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VIT is one of the top institutes of engineering studies in India and definitely one of the best in South India. VIT is a dream institute for many candidates in India and it’s attractive because of its good placement record across the years. VIT conducts its own exam, VITEEE for admission to about 5000 seats to the undergraduate engineering programs.

To help the future aspirants who take VITEEE exam for admission into the prestigious VIT institute, we had a conversation with one of the successful candidates of VIT. We tried to decode the formula for his success.  Below are the excerpts of our conversation with Naveen Bhaskar, who scored 666th rank in VITEEE in 2012.

Excerpts from the conversation

Edu4share: When did you start preparation for VITEEE?

Naveen: I started preparing from 9th standard onwards for engineering entrance exams with a clear vision of where I wish to see myself after 4 years. The best time to start revision for VITEEE is from January onwards as the exam is scheduled just after 20 days of board exams (in April). So it would be a good idea to start early as one would be able to devote only 2-3 hours per day during board exams to VITEEE and 8-10 hours per day to preparation once the board exams are over.

Edu4share: Did you also appear for any other exams apart from VITEEE?

Naveen: Yes, Actually I was preparing for IIT JEE, which was my main focus area. I appeared for VITEEE also as I am a south Indian, also the study material and the syllabus for VITEEE was very similar to IIT JEE so there was not much additional burden on me.

Edu4share: Since it’s a Computer Based Test exam now, how important it is to practice online?

Naveen: No, when I appeared for the exam it was not online, so my all preparation was to do with pen and paper. But the candidates taking the exam now should practice online and get themselves acquainted with the interface of the software. It is also important to get comfortable with using the computer for taking the test.

Edu4share: How much time you devoted to preparation for the VITEEE exam?

Naveen: I started seriously preparing for VITEEE exam from January 2012 onwards. Since I was also taking board exams ahead in March, I devoted 2-3 hours at that time. After i was done with the board exams I devoted 8-10 hours daily for VITEEE.

Edu4share: Can you please name the books that are a must have for VITEEE preparation?  Name some other resources a candidate should have? Name the main books that you prepared from including name, author, etc.

Naveen: I think C.B.S.E. text books are sufficient for VITEEE preparation but besides that i found “30 days crash course” book by Arihant Publication useful just before the entrance exam from where you can practice a lot within a limited period of time. Then subject wise one can go for

Physics

H.C Verma for Physics

Chemistry

O.P Tandon for Organic Chemistry

P.Bahadur for Physical Chemistry

Mathematics

Objective Approach to Mathematics by Amit Agrawal, Arihant publications

New Pattern IIT JEE MATHEMATICS by Dr. S K Goyal

For Specific Topics

Coordinate Geometry by S. L. Loney

Hall and Knight for Algebra

Calculus by S. K Goyal

Edu4share: What was your daily schedule like? Did you take coaching from any coaching institute? Why did u choose the specific coaching institute?

Naveen: I was enrolled at FIITJEE Chennai in the four year integrated school program (JEE Advanced) because it was a reputed institute with a good faculty and a good brand image. They also provided the students some good quality study material and many practice question booklets as well. And besides that, my elder brother too took coaching from FIITJEE. So I decided to go for FIITJEEfrom my 9th standard itself. I attended Maharishi Vidya Mandir School which is located at Chetpet Chennai. My normal school timings were from 8-12 and afterwards in the school premises itself, FIITJEE faculty used to teach us for JEE (advanced) from 1-4 pm. So it was a pretty hectic schedule but eventually one gets used to it.

Edu4share: Did you follow any blogs?  How helpful was it in your preparation?

Naveen: No, I did not follow any blogs as such. I just searched on Google for things I was looking for. I also followed exam related news on Google itself. But, I would suggest that one can follow blogs by Brilliant Tutorials and Career point as they provided help during my exam time and are pretty good.

Edu4share: Did you use any online content for preparation? Can a candidate go for online mock tests etc.?

Naveen: No, I did not use any online content as such. But now a candidate can opt for online mock tests from various websites. They can also go buy digital content like CDs for preparation.

Edu4share: What were the materials that you bought besides books and coaching material?

Naveen: I took test series by Brilliant Tutorials, and also ordered postal test series from Sri Chaitanya Institute.

Edu4share: Did you refer to yours or anyone else’s (senior’s) personal notes for your preparation? Do you think students can benefit from this preposition?

Naveen: Yes, I referred to my elder brother’s notes whenever I missed any of the coaching classes but it’s good to refer to notes of your batch mate instead of any senior because the syllabus changes every year and it’s better to study from updated notes.

Edu4share: What kept you motivated towards the VITEEE? Where did you get your inspiration from?

Naveen: My parents always asked me to study in a way, such that you can retain whatever is studied even after you have taken the examination. There is no point in cramming things for the exam and then knowing nothing related to the exam. So I always remembered that as my motivation. Besides that I used to play tennis to refresh as it used to boost my energy.

Edu4share: Are you active on social media? How useful is this for you during competitive exams?

Naveen: Yeah, it’s always good to stay updated with the current happenings. Social sites are beneficial during exam times to stay updated and motivated. You can also connect with other people preparing for the same exam and exchange knowledge about important topics and questions.

Edu4share: What were your key focus areas?

Naveen: Mathematics has always been a strong area for me. So I always made sure that I scored high marks in Mathematics, at least 150 out of 300 was my benchmark. I normally scored highest marks in mathematics, which was followed by a good performance in Chemistry and Physics.

Edu4share: What tips would you like to give the fellow aspirant?

Naveen: Cracking VITEEE is not exactly rocket science. It is easy once you realize that the quality of study is what that matters and not the numbers of hours put in preparation. Stay optimistic, have faith in yourself, and you will definitely crack the exam.

