JEE Main Session I: Apeejay students share their winning formulas

In the competitive realm of engineering entrance exams, cracking the JEE Main with a 99 percentile is a formidable achievement. Five such achievers from Apeejay School, Pitampura set the bar high, not only with their scores but with their strategic preparation and disciplined approach towards one of India’s most challenging exams.

Amogh Batra, who scored 99.93 percentile, took a slightly different route. With a focus on Math, the subject he found most challenging, he dedicated half of her preparation time to mastering it, while the rest was allocated to Physics and Chemistry.

“This balanced yet flexible approach allowed me to shift focus when needed, avoiding monotony and keeping the preparation process dynamic. My preparation for JEE began when I was in class XI. I think it is important to start early but not too early to avoid unnecessary stress,” Amogh said.

Arnav Bansal, who scored 99.76 percentile, has non-medical subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Math, English, and Physical Education, aimed for a holistic preparation strategy. His choice of Physical Education was a strategic one, aimed at reducing stress, a common adversary for many JEE aspirants.

“I did not set hourly study targets; instead, I focused on completing set goals from morning till night, ensuring a balanced and comprehensive coverage of the syllabus. This methodological approach was not just limited to JEE preparation but extended to balancing the class XII Board exams as well. With most of the Board syllabus overlapping with the JEE syllabus, I found it manageable to prepare for both simultaneously. This was supported by the school’s flexibility and teacher availability even on holidays,” Arnav shared.

Both Amogh and Arnav highlighted the importance of the material they used, with Arnab sticking strictly to his existing study materials to avoid confusion, and Amogh relying on extra books for Physics. They stressed the significance of NCERT books, especially for Chemistry, underscoring their relevance for JEE Main preparation.

Kanishk Goel, who scored 99.27, plans to take the second JEE Main Session II since his primary focus is JEE Advanced. Sharing his study strategy, Kanishk said: “I didn’t have a rigid schedule as such. In my view, it’s a misconception that higher academic goals require higher hours of study. Yes, students should cross a certain threshold but I feel that the quality and productivity of a sitting is much more important. My study tactics depend on my energy and concentration levels. If I am bored I tackle interesting and tough topics, whereas if I am tired my focus is shifted to more menial and tedious study tasks. I take breaks as and when I feel I need them. I think it’s more important to be honest with yourself than to have a rigid schedule,” Kanishk shared.

He also had a novel way to tackle any stress or anxiety. “I did not have much anxiety in my journey, but whenever I did, I would usually talk with my friend or go out at night and walk it off. It helped to remember that anxiety or stress is just a manifestation of things not breaking your way when you want them to,” he said.

His school was also of utmost help in his studies. “Often our study curriculum required us to make projects or be engaged in some tasks. My teachers, many times, eased the deadlines for me and made exemptions so that I could have more time to focus on my preparation for JEE. They made it clear to me that as long as I did not sacrifice my studies they were willing to help me and be easygoing. I am truly grateful to every one of them for their contribution to my journey,” Kanishk said.

Sukriti Talwar, who scored 99.18, also intends to appear for Session II because she was not sufficiently prepared for Math in Session I. “I am confident that with more preparation and practice, I can improve my score in the upcoming session. Focusing on understanding the concepts and practicing more questions will be my strategy moving forward. In the early stages of my preparation for class XII, I used to wake up early. During the early morning hours, I was able to solve questions easily. As the JEE exam days drew nearer, I focused on revising and reading the NCERT thoroughly,” Sukriti said and added that Physics and Chemistry are her forte.

“I always start with Chemistry. However, in class XI, it was my weakest. But I worked on it and made it my strength. Physics is conceptual and formula-based, if you can know the way of solving the question, you can crack it. Math was my weakest and I intend to improve it in the coming days,” Sukriti said and shared that she would love to get into IIT-Hyderabad or IIT-Delhi.

The school, she said, has been extremely supportive in her 14-year journey from nursery to class XII. “The school provided me with excellent resources and teachers who were always available to help me with my studies. They also encouraged me to participate in various extracurricular activities to develop a well-rounded personality,” she said.

Vibhusha Garg, who achieved 99.08 percentile, intends to enhance her Math scores in the upcoming JEE Main session, capitalising on her proficiency in Chemistry. “With a deep interest in Chemical Engineering, I aspire to explore this domain further. For the JEE Main Session I exam, I adopted a simple yet effective strategy; I dedicated myself to the NCERT textbooks, believing them to be unparalleled in clarifying concepts. My formula for acing the exam was to maintain consistency in my studies and to never shy away from seeking clarifications or posing questions,” Vibhusha said in conclusion.