How to Prepare for IIT From Class 12th

Indian Institute of Technology was established in 1961 under the Institutes of Technology Act 1961. It is considered an institute of national importance. It has around 23 IIT campuses across India and is governed by a public institute with autonomous authority. It has become the source of the elevation of engineers and scientists in India and worldwide. However, detailed steps to prepare for IIT are given below.

The IIT Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is a national undergraduate engineering examination. It has been conducted annually since 2002. All IIT and NIT colleges use JEE scores for their admissions process. In addition, many other engineering colleges also consider JEE performance during admissions. The JEE comprises 2 successive papers, the JEE Main and the JEE Advanced. Firstly, the JEE Main is an entry-level undergraduate entrance examination. Therefore, the difficulty level is less than that of the JEE Advanced. JEE Main marks are currently accepted for admission by many prestigious institutions, such as NITs, IITs, etc.

However, IITs will not take the JEE Main scores. Thus, the secondary entrance examination, the JEE Advanced, is necessary for IIT seats. Once a candidate has received passing marks in the JEE Main, they will become eligible for the JEE Advanced. Consequently, class 12th aspirants must focus on preparing for the JEE Main.

Preparing for IIT During Class 12th

A major challenge in preparing for JEE during class 12th is the “bottleneck effect” created by board exams conducted around the same time as the JEE. As these exams tend to be held around a month apart, aspirants must have functional strategies for approaching board exams and the JEE. 

Where to Start Preparing for the JEE?

Follow the ideas given below to start effectively preparing for the JEE:

Past papers

Paper copies of completed exams have been published since 2010. Hence, assessing initial knowledge through past JEE Main papers is beneficial. In addition, practising JEE Main past papers throughout preparation is also useful to benchmark skill development.

Coaching centres

Since the inception of the JEE exam, numerous JEE coaching centres have opened across India. Coaching centres are extremely useful for those who learn best in a classroom environment. However, it is not a necessity to attend JEE coaching classes. Additionally, coaching centres are not recommended for students who prefer solitary study. 

Online sources

Students can also take advantage of the content creators on both YouTube and search engines which provide materials and lectures free of cost. It can be helpful for students from the Economically Weaker Sections. Students can also subscribe to online coaching applications like Unacademy, grade up, etc.

NCERT papers

The JEE syllabus is noted to be based on an NCERT syllabus framework. Thus, it is imperative to have a working knowledge of the NCERT topics of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

JEE preparation books

Many reputable JEE examination preparation books have been published in the last decade. JEE prep books generally contain foundational knowledge, helpful tips, past papers and example questions. These books are especially helpful for those who prefer solitary study.

Be flexible between solving questions for board exams and IIT JEE

Board exams use a step-by-step marking method; you must write in points, flowcharts, and diagrams as part of your answers. In JEE, using basic mathematical calculations, you want the answer in the least amount of time.

Other tips to be more focused on your goal:

• In addition to having a solid understanding of topics, the key to success is time management. Each section should be given enough time. In your tests and exams, start with the subject in which you are most confident.

• Avoid studying from a variety of books and materials. If you have enrolled in a coaching program, your IIT-JEE study material will be adequate to cover the course. In JEE preparation, quality is more important than quantity.

• Make a list of significant terms, formulas, reactions, errors when answering problems, etc. Include any shortcuts and methods that you have developed.

• Examine the IIT-JEE syllabus to determine which topics you already covered in class 11th. After completing all of the subjects and chapters in class 11th, you can begin studying topics in class 12th.

What is Required for IIT Admissions?

Currently, there are 23 IIT institutes in India. Hence, there is much demand for seats within the prestigious IIT colleges. However, despite the lakhs of students seeking admission to IITs annually, there are only 16,053 IIT seats. Thus, there is a high level of competition during the admissions process. Listed below are the basic eligibility criteria to be considered for IIT admissions. 

• 12th class pass marks.

• Age Requirement: Candidates must be between 17 and 25 years of age. 

• JEE Main examination pass marks.

• JEE Advanced examination pass marks.

From 2013 to 2016, 12th class board examination marks added weightage to the JEE All-India Rank and were thus important for admissions. However, there is no credible source to justify this information. Thus, the JEE Main exam was the first and final hurdle in 2021.

Debunking Myths

Here are a few of the popular myths that have been answered:

• "The IITJEE is an Easy Exam."

The JEE is purposefully written to be difficult. Entrance examinations, in general, are designed to "weed out" average candidates. Additionally, the volume of students who take the exam every year is immense. Given these facts, the JEE exam format regarding skill requirements and time management is difficult. However, if prepared with sufficient time and energy, the IITJEE is feasible to write.

• "The IITJEE should be "crammed" for."

As mentioned before, the IITJEE tests problem-solving abilities. Unlike descriptive questions, the IITJEE cannot be "mugged up". Therefore the IITJEE requires long-term preparation. It's ideal to start studying six months before the IITJEE exam. 

• "There is a "catch-all" IITJEE study plan."

Given the problem-solving nature of ITTJEE questions, everyone starts at different stages in preparation. Thus, there is no universal study plan for the IITJEE. Therefore, it is key to understand internal strengths and weaknesses regarding the syllabus's initial understanding and learning style. Students can then modify a personalized study plan based on this knowledge. 

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