Love knows no bias and hence this mastermind is fond of all his core subjects with equal élan and panache. Meet Aviral Shukla, student of class XI at Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park. In a candid interview, Aviral expresses his gratitude to his school for laying a rock solid academic foundation.
Read edited excerpts here.
How do you feel after receiving the ATSE scholarship?
I was happy after receiving the scholarship for the third time in a row and the fact that I scored 3rd rank improving from the performances of my previous attempts.
What are your plans ahead?
My main focus is on IIT-JEE as I want to be a part of IIT Delhi. Mastering core concepts in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics is a priority, along with developing effective time management strategies for the exam.
How did you prepare for the exam?
The paper consisted of Mental Ability, Maths, Chemistry and Physics having 50 questions each. I have given many olympiads, MVPP Exam, previous attempts of ATSE and was thus confident enough about Mental Ability. I revised the basic theory of Chemistry and Important formulae of Maths and Physics through NCERT a day before the exam and attempted a previous year paper of ATSE Mathematics all of which were sufficient for a decent rank.
What was the most challenging part of the exam?
The questions in general were not very tough. Few required a bit of application while most were direct. The biggest challenge was the time factor as in each exam 45 minutes were provided for 50 questions and recalling concepts when you have less than a minute is the key to success in an exam like ATSE. Balancing time was a huge factor in Maths as a lot of questions in the Commercial Maths section and Geometry require 2-3 minutes to solve so one needs to meticulously pick out the questions yielding a quicker answer.
Which is your favourite subject and why?
While sitting in an exam every subject needs to be given equal respect as you are not aware how much marks a subject will fetch you on the exam day. Still, I would say while solving questions Maths is my favourite as it tests the analytical capability of your brain and each question has something different to offer. It’s a subject that demands application more than memorization and thus I like it a lot. Physics and Chemistry are also very interesting subjects as they need you not just to be well versed with theory but also with application of those concepts. In the languages section, Sanskrit is my favourite as it’s easy and fun to learn. I would have opted for the same in class 11th if I had the option.
How did Apeejay support you for the exam?
Apeejay extended great support to me in the form of providing previous year papers and revision classes with teachers resolving queries and revising what I have learnt in class 10th.
What’s your ambition in life?
My ambition in life is to continually seek growth and learning, exploring the beauty of Science. I would like to work closer to the field of Maths and Science while the rest depends on destiny. While my final goal is still undecided, I aim to make a positive impact in whatever path I choose.