter togather
we will making a sincere effort for the IITian in YOU to showup in
the world.
At this point of time, i am inviting you to review what all
you did uptil now. How much course you have covered? What's your
depth of understanding the concepts? The kind of marks that you are
scoring? What's the revision pattern that you are going to follow?
And this exercise is important for the simple reason if you are on
the journey then there ought to be milestones. You must have a
measure of your strength and weakness before devising any sort of
straegy.
Many of you might be thinking let me first finish up the
course before i can take on revision. To be very frank, while
preparing for IIT course never completes. Till the day exam is over
no one can say my preparation is complete. There is always a feeling
i could have done this and that. Always keep in mind, JEE is not
about scoring 100% in a subject or the examination. Your aim should
be to attain an optimal score in each subject, depending on your
strengths and weaknesses. So as of now list down all the topics
which you have covered and workout whats the weightage of subject
matter which you have studied by now. Also, identify your strong and
weak areas. Track your progess and moniter it. Thats where "65 days"
will come handy. Now about the remaining syllabus, do the ABC
analysis (which we will be discussing later in this newsletter) and
work out a timed plan of study in such a manner that you get enough
time to revise topics you know and to cover the major syllabus due.
We, as authors, are commited for the IITian in you to showup in the
world so let me add a word of caution. If you are thinking about
completing the entire course and then going for the revision/ tests
then that could be a serious risk to take.
Another concern for most of you is about depth of
understanding of concepts. If you are comfortable with your
conceptual clarity well and fine and if not then start working onto
it right now. Three months time is good enough for the IIT JEE
preparation but then you will have to be focussed, intentional and
stay inspired by the feel of making it to IIT. Moreover, the change
in pattern now provides you an ideal opportunity. Now, let us
quickly come to what all it demands for the IITian in you to showup
the world. It requires-
1. Analysis and forecasting.
2. Planning- squencing and scheduling
3. Organizing
4. Executing the plan.
5. Coordinating and controlling.
let us take them one by one.
1. Analyzing and forecasting - Here we will go by ABC method of
analysis. Take the JEE syllabus given in the cocoon and divide the
entire syllabus into three categories.
A type -it includes 30% of the syllabus which have a weightage of
nearly 40% in JEE.
B type - 40% of syllabus and 40% of weightage.
C type - 30% of syllabus and 20% of weightage.
To do this you can take support ideally from an ex-IITian or if it
is not possible then from anyone you feel is competent enough to
guide you. Doing this you will know what to do and in what order.
2. Planning - sequencing and scheduling- Now you can workout
timelines what should be completed and by when and with what
proficiency level. Sequencing of task should be done as per your
strength and weakness.
3. Organize - To execute your plan you must work out- what resources
(textbooks/ coaching/ tution etc) will you require? Who's support
will you take? How much to study in a day? At what frequency you
need to give tests etc?
4. Executing the plan - While studying focus onto concept- most
importantly why is it so? How is it related to what all i know?
Where else it can be used? Is there any exception? Ideally spend
more time on concept building. Now, once you do that come to
application part or problem solving. Always remember you are not
solving any problem to memorize methods, formulae, tricks,
techniques but to apply what you have studied previosly. So dont
give up on problems, dont rush for solutions. Always work out - What
is given? What is to be found? Which concepts to be used? What new
things have you learned by solving a particular problem? Every
problem you are going to solve on your own by doing what i have
prescribed will enrich your concepts and your belief in you.
5. Coordination and control - This is perhaps the most crucial
element. This element requires day-to-day tracking and periodic
tracking. Tracking can be done only when you have standard
parameters worked out. Parameters have to be tangible and mesurable,
like marks scored, no of problems solved on your own etc and not
like i am feeling great about it, i studied for such and such no of
hrs. So track your performance and moniter any deviation from the
standards and take corrective actions.
At the end, i would say that plan realistically and not by whims and
wishes, Work with intentionality and not on moods, opinions and
swings.
So give the IITian in you a chance to showup. Make your moves right
now.
All the best
Amit Sharma