Student Achievers: The critical role of competitions in student development

Celebrating student achievements in India is a multifaceted tradition. Recognition of achievements motivates students to strive for excellence and persist in their educational endeavors. It serves as a positive reinforcement, encouraging not just the achievers but also inspiring their peers to aim for similar or greater accomplishments.

Acknowledging students’ successes boosts their self-confidence and self-esteem. It validates their efforts and capabilities, leading to an enhanced sense of self-worth and belief in their potential.

For many students, recognition of their achievements opens up new opportunities for scholarships, advanced studies, and even career prospects. It can be a stepping stone to further success, providing them with the means and motivation to pursue their dreams.

Meet three such students of Apeejay School, Saket – Ritvik, Shradha Mohapatra, and Prakunj Vats – who were awarded the Mukhyamantri Vigyan Pratibha Pariksha (MVPP), earlier known as the Junior Science Talent Search Exam (JSTSE). The exam is open to the students of class IX who have scored at least 60 per cent in class VIII. The MVPP is run by the Science Branch of the Directorate of Education, Delhi Government for students from recognised Delhi schools. The aim is to provide scholarships and certificates to eligible students. This programme assists students in learning the fundamentals of Science, Mathematics, and General Awareness.

Shradha, who is now in class X, tells you that her hobbies include singing. “My rank in MVPP was 37 and covers the syllabus of class IX, requiring participants to complete a three-hour paper that includes questions from Mathematics, General Awareness, and Science. The performance in this exam determines eligibility for a scholarship, with 100 to 200 students selected annually based on their merit,” Shradha explains who was awarded a scholarship of ₹5000 the year.

Sharing the format of the paper, she said that it includes both general and competitive questions, with all questions being multiple-choice. “Social Studies questions adhere strictly to the NCERT syllabus, while Mathematics and Science questions are slightly more competitive. So, I started preparing for the exam from the start, focusing simultaneously on my studies and exam preparation. This year-long process ensured that I wasn’t overwhelmed at the last moment,” Shradha shared and added that her motivation for taking the exam was simple.

“My motivation was to seize the opportunity provided by MVPP, as it is a unique exam only available to class IX students of Delhi. I aimed to secure the scholarship and achieve recognition for my efforts. But it was not without challenges. Balancing exam preparation with school responsibilities, especially since a school carnival, where I was a participant, was scheduled on the same day as the MVPP exam proved to be a challenge for me,” Shradha said and added that she plans to take Physics, Chemistry, Maths, and Computer Science in class XI since she aims to prepare for and succeed in the IIT entrance exams.

Ritvik’s rank on the other hand was 27 and the school was the main reason why he took the exam. “They provided all the information about the exam, registered me on my behalf, and we even had regular classes for it. I saw it as an opportunity to showcase my talents and understanding of various subjects in a single paper,” he said and added that he didn’t have a strict study plan, but he would study two chapters every day from a month before the exam. On the last day, he revised the entire syllabus.

While he managed to complete all the questions, it was quite challenging. “Time management was crucial as the competition was not with the other candidates but with time itself. Social Studies and Science were easier because they required less time for calculations compared to other sections. So I started with the mental ability section, followed by Science, then SST, and Math. I left the questions I was unsure about for last,” Ritvik said, who plans to buy books with the scholarship money he received.

He also said that he would not have done so well in the exam had it not been for his very supportive teachers, providing both online and offline classes, focusing on the previous year’s question papers and special classes for Science, Mathematics, and SST. “My parents were very supportive as well, helping me whenever I needed it and being available to reach out to at any time. I plan to take Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and aim to become an aerospace engineer,” Ritvik said.

Prakunj on the other hand wants to pursue Physics, Chemistry, and Math, and plans to pursue engineering. “Participating in such competitive exams helps alleviate test stress. It prepares you to manage stress and time more effectively, which are crucial skills for future exams,” he shared and added that he was thrilled when he came to know he had ranked 30.

“The most interesting aspect was that it challenged me to improve my applied user aptitude, which I found a bit weak. It required me to work on logical thinking and problem-solving skills, especially in the 100-section format. My study plan wasn’t highly focused since the exam questions weren’t very tough. I concentrated on mathematics and aptitude and practiced MCQs on weekends,” the class X student shared.

Focusing on attempting 100 questions in 100 minutes made it easy to tackle the 200 questions. “Our teachers provided special classes and worksheets as part of our preparation. This support played a significant role in our learning and preparation for the exam,” Prakunj said.

His parents also played a major role in his success. “They were supportive and believed that participating in the exam would provide valuable experience. They advised me to focus on my studies and not worry about the results. They told me I should enjoy the learning process instead,” Prakunj said in conclusion.