IITs are the pride of the nation and the pinnacles of success in India. Every engineering aspirant in the country dreams about getting in to an IIT. IITs symbolize knowledge and excellence and are known to have produced skillful students that aspire for excellence, not only in India but also around the world.

But clearing the JEE (Advanced) exam is not as easy as it looks. The level of questions is high and it is very difficult if not impossible to clear the exam without preparing for the exam dedicatedly. Students are often confused about how to approach the mammoth exam and often seek advice. We had a talk with a successful JEE (Advanced) candidate, Ayush Agarwal who is currently a student at IIT Delhi. He revealed to us some valuable insights about JEE (Advanced) which we decided to share with our readers.

Excerpts from Conversation

Edu4share: What made you prepare for JEE?

Ayush: When I was in my 7th standard, two of my cousins successfully cleared the JEE Advanced Exam and this motivated me to attempt the same exam when I reached that age. In India, when it comes to engineering, nothing can beat IIT because it gives you fame and respect in society and give you opportunities after your graduation.

Edu4share: May we know a little about your family background?

Ayush: My father has 5 brothers and all are into the family business, which includes garment shops and petrol pumps. My eldest uncle is a bank manager and his sons are in different IITs. They became my key source of motivation while preparing for IIT JEE.

Edu4share: When did you start preparing for JEE Advanced? And why?

Ayush: I started from 11th standard, usually many people start from 9th standard itself but I think that is too early to start preparing for engineering. Four continuous years of studying is way too much at such an early age.

Edu4share: Which all exams did you appear for? What was the reason behind specifically appearing for them?

Ayush: I had appeared for three exams in total i.e. JEE Advanced, BITSAT, and WBJEE. In my opinion,  JEE (Advanced) will be rated as the toughest exam I have ever taken, then I would rate WBJEE as it is difficult but not as hard, and finally I would list BITSAT as it is an easier exam in term of level of questions.

Edu4share: What is the main difference between JEE (Main) and JEE (Advanced)?

Ayush: JEE (Main) is the first barrier you need to cross for JEE advanced. Both the exams are of different levels and different strategies are needed for each of them. One needs to practice a lot and have accuracy in attempting questions for JEE (Main) whereas for JEE (advanced), a candidate needs not only intelligence but accuracy as well in attempting questions. One should start practicing more questions at least one month before the JEE (Main) to score well.

Edu4share: Name the resources that you used in your preparation for the JEE (Advanced) exam? What resources do you recommend to the future candidates?

Ayush: In my view, a candidate can’t clear JEE (Advanced) reading only N.C.E.R.T books. N.C.E.R.T. books are good for building the basics but they fail to give you an advantage over other candidates. R.D Sharma book didn’t help me in scoring well in even my coaching exams. Therefore, these books should only be used to build the basics as these books can’t help you in clearing the competitive exams.

There are certain books which I followed during my preparation for JEE like

For Physics

H.C. VERMA for Physics

Problems in General Physics by I.E Irodov, Arihant Publications – But it’s a bit high-level physics book and tougher to practice.

Chemistry

Organic Chemistry by Ranjeet Shahi (Arihant Publications)

N.C.E.R.T for Inorganic Chemistry – N.C.E.R.T would be sufficient as it has a vast subject.

Physical Chemistry by R.K Gupta (Arihant Publications)

Maths

JEE advanced for Mathematics by TATA McGraw-Hill

Solved Question Papers

“36 years previous year solved question paper for IIT JEE” by Arihant Publications – Pertains to all three subjects and I strongly recommend it.

Magazine

IIT Buzzword by Arihant Publications – This can really be a good option from the theory as well as questions point of view. One can go through it in free time. It’s a monthly magazine and you can avail it for 24 months till you are done with the exam. It covers almost every topic from all three subjects.

Once you are done with all theory and basic learning, one should complete the books one chooses to follow till the end of JEE exam and should not switch to others because of someone else’s recommendation.

Edu4share: What was your normal daily schedule like?

Ayush: I had school for five days in a week and coaching for three days in a week. On the day when I used to have both school and coaching classes, I used to reach my home at 9 pm so I had only 2-3 hours to prepare personally because a good sleep is also important for you to appear for such competitive exams. And on the days when I didn’t have to attend the coaching classes, I used to devote 8-9 hours to study and  track my progress of the entire past week. This was usually on weekends. Once I performed well in board exams, I was pretty sure that I would crack JEE exam too. I kind of lost my track during JEE (Main) and my study hours reduced from 8-9 hours to 5-6 hrs. Then I realized that I have performed terribly in JEE (Main), so I decided to focus only on JEE advanced and started off well.

Edu4share: Which coaching institute do you attend? How did you select the coaching institute?

Ayush: I did my coaching from a local coaching center in Jamshedpur which was the best option I had there i.e. Prerna Classes. I could have gone to Kota, which is considered as the biggest coaching hub for IIT aspirants but then my parents wanted me to perform well in C.B.S.E boards as well, which might  not have been possible in Kota. Plus being an 11th standard student and moving on my own all the way to Kota was an impractical thought. For IIT aspirants who are residing in the north I would suggest Kota as the best option for coaching centers and for the rest I would suggest local reputed coaching centers.

Edu4share: How did you manage your coaching and school?

Ayush: During 11th grade, I mainly focused on my coaching classes but in 12th grade as the C.B.S.E syllabus was relatively easy, I could focus on coaching and C.B.S.E equally. For the board exam, from January I focused mainly on my C.B.S.E to score well in it. Then for JEE (Main), as I mentioned earlier, I lost track of preparation and my performance degraded but then I performed well in JEE advanced after getting back on track with the determined goal of getting into IIT.

Edu4share: Did you follow any blogs? If yes,  please provide names and for which area specifically? How helpful was it?

Ayush: No, I did not follow any blog as such because I used to get my doubts cleared from my coaching professor, plus we had doubt-clearing sessions once in a weekday. I referred to mainly the reference books that I mentioned earlier.

