Compile the study material

Some questions that come to our mind are:

• How much material?
• What IIT JEE courses material should I use?
• Should I study from the school textbook or the one recommended by the tuition teacher?

There is little time to complete one set of textbooks. It is next to impossible to complete two different sets. Keep just one set of text books for studying the theory (concepts, definitions) and basic problems.

The new pattern of IITJEE has brought it much closer to the school syllabus. So, ideally, it should be the textbook recommended as part of your school syllabus. There is very little difference in the theory presented from one textbook to another. After one set of textbooks is completed, students can look at other books as reference.

Similarly, keep just one set of IITJEE course material.

Note: Collecting too much material is a recipe for disaster

After you have chosen the material that is best for you, how do you put it to the best use? There are as many different ways to study, as there are different people. The trick is to find the study style that works best for you.

Read

This is one of the most useful activity. It takes minimum effort and brings maximum result. Students, who are used to studying from coaching notes, tend to avoid reading. This is the single biggest reason for their failure. No coaching notes can replace reading of textbooks.  The information you gain from reading is important. If you just “do it” without learning something, it is a waste of time. Train your mind to learn!

Read the following:

1. Title
2. Core text and examples
3. Introduction and Summary
4. Heading and subheading
5. Graphics – charts, maps, diagrams, etc. are there to make a point – don’t miss them.
6. Reading aids – italics, bold face print, chapter objective, end-of -chapter questions

Understand

You must understand thoroughly the major ideas and concepts presented. Without such a conceptual framework, you will find yourself faced with the impossible task of trying to cram hundreds of isolated facts into your memory.

* Locate and note down the new terms, which are introduced in the chapter.
* Note down statements, definitions, formulas, etc. which you must remember completely and precisely.
* If you are not able to figure out the meaning, then look it up in the glossary or dictionary.
* Study charts and figures. They usually summarize in graphic form the major ideas and facts of the chapter.

Note: It is a good idea to keep a glossary of your own in the front page of the book. Record the terms and their definition or the page number where the definition is located. This is an excellent aid to refer to when you are reviewing for an examination, as it provides a convenient outline of the course.

Ask question
Ask questions and keep trying to answer them as you read the chapters. The more the questions, the better your comprehension is likely to be. You may always add further questions as you proceed. When your mind is actively searching for answers to questions it becomes engaged in learning.

* Write down the key takeaways (learning) from every topic (make notes)
* Write down the questions that you cannot answer?
* Mark sections for clarification wherever necessary
* Review the key takeaways (notes) after completion

Related Topics:

1. Tips for IIT JEE Success #4– Attending lectures and taking notes
2. Tips for IIT JEE Success #2 – Study Hard & Smart
3. Tips for IIT JEE Success # 6 – Manage Your Most Valuable Asset – Time

Your best source of cooperation is your competition. Working with a competitive study group goes a very long way in the successful preparation of IITJEE. When you decide to study in groups, you recreate a cooperative environment to multiply your knowledge exponentially. Students can learn very quickly by sharing their knowledge, skills and resources.

Group formation guidelines

• Look for people who are experts in certain subjects and topics.
• Seek diversity in expertise. There should be at least one expert from each subject. Within a subject, look for experts in different areas like organic chemistry, physical chemistry, calculus, co-ordinate, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics etc.
• This could lead to having a group that is very diverse. It is good because you may also have different learning styles represented in your group.
• It may not be possible to find all experts from the friend circle itself.  So, it is important to seek out experts from other areas.
• Make a study group of five to seven people (Larger groups get unwieldy. Groups with less than 5 are difficult to sustain)

How to study in groups?

• Ask your friends for clarifications of doubts.
• Quiz and challenge each other with questions from the IITJEE syllabus.
• Share useful concepts and questions
• Be very eager to help. Answer and teach whenever somebody has a problem.
• If you have to teach a concept, you have to have complete clarity and understanding of the concept. So you are not only helping the other group members, but also you are reinforcing your own knowledge.
• Someone should take the role of the session leader to keep the session productive.
• Take a few minutes at the end of the session to evaluate what you’ve done.
• Don’t meet more than once in two weeks
• Meet at least once a month
• Don’t meet without a clear agenda for the meeting

Related Topics:

1. Tips for IIT JEE Success #2 – Study Hard & Smart
2. Tips for IIT JEE Success #1 – Motivation
3. Tips for IIT JEE Success #3 – Develop a System- The Ultimate Weapon

You should give yourself a score of 5 when you are among the top 5% in your peer group.

You should give yourself a score of 1 when you are among the bottom 50% in your peer group.

In order to get a good rank in IITJEE, you should target a score of 5 in every topic.

You may notice that the topics where you have scored 3 or less are the ones where you have not completed the activities as per the plan.

Prepare a new plan to study the topics, where you have scored 3 or less. Identify sub-topics, concepts which are causing problems.

Related Topics:

1. Tools for measuring IIT JEE preparation: Activity tracking checklist
2. IIT JEE Study Planner: Minimum recommended time for self study
3. Last minute preparation tips for IIT JEE