The cracking mantra

What to do

Now that JEE Main exams are over, the next big exam facing many aspirants will be to crack the Advance stage. To be a top ranker, there are a series of steps that should be followed, says Rl Trikha

JEE Advanced 2017 will be conducted by IIT-Madras on May 21, 2017 for admissions to B Tech programmes in 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Application form of JEE Advanced 2017 will be available for filling from April 28, 2017 (10 am) to May 2, 2017 (5 pm).

Paper-I of JEE Advanced 2017 will be conducted from 9 am to 12 pm, while paper-II will be held from 2 pm to 5 pm. It’s mandatory for candidates to appear in both the papers. JEE Advanced 2017 is the second stage of JEE.

For 2017 around 2,20,000 top rankers from JEE Main will be eligible to take the exam. Therefore, to crack the JEE Advance exam, one must focus on three things:

• Strengthening of concepts
• Proper application of concepts
• Practice of JEE Advance level problems

The Pattern

nThere will be two question papers, each of three hours duration. Both the question papers will consist of three separate sections on Chemistry, Physics and Maths. These will be of objective type, designed to test comprehension, reasoning and analytical ability of candidates.

• The question papers will consist of various shades of objective type (multiple choice) and numerical answer type questions designed to test comprehension, reasoning and analytical ability of candidates. Some of the questions will entail negative marking for wrong answering.
• The question paper will be in either English or Hindi. Candidates must exercise the choice of question paper language while registering for JEE Advanced 2017.

The Strategy

Strategy for answering different types of questions:

• Multiple-choice single correct: The best way to attempt these questions is to run through the question-option-question way. Scanning the question again after the options in mind helps strategising the approach to solve the question. Sometimes the options themselves guide the correct strategy or even the correct answer.
• Multiple-choice multi-correct: Each question has to be solved and mapped with all options. It may also happen that the options are same values written in different form. Statistically these are the questions with least percentage of correct responses.
• Comprehension-based: Even if you know the concept mentioned in comprehension, you should still read it thoroughly, there are chances of redefining a concept or providing hypothetical assumptions. In that case your conventionally correct approach might lead to incorrect answer.
• Matrix match type (one-to-one matching): If the question is of one-to-one matching, then your approach should be finding the odd one out (if any). This will help you quickly reach the correct mapping.
• Matrix match type (one-to-many matching): This type of matrix match would be the most challenging and time taking. The suggested way would be to attempt this problem if you are confident on the concepts of all four rows, or else keep this question in abeyance for attempting last.
• Integer answer type: Generally these questions are the subjective questions converted to objective, and hence would be time consuming.

The correct way would be treat them as subjective and solve them only if you have a command on the topic or if you have attempted all other questions of the paper. These questions also have a low scoring statistical record.

• Assertion reasoning type: These days these types of questions are not at all asked, but in case there are few questions of this category, be very careful if both the statements are correct.

Because, then it’s very tricky to decide between the options A and B.  You can mark the correct response easily in any other case.

The approach

• Stay focussed and have a positive attitude
• Develop speed. Refer to reputed mock-test series to build a winning exam temperament. Solve the last year’s IIT-JEE papers. Focus on your weakness and improve upon your concepts.
• Practise of JEE Advanced level questions . It improves reasoning & analytical ability.
• Remember it is quality of time spent and not the quantity alone. Give short breaks of five to 10 minutes every one to two hours of serious study. Completely relax when you take a break. Practice meditation to develop inner calm, poise, confidence and power of concentration.
• Don’t overstress yourself. Five to six hours of sleep every night is a must, especially three-four days before IIT-JEE to keep you physically and mentally fit. Short naps may help to regain freshness, avoid over-sleeping during the day.
• On exam day, in the exam hall go through papers carefully. Prioritise order of answering

Subject-wise, question-wise. Do not attempt questions of black-box type. Increase your rank by avoiding negative marking. You must attempt all those questions which don’t have negative marking. Don’t be nervous if you find the paper tough. It is the relative performance that counts. Put your best show and have confidence in yourself.

The writer is director, FIITJEE