Edu4share: Did you seek any help from any current student/senior/alumni from any IIT/Engineering college to help you in your preparations?

Ayush: Yes, I took help from my seniors. I look up to  a guy who secured 77 All India rank in JEE who  really helped me a lot during my preparation for JEE.

Edu4share: When should a candidate start revision for the exam ideally? What kind of resources you used for revision?

Ayush: I think revision of the concepts should go in tandem with the practice. In the initial days one should revise all the theory and then solve the questions on his own, instead of just looking to the solution right away.

Edu4share: Do you have any advice for a fellow aspirant?

AIIMS is famous not only for its undergraduate programmes; it is also quite renowned for its post graduate programs at national & global level. It is a dream institute for the various M.B.B.S graduates who have finished their undergraduate degree and want to become even better doctors.

For many aspirants, clearing AIIMS PG exam is an endless mystery which is quite hard to explore. It is the exam, where intelligent candidates must seek guidance of the successful candidates and sharpen their preparation to give them an edge about the rest of candidates taking the exam. The difficulty of the exam can be gauged by the fact that about 40 to 60 thousand candidates take the exam which is for around 170 seats.

But we believe that good guidance should be available to the candidates, thereby increasing their chances of success. We are happy to share with you our excerpts of our conversation with Mr. Chitrang Shah(https://www.Edu4share.com/mentor/355/chitrang-shah)- a successful AIIMS PG candidate who is currently studying MD- Pharmacology in AIIMS. Mr. Chitrang Shah completed his M.B.B.S degree from the prestigiousShenyang Medical University located in Shenyang, China. He hails from Baroda, Gujarat.

Excerpts from the Conversation

Edu4share: Why did you study M.B.B.S from China than India? Is the foreign degree from China valid in India?

Chitrang: I studied from China because it was a cheaper option that was available for me. Shenyang University is also quite renowned and prestigious in the world, and it helped me that the medium of study was English. The degree is valid as I appeared for the licensing exam in India and cleared it. The screening test is conducted by the Medical Council of India.

Edu4share: Did you appear for other exams apart from AIIMS PG? If yes, then can you please tell us about your performance in the same?

Chitrang: I appeared for the only two post graduate medical entrance exams. So I was very focused in my preparation. From the very start, to study in AIIMS PG was my main goal and I focused extensively on it. I believed in myself and was confident that I can make it. Also as I was working for two years after clearing my licensing exam in India, I didn’t want to divert my attention from AIIMS.

AIIMS PG – 117th Rank

All India Post Graduate Medical Entrance Exam (AIPGMEE) – 1084th Rank

Common Myth Broken – A candidate should appear for maximum number of examinations to increase his chances of success.

Edu4share: Was it your first attempt for AIIMS PG when you cleared it? When did you start preparing for AIIMS PG exam?

Chitrang: No, it was not my first attempt for AIIMS PG. I had appeared for the same exam for three more times before I cleared it. But I was also eligible to take the exam for only one of those attempts. I took the exam multiple times for practice purposes while I was studying in college. If you are not eligible for the exam, then you don’t get ranked. Hence, I only got rank in one exam and that was the one I cleared.

I started preparing for exam in the month of February 2013. I took a sabbatical from work for preparing for the exam. I believe that six months are enough for preparing for the exam for a serious candidate. Also the best time to start preparing for the exam is during your internship phase as you also learn many practical aspects of your subjects, which can help you for the exam.

Edu4share – What did you feel about the AIIMS PG exam? Also, which subjects and topics are more important than others?

Chitrang: I knew that the exam is tough as it has only limited number of seats but it also very predictable. Subjects like Ophthalmology and Dermatology are important and should be devoted more time to. From Pathology subject, focus should be upon on topics like Kidneys and embryology.

Also repeated questions from previous papers are declining, but there are pre-determined topics which get repeated again and again. Almost 80 to 90% of the exam comes from pre-determined topics. Only about 10% of the exam comes from topics which nobody knew about. Some of these the new topics could also be research based which no one has ever heard about. The candidates are not supposed to know those topics and are never taught. Medical literature is so vast that you can’t expect every candidate to know everything. In fact, those who try to study everything from the textbooks, never crack the exam, as they can’t study the topics in depth and they are unable to recall what they have studied. Also the quality of revision suffers. There are around 500 topics which are taught in M.B.B.S while only 200 questions are asked in the AIIMS PG exam. Not everything in medical syllabus gets asked in the exam, so you need not study that. If you just study the textbooks and focus on that, you won’t have time to revise and it is very difficult for them to recall things during exam.

Edu4share – How did you choose your field in AIIMS PG?

Chitrang: I wanted to join corporate world after completing my MD. I am currently studying for my GMAT exam and that is why I chose Pharmacology as it is in demand in the corporate sector.

Edu4share – How much time did you study every day while preparing for the exam? Also can you share some techniques you used to de-stress yourself?

Chitrang: It is a clichéd question. But I studied for 8 to 10 hours for the exam every day. I used to wake up at around 6 AM, then workout for two hours and then, I started solving previous year papers of the exam in the morning from 8.30 AM till 12:50 PM and then went for lunch. After lunch, I studied the important topics and subjects till 4 or 5 PM. Then I would chat with friends for some time about the preparation and important questions and topics. I would do so for one or two hours, then I would return to my room and revise what I have learned during the day till 9.30 PM. Then I would go to sleep. For me, working out was the key to de-stressing myself. I used to work out diligently. A candidate can do anything he feels like. It is better to do something in which a candidate is interested in. He can go for movies once a week or play cricket with his friends too.

Myth Broken – A candidate should sacrifice all his free time to prepare for the exam. Also, sleep and health should be sacrificed to study more.

