Wednesday 29 January 2014

Last few months

The last few months are very important.
Waste this time and time will waste you.
Time is precious during the last few months. Especially the time between JEE Main and JEE Advanced. This time is the rank deciding factor.
Let me make it a bit more explanatory. The people who haven't prepared well during the past two years are going to make full use of this time. Such students were not able to prepare well because of say school exams, board exams etc. But now(after board exams are over), they are completely free of any load and will charge themselves to the fullest.
They might easily go ahead if you don't work hard. So better utilize this time.
To be precise, do the following :

  • Do endless revision of inorganic chemistry. If you don't revise now, then it will be washed away.
  • Solve innumerable problems of organic and physical chemistry.
  • Solve as many problems as you can from various topics.
  • Make a clear list of topics/chapters in which you are weak.
  • Practice infinite problems of the chapters in the above list.
  • Make sure you have completed NCERT books thoroughly.
  • Make sure that you are solving a good amount of problems in a given time. Always have a timer with you to time yourself.
  • Take special care of your health. You don't want to waste even a fraction of this time.
  • Increase your study hours by around 10%.
  • Think about your target. Keep the target in mind and stay motivated.
  • Do well in the test series. Make sure to analyse your mistakes in every paper.
  • Note down the silly mistakes that you committed in the exams and make it a point that you don't repeat the same mistake again.
  • Revise your coaching notes regularly.
  • Cut down your extra curricular activities especially those activities in which your body gets exhausted (sports etc)
Word hard, work smart. The IITs are calling you.

Friday 17 January 2014

Ideas for efficient revision sessions

I received tonnes of requests on "How to revise ?"
Here are a few methods that are based on my own experience. Note that my strategy might completely fail for you. So it's best to discover one's own techniques when it comes to revision, which is a crucial stage in JEE preparation.
First of all, I will write about Chemistry because this is something that needs infinite revision.

Inorganic chemistry : As I have been emphasizing from the beginning, inorganic chemistry requires a lot of revision. I had my own strategy. I used to :

1.)read from books (NCERT/JD Lee/FIITJEE packages etc) 
2.)fix in my mind as much as I could in one shot
3.)maintain a diary wherein I used to mention all those facts which I didn't remember/used to forget easily
4.)revised that diary daily during the last couple of months
5.)revised the stuff of point number 2 (above) on weekends

This way, I ensured that I did not forget the things that have been covered so far.

Note : although I have mentioned JD Lee here. You can simply ignore it
Summary : re-read NCERT

Organic chemistry : towards the end of my preparation, I made a full reading of Morrison and Boyd to ensure that nothing is left from HC Verma of chemistry (Morrison Boyd is regarded as HC Verma of chemistry). I solved numerous problems to ensure that I am ready to apply the reactions on the final day.

Another important thing was that I revised all the "Key mechanisms" of LG Wade. They are the most important mechanisms and a table is given in the book that lists all the page numbers of the Key mechanisms. That table is meant for quick revision.
Summary : solve problems

Physical Chemistry : I solved the problems of RC Mukherjee (note that there are objective problems at the end of book). I regularly revised the chapter - Colloidal state

Summary : solve problems

Maths : for maths, I revised algebra from TMH. Co-ordinate geometry, Trigonometry from FIITJEE packages, Calculus from Arihant Differential and integral calculus (best pair of books for calculus) and Vectors/3-D geometry from ML Agarwal (ISC board Maths book)

Summary : solve problems

Physics : In physics, I was proficient in numericals but the thing that bowled me were the theory based questions that are frequently asked in more than one correct type problems. So I revised HC Verma fully (meaning the theory portion) and solved the objective I and II and discussed it with my teachers.

Summary : solve problems

Note that most of the summaries contain the tag - "solve problems".

Reasons : 
1.)you are applying the formulas so you are forced to recall them (this is what you'll be doing on D-day)
2.)you are practicing more and more questions
3.)your speed is increasing
4.)your accuracy is increasing
5.)your examination temperament is improving

Last piece of advice :

1.)Do not waste time after JEE main. Utilize this fully for you revision. This time is going to decide your rank. The one who wastes this time is going to be ruined on the JEE day
2.)If you JEE main doesn't go fine, don't be depressed
3.)Revise all the subjects daily - one subject per day is dangerous
4.)Keep pen and paper with you (for solving problems and not as a show piece)
5.)Practice as many problems as possible
6.)last and final one - don't be over confident. There are super stud people in every fields that are way ahead of you

All the best.

Do post your comments/queries

Saturday 11 January 2014

Qualitative analysis - requires quality study

Qualitative analysis is viewed as one of the most difficult chapters of inorganic chemistry because it requires sheer cramming with little or rather no logic. This is the perception of most JEE aspirants. But my view is a bit different.
If you study from a good source(which has been mentioned below) then I don't think that this chapter is that difficult as a JEE aspirant feels.
Here are a few tips :
1.) Prepare this chapter by "writing" the reactions on a notebook. You might feel that if you just read it once, then you are done but the case is different. An average JEE aspirant doesn't have that high IQ level. And it has been scientifically proved that we remember things better if we write them once. So carry pen and paper with you when you study this chapter.
2.) A good and reliable study material with a simple language is the best. For example - I used FIITJEE packages parallel to a book called Vogel's qualitative analysis. It's a good book but it is not meant for JEE. You have to study only about 15% of that book for JEE. You might like to try something else. But the above 2 must be sufficient. Note that instead of FIITJEE packages, you might have a different package. But don't worry, all are more or less the same.
3.) Solve a number of problems especially the past year problems. Don't miss a single problem from at least past 25 years. They repeat the questions from this chapter.
4.) In the end, the most important thing is revision. As I have already mentioned in my inorganic chemistry post, all the chapters of inorganic chemistry (qualitative analysis included) require intense revision. You are highly likely to forget everything you did if you do not revise say once a week.

Friday 10 January 2014

Algebra , the most difficult one

For me , algebra was like a nightmare , even today. Thankfully there is no algebra course here in B.Tech. Here is a chapterwise analysis of algebra as most people demanded. I am sorry for the delay.

Complex numbers : as the name suggests , it's a really complex chapter. Contains a large number of concepts. This chapter integrated with coordinate geometry serves as the source of a large number of questions. Be careful with this. Locus problems are asked from this chapter wherein the definitions are given in complex number notation and you are expected to decipher it. The triangle inequality is another important aspect.


Quadratic Equations : A rather simple chapter but very much interesting. Make sure you know all the concepts. This would be easy if you practice past years problems well.


Progressions and series : The so called Vn method is most important. Recursion problems are the favourite ones. Make sure you know the definitions well and are well equipped to apply them whenever needed.


Logarithms : Simplest one. But the base change formula is important. Direct questions are asked rarely but they can test you in say a different way but integrating this chapter with other chapters of algebra.


Permutations and Combinations : The most difficult chapter for me. I am still confused so I can't really say anything but make sure that you solve a large number of problems.


Binomial Theorem : Easy one. Practice a handful of problems and you are done.


Matrices : Simplest chapter of algebra. But the paper setters know how to make you sweat in matrices problems. Check the paragraph that was asked in JEE 2010. It is the toughest problem from this chapter.


Probability : Not really difficult but not easy too. Practice board level problems in the beginning and then move on to tougher ones.


Algebra is an important and a diverse topic with a large weightage so make sure you practice it well.