Yes, you are! The IITian is there in you. Some of his abilities are already expressed in you. You
will bring other qualities to the front through practice.
As a matter of fact, any above average student who is dedicated and sincere can clear the JEE.
It's not uncrackable. There is no shortage of time in the examination. Only the approach has to
be correct. Few tips are discussed in the following paragraphs. First of all, ask yourself if you
are sufficiently inspired. No half-hearted attempts, please. Your desire, commitment, internal
conviction and belief in your ability to succeed are the most important requirements.
Also, observe your reading and learning behavior.. Take notice of your mental pattern in
recoginizing and comprehending a problem. For instance, how much does a problem you are not able
to solve trouble you? How soon do you give up and seek help? How much fighting capacity and
patience do you have to keep trying a problem which has occurred to you while watching a movie,
or playing cricket, or is your involvment in Physics, Chemistry, Math confined to the duration
when you are with books? For cracking JEE, you have to learn to "live" with the subjects.
Next, do you often forget formulae and then blame your memory. Memory is a function of interplay
of mental processes. Remember, you cannot forget a formula if you have understood why this
formula is so. As a matter of fact, if you have understood the concept on which the formula is
based, neither will you face the need nor will you want to remember it. The derivation steps will
naturally occur to you and the formula will itself take shape in your mind. Ability to understand
the physical significance of mathematical equations depends on coordination between the left and
right halves of the brain. For JEE, this coordination has to be strong and it can be achieved
through approriate efforts.
Ease with numbers is another essential JEE requirement. For finding the product of 41 X 26, will
you look for a calculator, pick up a pen and paper or just add 26 or 1040?
The extent of use of pen and paper tells about your problem solving habits. While reading a
problem does an image get formed in your mind? For example, a block of mass 'm' kept on a table
connected with a weightless string passing through a frictionless pulley with a fixed spring. An
IITian won't need to draw it.
Another requirement is lateral thinking. For example, while reading the above description will
you understand why the string is weightless and pulley frictionless. For tackling IIT JEE
problems your thought has to be trained to explore more and more rapidly and simultaneously the
implications of a situation.
Coming to preparation strategies, IITians are known for living with the subject. That often
repeated word 'concentration' is nothing but the intensity of thought. It is directly
proportional to the degree of involvement and keenness of interest in the problem.
The skill of analyzing the problem, i.e. the ability to quickly find out what is to be found from
the given maze of information and the concepts to be used along with their mutual interactions,
is the art of making it to IIT.
The refinement of concepts and application skills is thereafter a regular process. Continuous
improvement is the only road to brilliance.
Finally, I assure you that IITians come from amongst you. They are not extra terrestrial
creatures. Lack of adequate conviction to succeed is the only fundamental reason for failure.
Given your determination, the IITian in you will show up in the world.
Yet, it won't happen just because you wish so.
Only you and you can make yourself an IITian. JEE does not give candidates consideration for
- your parent(s) wanting you to be a doctor,
- a construction in your neighborhood disturbing your studies,
- you failing ill on the exam day,
- you having no prior experience of JEE and not knowing so many things.
So, get it that whatever may be your circumstances - you and only you need to resolve and go
along with your preparation. You alone can give you your selection in JEE. So, don't retain these
excuses or alibis for justifying your result later. Instead, deal with them in the fastest
possible time and move ahead.