Edu4share- Nowadays lots of fresh graduates are taking the exam too. So how should they go about for preparing for the exam?

Chitrang: The fresh graduates have an advantage that they already know about the subjects and the content is fresh in their minds. If they have made notes while they were studying in undergraduate degree, then they should use that as it is one of the best ways to revise. Also, they should keep themselves abreast of different topics that are being asked in the exam. They should also talk to their seniors so that they can weed out the important topics. Fresh graduates have a tendency to go after the text books as most exams in undergraduate studies in India are essay based exams where you are asked one topic and you have to write the breadth of the topic, whereas in competitive exams, objective type questions are asked and thus, you need to focus on the detail more, which is not focused upon in undergraduate studies. So they have to change their minds and lots of practice is required. So, they should join a test series or multiple test series to prepare them for the exam. A test series is a must. I don’t recommend joining a coaching or tutorials for the same.

Edu4share – Why a candidate should not join coaching classes? Also which test series did you join for practice?

Chitrang: I joined a mini test series by Delhi Academy of Medical Sciences. Every week I would take a test about a particular subject, you will study the subject and take the test and know where do you stand in that subject.

I don’t recommend taking coaching as the pattern is changing now. Nobody knows that what questions will be asked. Earlier the questions would be repeated every year, but now the number of repeated questions is declining. Coaching classes used to focus on those repeated questions and candidates could score better marks. The number of important topics has also increased. So in a way, the exams have become even tougher than before. The coaching classes also won’t specifically prepare you for AIIMS examination as there are other competitive examinations with more number of seats and a better chance of getting into a good college apart from AIIMS. So these coaching classes generally prepare the students on AIPGMEE pattern, and it can hamper your preparation for AIIMS. But it is good to have a mentor or a friend who can guide you about AIIMS. I used to prepare specifically for AIIMS and not for AIPGMEE.

Edu4share: – Did you have a mentor helping you out for AIIMS PG exam?

Chitrang: I was fortunate that I was living near the AIIMS. I used to study in the AIIMS library itself and I used to interact with other people there who were also preparing for AIIMS PG exam and who had already cracked the examination. So in a way, I didn’t have one mentor, but a group of people who had already cracked the examination and I was in touch with people who were already working in AIIMS.

Edu4share – What about those people who don’t live near AIIMS? What should they do for guidance?

Chitrang: You can give the exam and figure out yourself what questions were being asked in the exam. Also there might be someone in your friend network who has cracked the exam. It definitely helps if you know someone who has cracked the exam and knows about the exam. If not, you can go through various blogs and forum which provide information about the exam. You can also visit edu4share.com and contact a mentor who can help you immensely with your preparation for the exam.

Some of the blogs and websites a candidate can visit for guidance are

RXPG.com – I didn’t use it extensively. I should have used it more because it is quite a good site because the content is good. Personally I didn’t use it much.

edu4share.com – A candidate can get to know about AIIMS PG exam here and also contact the mentors who can help him in preparation.

Edu4share – Did you make any personal notes for yourself? And should personal notes be used extensively in preparation?

Chitrang: People do generally make notes but they take a lot of time. If you made it during your undergraduate days, then it is fine. But I don’t think one should prepare notes if there are only six months or less duration to go for the exam. It is not always possible to make notes for exam and revise them in that duration. The list of subjects that are to be prepared is quite long. There are 19 subjects to be mastered. It is a good way to study from notes, but making notes is time consuming. So if you want to make notes and revise from them, you need at least an year for the same. There are coaching classes which provide their own notes for preparation which are quite good in quality. Some of these notes are handwritten as well. For example, Delhi Academy of Medical Sciences provides notes to the candidates. You can also get notes at edu4share.com which has been prepared by other successful candidates.

Edu4share – In your view, what is the ideal duration a candidate should prepare for the exam?

Chitrang: I would like to say that a time period of six to eight months is fine for the exam if the candidate is active enough. A candidate generally starts to realize that he wants to pursue a post graduate degree during their internship phase itself. The best time to prepare is when you are done with your final exams and beginning your internship, if you can spare four to five hours in a day, depending on your work schedule. There are many AIIMS undergraduates who cracked the exam while doing their internship. So, it is not at all difficult to prepare during the internship phase. There is a little problem of excessive stress if you prepare for AIIMS PG during internships but it depends on the place of your internship as well. You have to plan it out. It is definitely difficult but not impossible. You have to be aware of your goal and have proper guidance too.

Edu4share – What resources did you use for preparation for exam? Did you use any online resources for preparing for AIIMS PG?

Chitrang: No, I didn’t use any online resources like test series or videos for preparation. I personally don’t like them as videos are for people with lowest level of performance in mind. A person will repeat a thing many times and will start from the basics of the topic. It can take up to three hours to prepare for a topic using videos, so it is time consuming. You can finish a topic in a much less duration of about one hour if you use books. So I don’t personally recommend videos etc. If you don’t know anything at all about something then it might help, but otherwise you shouldn’t.

I used the following resources for preparing for exam

Across: A Complete Review of Short Subjects – Vol. 2 – By Saumya Shukla & Anurag Shukla

It is a very well-known and good book and I used it for the ten subjects. The subjects Anatomy, Physiology,Biochemistry and Forensic Medicine are covered in one volume. The other volume has Dermatology,Ophthalmology, Radiology, Psychiatry, Nuclear Medicine and Anaesthesiology covered. There is not one way to Rome, so other people can follow other books, but I found the language used here easy and streamlined. It suited me. For these ten subjects I didn’t refer to any other books.

