FINGERTIP PREP for IIT

The JEE (Advance) exam is on May 24 and aspirants would have completed their course several times over. But for those who are giving this test for the first time, it is important to not only know what the pattern will be like but to also do last-minute revision of a few important topics like mechanics in Physics, all the three parts of Chemistry and algebra in Mathematics, says FIIT JEE expert Partha Halder

The Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced), or JEE (Advanced) is the gateway to the IIT’s. It is one of the toughest entrance examinations in the world. Around 1.5 lakh students shortlisted from JEE (Mains) (approximately 75,000 under general category and remaining under various reserved categories) will appear for the examination on May 24 , 2015 (Sunday). 

The examination will be held on Sunday May 24, 2015 as per the schedule given below: Paper 1: 9 am to 12 pm. Paper 2: 2 pm to 5 pm.

For those who are giving the exam for the very first time, here is what the pattern will be like:

• There will be two question papers, each of three hours duration. Both the question papers will consist of three separate sections on Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics. They will be of objective type, designed to test comprehension, reasoning and analytical ability of candidates.
• All the questions will be Multiple Choice.
• Negative marking scheme will be followed in the checking of examinations.
• The candidate can opt for question paper in any of the language viz. English or Hindi.
• Questions will be from the syllabus of Classes XI and XII in the ratio of 45:55. The two year syllabus is quite elaborate and hence a focussed approach at this juncture will help you to maximise performance. Well, here are few subject specific pointers from FIITJEE experts:

Physics

• Mechanics is one topic in physics that is considered difficult to score in by many experts. This is also the topic that forms the major portion of JEE (Advanced) in terms of marks. So this topic can’t be neglected.
• One must also try to concentrate on other topics that are easier to score in order to ensure a better performance like optics, electricity and magnetism.
• Kinematics and particle dynamics are important topics of mechanics that make regular appearances ina the JEE papers.
• Mechanics and electricity and magnetism are the most important topics in terms of the number of questions asked in JEE.
• In decreasing order of the marks they carry, are listed different topics of Physics according to their appearance in the previous year’s papers.

Chemistry

• In Chemistry all the three parts — Physical, Inorganic & Organic have equal weightage.
• Revise Bohr’s model of atom, chemical bonding, kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics (especially 2nd law) and electrochemistry.
• Revise General Organic Chemistry (GOC), Alkene, Carbonyl Compounds and Carbohydrates.
• In Inorganic Chemistry, revise chemistry of boron, silicon, oxides and oxy acids of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Sulphur. Special attention needs to be given upon qualitative analysis and coordination compounds.
• Twenty-four hours ahead of the exam — just revise important formulae.

Mathematics

• Previous JEE papers suggests, more attention should be on topics like vectors and 3-D geometry than probability or indefinite integration, another topic is complex numbers; every year two or three problems on complex numbers are asked. Hence mastering complex numbers, vectors, 3-D geometry and definite integrals must be top on priority.
• Algebra can be made easier if you have the ability to picture functions as graphs and are good at applying vertical and horizontal origin shifts carefully as zeros of functions and other specific values can be calculated in much less time using these techniques.
• Differential calculus again relates well to roots of equations, especially if you use Rolle’s and lagrange’s theorems.
• Complex numbers can be used to solve questions in coordinate geometry too. Trigonometric questions require applications of De Moivre’s theorem.
• Permutation-combination and probability are very important topics in algebra .You need to be thorough with the basics of Bayes theorem, derangements and various ways of distribution, taking care of cases where objects are identical and when they are not.
• Matrices can be related to equations, hence a 3x3 matrix can actually be visualized as being three-planes in 3-D Geometry. Determinants have some very nice properties which may be used. For instance, the ability to break them into two using a common summand from a row/column.
• Integral calculus can be simplified using tricks and by keeping in mind some basic varieties of integral functions.

Remembering properties and applying them wisely saves lot of time.

• Coordinate geometry requires a good working knowledge of the parametric forms of various conic sections and an ability to convert the other, tougher ones to these basic forms and then interpret the solutions accordingly.