JEE Main Session I: ‘My school, particularly the teachers, was very supportive”

The JEE Mains Results for 2024 Session I were declared on February 12. Several students from Apeejay Schools have brought accolades to the institute. One such student is Atharv Singhal, a class XII student at Apeejay School, Noida scored 99.5 percentile in the recently declared JEE-Mains Session I exam. His subject combination included Physics, Chemistry, and Math with Computer Science.

“I plan to pursue a BTech; ideally in Computer Science, as that’s where my passion lies. However, I’m open to seeing what the future holds for me,” Atharv said.

Excerpts from the interview.

Are you satisfied with it? What’s next for you?

The score is quite satisfactory. I’m considering taking Session II and also the JEE-Main Advanced exams. While I am happy with the percentile, there’s no harm in taking the second session, as the worst outcome would be achieving the same or better results than I presently hold.

What was your study approach for the JEE exams?

My approach was to identify my weak subjects or topics through tests and then concentrate on improving them. This was how I prepared for the exams.

Which subjects or topics were you most confident in, and which did you find challenging?

I was most confident in the initial chapters of Physics since most of it was from class XI. However, I found some topics in Chemistry to be challenging.

Did you have a specific strategy in place for dealing with your weaker areas?

I wouldn’t say I had a strict strategy, but I focused on improving myself day by day, especially in areas where I felt weaker.

How did you manage to prepare for both JEE and Board exams?

While I was in school, I primarily focused on studying for the Boards. Back home, I would study for JEE. Now that the Board exams are nearing, I’ll start dedicating time to prepare for them. Balancing both hasn’t seemed like a big challenge so far, as I believe there’s sufficient time to prepare for the Boards.

Did you have an exam strategy for the day of the JEE exam?

Yes, my strategy involved tackling the exam sections in a specific order to manage time effectively. I planned to attempt Chemistry first, then Physics, as this order aligned with my confidence levels in each subject. I did the Math section last. This strategy helped me do the questions I knew faster, leaving me time to tackle Math.

How did your school support you?

My school, particularly the teachers, was very supportive. They adjusted schedules and events to accommodate JEE preparations. Additionally, they were understanding when I needed to take leave to study at home, even if it meant my work was incomplete.

Were there any specific books or materials that you found particularly useful during your preparation?

I mostly relied on study material. For additional study, I consulted specific books for different subjects: HC Verma for Physics, Narendra Avasthi for Physical Chemistry, and Himanshu Pandey for Organic Chemistry. For Math, I stuck with the NCERT textbooks and other study materials.