Self Assessment And Review Medicine (English)– By Mudit Khanna for Medicine

Surgery for PGMEE 8th Edition – By Amit Ashish for Surgery

Self Assessment & Review Gynecology- by Sakshi Arora for Gynaecology

Self Assessment & Review – Obstetrics – by Sakshi Arora for Obstretrics

Review of Preventive & Social Medicine – by Vivek Jain for Preventive and Social Medicine

Review of Pharmacology – by Gobind Garg for Pharmacology

Review Of Pathology And Genetics (English) 3rd Edition – by Gobind Garg and Sparsh Gupta for Pathology

Self-Assessment & Review ENT- by Sakshi Arora for ENT

(It is a huge volume and we only get 3-4 questions from ENT. A text book by Mr. P.L Dhingra is also recommended by many. I would suggest candidates to read their own notes or study Dhingra for ENT).

These examination preparation books are made by just Indian authors for Indian population. Text books are totally different from examination preparation books. Text books should not be used for preparation of Indian entrance exams like AIIMS PG.

For MCQs and Previous years papers, I read books from Amit Ashish and Mudit Khanna, but I would not recommend those books to candidates who are preparing now. If someone is preparing now, he should go through exam papers after 2010. Studying older examination papers won’t yield much return to the candidate as questions are not repeated much now. Questions after 2010 are enough.

PGI Chandigarh Review by Manoj Chaudhary Vol 1 & 2 is probably the best book of all the review books. The information it has is excellent and pertinent and there are many new questions that are framed of out of the information in that book. But it is a very thick book, and if you use it you won’t have time to revise it. Unless someone is preparing for PGI examination itself, I don’t think they need to go through that book.

I would not recommend Sure success Karnataka 9th ed by Ramgopal and Sure success COMED-K 4th ed by Ramgopal as I don’t think it is a useful book for AIIMS PG.

Review of Pathology 6th Arvind Arora – I would recommend Sparsh Gupta and Gobind Garg’s Pathology book. That is a better book as the language is simpler and the presentation is more streamlined. Also there are fewer mistakes in Gobind Garg and Sparsh Gupta’s book.

You would need at least one book for each subject. You should not leave a subject as all of them are required. For one subject, one book is more than you can read. For 19 subjects, you must read 19 books. You should have one guide book of all the subjects. You should have go through the review books of the question papers and books like Kalam DNB CET review are not required.

Edu4share – What kind of a score a candidate should have to be safe?

Chitrang: There is no safe score unfortunately. There are only 150 or so seats and if you want the specialty of your choice, then you should get a rank of less than 100. If you are scoring 65% at least, then you can be in the top 100 candidates, so you should aim for that. Ideal would be more than 70% but a score of 65% to 70% will also place you in the top 100.

Edu4share – How many mock tests did you take yourself for preparing for exam?

Chitrang: Apart from subject wise tests, I took one mock test every month to check my preparation. DAMS have an online test series which you can opt for.

Edu4share – According to you what are the crucial factors which led to your success in the AIIMS PG examination?

Chitrang: I will say there is only one factor which is Perseverance. This is not a test of your intelligence or your knowledge. It is a test of you sitting for six months and focusing on doing what is required. So it is the major factor for success.

Edu4share – What made you different from all the other candidates taking the exam with you?

Chitrang: I knew what I can expect in the examination. I also knew how to prepare for the exam. I didn’t work hard for the things which are not too important. From the beginning, I had the knack of preparing for the exam. Even before taking the exam, I was confident about cracking the exam. If you know what it takes to crack the examination, then you will crack the examination. It is predictable examination and you need to know a handful of stuff. There is also a predictability regarding the questions or the way questions are framed. If something is very unique and different from other options in a question, then it is probably the right answer. These things you realize as you take mock tests or during the exam itself.

Edu4share – What was your routine when the exam was just one or two week away?

Chitrang: When the exam was just one week away, I did only previous year question papers as there was a tendency of at least some questions being repeated in the examination and you can’t afford to get them wrong. You should not study anything new. One should focus on something which you already know.

Edu4share – What about the image based questions in the exam?

Chitrang – They have started cropping up now. For the image based questions one should study the images from the textbooks. Nowadays, the guides cover all the images that are there in the textbooks so you don’t have to study textbooks separately.

Edu4share – What is the best time to start revising for the exam?

Chitrang: I would say that a candidate ideally should start revising at least before two and a half months before the exam as the number of subjects is more and it takes time to go through them. So instead of doing something new, it is a hundred times better to revise what’s already been studied.

Edu4share – What advice would you like to give the future aspirants who are going to take the exam in near future?

Edu4share is changing the rules of game of Education Sector! 

See how!

In India, top undergraduate majors of aspiring MBA candidates, includes Engineering (58%), Computer Science (17%) and Information Technology (10%). Most of these candidates also have great academic performance. With the profile of a majority of applicants being similar, how does one ensure they stand out from the crowd?

On forums, you will find many advising you to do something "different". I have been guilty, myself, of stating the most common methods of improving a profile. So, I decided to do more research and find out what students from some of the top B-schools in the world did to improve their chances on getting an admit. In today's article, we will look at a few interesting answers first and then move on to the more common ones.

Here's what I asked - "If you had one-year to increase your chances to get into a top-tier MBA program, what would you do differently?"

1. Travel

Travelling does not mean just vacation. Travel to learn something new.

"The things you see, the stories you hear, and the moments you experience, they change something deep inside of you. You can’t quite pinpoint what it is, but you know it’s there, because after you return home you see, feel, and think about things differently."

~ Rustic Pathways

Is travelling possible with a full-time job? We all have commitments. Start off with a one-day trips or weekend get-ways. It could also be as straightforward as completing a trek or getting a scuba diving certification.

2. Put yourself in tough and challenging situations

This could be taking on a challenging new project, trying to work with a tough boss or even helping a struggling colleague. If you are into outdoor activities or sports, consider completing a hard trek or even running a marathon.

3. Have a goal

“The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” – Bill Copeland

Having a goal means having a definite way to showcase your achievement. Professionally, you could aim at getting a promotion or a coveted award that helps you showcase your leadership qualities.

