Introduction: The Lessons from JEE/NEET

This post is a compilation of lessons learned from the journey through JEE/NEET. These insights were gathered over time and are presented here for your benefit. If you find the post lengthy, feel free to read one point per day and return the next day for more.

Lesson 1: Embrace the Challenges

The bigger the goal, the greater the challenges and the harder you need to work. JEE is not a cakewalk. If you’re facing difficulties during your JEE phase, it’s expected. Don’t feel bad about it or question why you’re facing all these challenges during such an important phase. Embrace them if you want to succeed.

Lesson 2: Approach to Problem Solving

If you’re unable to solve questions, it doesn’t mean you should give up on your practice sheet. When you decide to solve questions from a book or a sheet, remember two things. First, you’re solving these questions because not all types can be covered in class, and you need to learn how to think on your feet during the exam. Second, if you’re unable to solve a question, don’t think that the topic is over in coaching and you’re unable to solve all the questions. Instead, think that you need to learn this question. If you learn it now, it won’t trouble you later. At the end of the day, no topic is limited to a few types of questions, and JEE will mix 3-4 topics in a single question. So, giving up on the sheet without learning anything is not doing any good to yourself.

Lesson 3: Managing Expectations and Failures

If your expectations exceed your abilities, you have no right to feel bad after a failure. Instead of getting discouraged, view failures as opportunities for learning and growth. Reflect on your mistakes and analyze what went wrong to gain valuable insights that can help you do better in the future. The Goldilocks Principle suggests that finding the right balance between challenge and skill level is essential for achieving optimal performance and promoting growth and development. Set goals that are just outside of your current skill level but not so difficult that you are unable to achieve them, and you can continually push yourself to improve and grow.

Lesson 4: Exam Strategy

When tackling an exam paper, start by selecting the easiest question. This strategy helps you build momentum quickly and maintain it. If you encounter a challenging question, skip it and move on to the next one. Remember, maintaining momentum is key, so avoid spending too much time on a single question as it may disrupt your flow. You can always revisit the difficult question later when you have more time and mental energy.

C.S. Lewis’s Quote: A Perspective on Change

According to a website, C.S. Lewis once said, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” This quote emphasizes that while we cannot alter our past, we have the power to shape our future. Instead of dwelling on past regrets or missed opportunities, we should focus on taking action in the present moment. By choosing to change our behavior, attitudes, and life approach, we can create a better future for ourselves. This quote encourages us to let go of what we cannot control and focus on what we can do to positively shape our lives.

The Power of Self-Control

We suggests that self-control is akin to a muscle. It may tire easily at first, but with regular exercise, it becomes stronger. If you’re struggling to reduce your phone usage from 8 hours to zero all at once, try reducing it gradually. Start with 6 hours for a week, then 4, and so on. This principle applies not only to phone usage but also to other distractions.

The Role of Mindset

Your mindset determines whether you view a situation as an excuse or a strength.

Adapting to Failing Plans

We advises that when faced with a failing plan, the key is to adapt and evolve. True wisdom lies not in stubborn persistence, but in the ability to seize opportunity amidst uncertainty.

The Importance of Personal Growth in JEE Journey

We emphasizes that in your JEE journey, what ultimately matters is not so much where you end up relative to your batchmates, but where you end up relative to where you started.

Bouncing Back from Rock Bottom

Here is a valuable lesson: “Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to bounce back even stronger.” It’s better to face the worst, as it can compel you to strive for self-improvement and achieve greater success, rather than settling for something moderately bad and stagnating in your growth.