4. Develop strong professional relationships

While many of us are great at building our professional network, we do not spend enough time nurturing these relationships. Think of your LinkedIn contacts. With how many have you had little or no contact in the past year? Some of these contacts may have reached greater heights. Congratulate them, meet with them or even ask for their opinion on matters of common interest.

Here's a related article on Inc.com - 9 Habits of People Who Build Extraordinary Relationships

Get to know your current managers personally and vice versa. Personal connections can go a long way when you have to request for recommendations.

5. Work on a visible side project

This can involve social work, volunteering, or even your own startup. It has to be meaningful and something which can reflect well in your essays and potentially recommendations as well.

6. Improve your GMAT score

If you are not satisfied with your current GMAT score, consider taking the test again. For the top Business Schools, a GMAT score of 730+ is a bare minimum given the higher average GMAT scores of applicants from India.

7. Get great recommendations

Work on projects that can earn you some good recommendations; if you’re in a promotion window try to get promoted and have the same reflect in your recommendations.

8. Attend information events of schools you are targeting

By attending these events you can understand student life at the school. These events are usually attended by admissions staff, current students and/or career advisers. Ask questions about the program content or the impact of the program on your career. Find out if there are specific traits, your dream school looks for, in its students.

9. Get your essays proof-read

Get your essays proof read by people who have been successful in their MBA quest. Get multiple critiques. Do not rely only on close advisers (friends or family) since they may hide from you what you do not want to hear, but need to hear.

10. Teach

Teaching is one of the best ways to improve your skills and knowledge. When you answer questions, you expand your horizons. It helps you gain a new perspective and also allows you to share your passions.

These are 10 ways you can use to build a better profile.  If you have specific questions about your work experience, educational background and how you can use it to your benefit, the edu4share mentors are here to help.

“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Surround yourself with positive, successful people who will empower and encourage you. They are the ones who are going to lift you higher.

Have you had an exam fever that just will not subside? There surely have been a few times when, you have been stuck at a math problem and wished you had some guidance. Why study alone? The edu4share tele-mentorship service is designed to connect you with the best minds, who have themselves have – been there, done that. It is a one-of-a-kind exam preparation tool that connects exam candidates to past toppers. At edu4share, we strongly believe that exam preparation does not need to be in isolation.

Thanks to my mentor, I only bought the exam material which I truly needed thus saving a lot of money. My mentor also helped me with choosing my coaching institute. Making some of the most important decisions couldn't have been so easy! Ankit Kataria, Mentee

The edu4share mentors have recently cracked one or more competitive exam themselves. Some of them are currently pursuing higher studies in prestigious institutes; others are working professionals. They will help you get answers to all your questions, guide you to the right resources and share tips that helped them succeed. Your mentor is not a tutor but a buddy, a motivator pushing you to do better just when you feel like giving up, your guide and guru providing you with the best hacks you can use to ace your exam.

How to get the most out of this program?

Choosing a mentor. Your mentorship experience will only be as good as your mentor. To get the most out of your mentorship, we suggest you take some time to choose a mentor whose experience echoes the career path you want to be on. For example, if you aspire to work in Finance, you must choose a mentor who has had a successful career in Insurance or a related industry. It would be ideal to choose a mentor who has passed the same exam that you are preparing for.

Your session. This is a crucial one. Your first session with the mentor will mostly be spent on getting to know each other and preparing a roadmap for your preparation. We suggest you jot down the points of discussion before scheduling your first call. Take this opportunity to inform your mentor about your current level of preparation and your target institution/rank. Discuss with your mentors what your expectations you have from the program. The edu4share tele-mentorship program can be bought at any stage of your preparation.

Plan your sessions. We recommend the following schedule for your sessions -

1. An Introductory Phase - Discuss your study plan. Set expectations.

2. A Preparatory Guidance Phase - Obtain recommendations for study material, share preparation details. Ask specific questions on topics of difficulty.

3. A Follow-up Phase - Review your performance and progress. Get guidance on areas that need improvement

4. A Conclusion Phase - Summarize your sessions and note down final tips for the exam. Clarify doubts.

After your sessions, do leave a review for your mentor. Reviews and ratings help highlight the best mentors on the edu4share mentor list.

Now that you are at the verge of JEE-Mains exam, it’s time to implement all the hard work that you have done over last two years. At this juncture, it’s likely that you are anxious, but this positive pressure should bring the best in YOU.

Use next 72 hours to consolidate all you have done so far so that you are at your BEST on the day when it matters the most.

As a successful IITian, I have gone through this stage earlier and hence would be able to guide you on how to effectively manage this phase. I have come up with some tips which can help you plan these days efficiently and improve your JEE rank.

Setting the Biological Clock: In order to increase your efficiency, setting your biological clock right is critical. If you are unable to wake up early in the morning, it can reduce your efficiency to a great extent. Try to go to bed early and wake up early to revise the concepts. Giving a few mock tests as per the JEE Mains schedule time will also help to tune your biological clock.

Revising the Formulae and Tricks: Revise the formulae and short tricks from each chapter regularly for these 3 days. Morning sessions are best for revising and remembering formulae for the exam. Try to quickly cover all the short tricks you have learned in the last 2 years from your personal notes.

Selective Revision Plan: At this point in time, selective revision helps. Spend time on the topics that you feel need a thorough reading and skim through the ones that you are extremely good at. Do not attempt to start new topics at this point. It will just add to your burden and not help you at all.

Practice as Much as Possible: Practicing mock test papers is one of the best ways to increase your accuracy and time management in the exam. It will help you identify the strategies, which enable you to attempt all the questions within the time limit. Moreover, practicing JEE previous year’s question paper will also help you understand the JEE exam pattern and structure effectively. On the exam eve, try to attempt some simple mock test papers. It will help in building your confidence.

Keep Calm and Take Rest: Keep Calm and relax at frequent intervals with the help of music, meditation or whatever helps you relax. Remember at this stage what you have prepared is enough. Learning more will only add to your confusion.

Proper Food: Take proper diet at this stage and try to avoid eating street food. Try to remain fit and include seasonal fruits in your diet to avoid any disease at this time.

Verify Exam Center Location: It is advisable to check the JEE Main 2015 Exam Centre allotted to you, a day before so that you avoid getting lost or late by missing the directions and get panicked before the exam. Call up exam centre if possible and ask them how much it will take from nearest landmark e.g. Railway station etc.

The Beginners Guide to CAT Preparation

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a gateway to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) and is the most accepted written entrance exam for admission to top B-schools in India.

The first step would be to understand the eligibility criteria. Click here to learn more.

The CAT exam is divided into 2 sections, with 50 multiple choice questions in each section.

Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation

Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning

The duration of the exam is 170 minutes. Test takers can attempt the questions in any sequence. All right answers will fetch you +3 and -1 for every wrong answer.

Self-analysis

Identify your strengths and weaknesses. Attempt a mock test or solve a previous test paper. The time taken to finish the test does not matter. Attempt as many questions as you can. This will help you gauge the time you should allocate to each section.

Books to get you started

The following are a few books that are recommended and can be purchased online as well.

How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma

Quantum CAT: Quantitative Aptitude Common Admission Test for Admission Into IIMs by Sarvesh K Verma

The Pearson Guide for Data interpretation and Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Nishit Sinha

Wren and Martin for English Grammar

Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis

Analytical and Logical Reasoning by B.S. Sijwali

How to prepare for the Data Interpretation for CAT by TATA-McGraw Hill publications

Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Agarwal

Devise a study plan

Depending on the amount of time you have to prepare, create a schedule and stick to it. At least, a minimum of 3 months, is advised. Concentrate on the fundamentals. Understand concepts before you begin memorizing. In the first month, fit in at least 3 mock tests. The number of mock tests you take should increase in time. Through these tests, analyze your performance and make changes to your schedule accordingly.

Maximize your accuracy with every attempt and eliminate gaps in your preparation. This approach will ensure that you clear the cut-offs irrespective of the difficulty levels of the exam.

Self-study vs. Coaching

Although self-study is a proven methodology, you have the option of joining a coaching center as well. There are several institutes that particularly train candidates for taking the CAT exam. CAT Coaching material from top institutes is also available online. With the wide use of internet, online platforms are now open to e-learning and tele-mentorship programs. Obtaining guidance from a mentor who has already taken the exam will allow you to quickly enhance your skills. These programs are far more affordable than traditional coaching institutes. Sessions can be customized per your availability and budget.

To get good scores it is necessary that you prepare well. As the exam draws nearer, your preparation needs to get more specific and intense.

The eve of your exam is always nerve-wrecking. While most of you do your best to cope, questions on self-preparedness always swamp the mind. In fact, this is the most important period of your preparation; even the slightest hit to your self-confidence can cost you your performance in the exam. It is now, more than ever, that you need to stay positive.

1. Eat healthy. Good nutritious food helps you function better. Load up on your favourite fruits.

2. Take Breaks. Stretch. Exercise: Stretch every 15 minutes when you are at your desk. Take a break in the evening and go for a walk. During this time completely block yourself from thinking about the exam. There are a few relaxation techniques mentioned at the end of this blog.

3. Revise what’s important. Do not just memorize. Focus on understanding the concept. Revise only topics that need your attention. Get them right. You need not revise the entire syllabus at this point. If required take all important guidelines from your professional mentor.

4. Pack your bag. Avoid last minute hassles. Pack your bag in advance and ensure you have everything you need.

Things to carry - Admit Card,  Stationery (keep an extra set) Water – Most centers have arrangements made to keep you hydrated. Things you cannot carry - Rough sheets, Calculator Re-check the location of your exam center and have your transport sorted. If your parents or friends plan to give you a ride, remind them of the time you wish to leave. Plan to reach at least an hour in advance.

5. Get a good night’s sleep. No more revision. Go to bed early and make sure you rest for, at least, seven hours before the exam.

Your Motivation Mantra If you are afraid of tough questions, remind yourself that the paper comprises 60-70% questions in the low-medium difficulty range. Imagine yourself being happy and relieved post exam.

Take a deep breath and repeat –

“I have worked very hard. I am confident. This is my day. I have the caliber. I CAN. I WILL.”

Relaxation Techniques Breathe - Take a 5-minute break and focus on your breathing. Sit up straight, eyes closed, with a hand on your belly. Inhale slowly through your nose, feeling the breath start in your abdomen and work its way to the top of your head. Reverse the process as you exhale through your mouth.

LOL – Yes! Laugh Out Loud. A good laugh not only lightens the load mentally, it lowers the stress hormone and boosts brain chemicals called endorphins, which help your mood. Lighten up by tuning in to your favorite sitcom or video, reading the comics, or chatting with someone who makes you smile.

The JEE exam is just around the corner. You would have already have memorized the concepts, formulae and tricks to ace the exam. The syllabus is vast and in spite of being an expert, many JEE aspirants miss their mark due to issues in time management.  What factors should you consider to finish your exam on time? We interviewed ex JEE test takers and put together this comprehensive list of dos and don’ts for your 3 hour exam.

DO – Carefully read instructions

Spend the first 5 minutes to carefully read the instructions. You would read these instructions in prior question papers. However, to ensure you have not missed anything important, read these again, carefully.

DON’T – Avoid looking at the time often

Tell yourself that you are doing great. Looking at the clock often will steal seconds from the time you could use to solve more problems. Turn to the time only after every 15 questions attempted. Do not spend time looking around how your friends are faring.

DO – Divide and conquer

One key aspect lies in choosing the right question. The exam comprises of 60-70% of questions in the low to medium difficulty range. Prioritize questions based on subjects you are most comfortable in. Flip through the paper quickly to mark questions of low to medium difficulty and attempt to answer these in the first pass. This should take you no more than an hour.

In the next one hour, attempt to solve as many tougher questions as you can. Questions of higher difficulty, ranging between 30-40%, are placed throughout paper in no particular sequence. By the end of this hour, you would have finished approximately 75% of the paper.

Next, flip through the paper again and tackle questions you left off in the first two passes. Tackling these questions should take about 45 minutes covering another 25% of the paper.

DON’T – Avoid getting stuck at a single question.

At any point if you get stuck at a question, move to the next. Do not spend more than one minute on such questions.

DO – Review

Spend the final 15 minutes to review your answers. Verify formulae; look for calculation errors. Make use of the ample space provided for your rough work. Align your rough work with the strategy used to attempt questions – low to high difficulty.

DON’T – Avoid filling the OMR sheet at the end

Fill the OMR sheet simultaneously with the questions and not left it for the last. Keeping it for the very end will add to the pressure of finishing on time.

Stretch every 15 minutes and stay hydrated during the exam. Make sure you have an extra set of pen and pencil. Don’t forget your Admit Card. Take a deep breath and get cracking!

Do you have more tips to share? Leave a comment for our readers.

JEE is one of the toughest exams at the 10+2 level. Only with thorough preparation can one crack the JEE exam with a good score. It is not a cake walk and there, generally, is a lot of pressure. There are times when you want to quit. The only thing that keeps you going is the ultimate reason why you want to clear the JEE – to study at one of the prestigious IITs.

With less than a month for the exam, edu4share wanted to bring to its readers the story of an ex-IITian, Himanshu Gupta. Here’s what helped Himanshu through his 2-year roller coaster ride of preparing for the JEE.

edu4share: How many hours of study did you put in? Himanshu: On an average, to get a good rank, you need to spend about 10-12 hours per day.

edu4share: What did your preparation plan consist of? Himanshu: Since the JEE syllabus is vast, time management is one of the most important aspects of your preparation. My study plan consisted of –

In-depth understanding of every topic in the syllabus

Problem solving, starting from the basic level to the advanced level

Attempting mock tests at least once a month if not twice

Complete revision of the whole syllabus two months from the final exam

edu4share: What helped you plan your study schedule? Himanshu: I reached out to my teachers and mentors to plan my study schedule. Mentors took away most of the planning pressure giving me ample time to study. They also helped in resolving doubts and taught problem solving tricks as well. During the final revision, my mentors helped me focus on topics that needed more attention.

edu4share: What are the key study materials you would recommend? Himanshu: There are many resources available ranging from books by popular authors, video lectures, online and offline test series, and mock tests conducted by renowned coaching institutes across the country. The books I included for my preparation were –

Concepts of Physics Vol. I and Vol. II by H. C. Verma

Problems in General Physics by I. E. Irodov

Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday, Resnick & Walker

Coordinate Geometry by S. L. Loney

Trigonometry by S.L.Loney

Higher Algebra by Hall and Knight

Complete Mathematics for JEE Main by Tata McGraw Hill Publications

Inorganic Chemistry by J. D. Lee or O. P. Tandon,

Physical Chemistry by O. P. Tandon or P. W. Atkins

Organic Chemistry by O. P. Tandon or Morrison & Boyd

For Numerical Problems of Physical Chemistry, I referred to a book by P. Bahadur.

edu4share: Is there a particular topic or a set of topics you would recommend our readers to concentrate on? Himanshu: Since it is the JEE, the entire course carries equal weightage. However, I would recommend on getting a stronger hold on your favorite topics first. On the day of the exam, these topics will help you score better since it builds your confidence. Practice these topics to perfection but do not exclude any topic.

edu4share: How did online tests help your preparation? Himanshu: Online tests help you compare your performance with other competing students. You can set your schedule according to the syllabus provided in the test you plan to take. Aim at falling within the 99-100 percentile range.

edu4share: What advice do you have for aspiring candidates? Himanshu: Pay attention to school lectures and not just the coaching institutes. Make a note of the incorrect answers during mock exams and understand what caused the mistake. Be regular and avoid skipping even a single day of preparation. If sticking to the books gets too much, switch to IIT JEE Video Lectures.

“I hated every bit of training but I said – Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” – Muhammad Ali

Do you have a dream? Whether it is to become a researcher of a ground-breaking medical discovery that would cure a deadly disease or a brave cadre protecting our borders, you have to, first, succeed in a highly competitive exam. In this journey, we face one too many obstacles and far too many times we look for short cuts. Is hard work the only thing we can rely on? Is there, really, a “short cut”? Let us look at three simple tips that will assure you that the road to success is not so long after all.

Success Tip #1 Have a plan

Some of us do not know where to start; some procrastinate and need that slight nudge. The rest have a plan! Outline your study goal, identify the steps and then steadily progress without skipping any step. A flexible plan, initially, can help you change aspects of your schedule and ensure that you are covering each subject required to cover.

Success Tip #2 Practice

Studies show that learning techniques, such as, taking practice tests enhances performance of students in many areas. Psychology experts, Henry L. Roediger III, Adam L. Putnam and Megan A. Smith, emphasize the benefits of practice tests in their paper, “Ten Benefits of Testing and Their Applications to Educational Practice”. Competitive exams like GRE, GMAT, CAT and so on, create a great deal of anxiety. Practice tests help you get accustomed to the high-stress environment that you face on the day of your test.

Success Tip #3 Find a mentor

There are many out there who, only some time back, were where you currently are. Finding the right mentor will help you improve your skills. A mentor will provide you expertise and a structured approach to attain your goal.