How to Prepare for IIT? 8- Notes of Mistakes

Whenever you do a mistake. Analyze it and put it in the notes of mistakes in the given categories. How to categorize , what are the types of mistakes and what is the meaning of those mistakes?

Type of Mistakes:

1- Conceptual Mistake

2- Calculation Mistake

3- Never Heard type Problems

4- Recalling Problem

5- Literature based problem

6- Mishandling Mistakes

Let us understand the mistakes in detail.

1. Conceptual Mistake:

Which kind of mistakes should be put in this category? How these kinds of mistakes happen? What are the possible sources of this kind of mistakes? As name suggest conceptual type. These kinds of mistakes are very dangerous. Improving and correcting it takes time. Recognizing it, is a very tough job. So be careful and if you knew it somehow don’t leave it. Let us understand it.

1.  If you know some facts, you are very sure about but what you know is wrong. Like let us take a fact “moon rotates about earth.” But suppose someone told you or you read it wrong somewhere that earth rotates about moon. It is a conceptual mistake.
2. If you know some fact or theory but you don’t know it completely or don’t know the conditions in which it will be applied then you can do conceptual mistake. Like

Q: Number of solutions of log₄(x – 1) = log₂(x – 3) is

(A) 3 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 0

Solution: log₄(x– 1) = log₂(x– 3)

log₂(x– 1) =2 log₂(x– 3)

 (x-3)² = (x-1)

x² – 6x+9=x– 1

 x² – 7x+10=0

 (x– 2) (x– 5)=0

 x=2, 5

Looking into the solution one might end up with the option (C) as no of solutions=2.

But answer of this question is option (B). Because x=2 is not an answer of this question.

As conditions (x– 1) >0 and (x– 3)>0 is being violated when x=2.

How to minimize conceptual mistakes?

If you have solved the problem confidently and there is no calculation mistake then chances of mistake is conceptual mistake. Take advice of some friend of yours or ask your teacher, show him your solution. Search in solved examples of the book or study material or solution of test papers. After getting the right answer don’t forget to update it into “Notes of Mistakes”.

2. Calculation Mistake:

These kinds of mistakes are easily identifiable. Just after the exam or whenever you will revise probably you will find it.

Like 4+2=8. Is it correct? No, this is a calculation mistake.

To minimize these kinds of mistakes one has to do a lot of practice of calculations.

3. Never Heard Type Problems:

If you come across some terms or being asked to find something you haven’t heard about. Then put those problems in this category. Search that topic and get your knowledge updated. Put it in your notes.

Q: Find the number of positive integers which have the characteristic 3, when the base of the logarithm is 5.

Suppose you haven’t heard about “characteristic” then you won’t be able to solve this problem. Learn about “what is characteristic?” then solve it.

This can be minimized by covering the syllabus in a comprehensive matter.

4. Couldn’t Recall Type Problem:

This is memory based problem. We often forget things. Suppose in the examination, You come across some problem you have solved it earlier or you read about it but not able to come up or being confused between the facts.

Like suppose there is a problem of match the following one column is of substances and other column is of colors. One might forget or become confused in some substances.

People often think that this kind of problems can’t be minimized but that is not the reality this can be minimized as well. We will talk about it later in few posts , how one can increase memorizing power?

5. Literature Based Mistakes:

This might seem funny but it happens sometimes students know the scientific terms but literature might create problem in understanding the problem. Basically it is a problem of vocabulary and getting the meaning of sentence as a complete. These kinds of problems are faced mostly by the students who have changed from Hindi medium to English medium.

The acceleration due to gravity at the moon is one-sixth that at the earth, but the law of gravitation is the same both on the moon and the earth. This symmetry of the laws of nature with respect to translation in space gives rise to conservation of linear momentum. In the same way isotropy of space (no intrinsically preferred direction in space) underlies the law of conservation of angular momentum. The conservation laws of charge and other attributes of elementary particles can also be related to certain abstract symmetries. Symmetries of space and time and other abstract symmetries play a central role in modern theories of fundamental forces in nature.

Read the above paragraph. Are you getting, what it wants to convey? Some of you may find two problems here. One you may find words which you are reading first time or don’t know the sense of it. Second you may find it difficult to link the sentences. Sometimes literature based problems leads to conceptual problems as well. One might get confused like.

a(moon) = 6*a(earth) or  a(earth) = 6*a(moon); where a=Acceleration

How to minimize these kinds of problems? Reading habits can minimize these problems. My advice is read “NCERT BOOKs”. Your vocabulary will improve and will be able to get meaning of sentences and be able to link the meaning. Initially it might be frustrating for you as it will take a lot of time to read and understand one page on NCERT but don’t change your mind. Slowly your reading habit, vocabulary, understanding and speed all will improve.

Why NCERT? Because NCERT is the basic book prescribed by CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) and in competition terms used are from these books.

6. Mishandling Mistakes:

The mistakes that can be put in this category are as following:

1. Question missed completely or a part of it.
2. Marked question no wrongly.
3. Filled bubble of a question in another.
4. Mistake in filling OMR sheet.

These kinds of problems arise due to examination pressure, tension, daily routine, food habits, lack of confidence.

To minimize these kinds of problems take “Test Series” seriously. Practice a lot. Increase your concentration. Daily routine should be as the routine of the examination day and it should be followed strictly at least a month before the examination day.

How to Prepare for IIT? 7- What tools one should use?

Now we will talk about the tools and techniques about how one can increase their learning efficiency. What are the tools? how to use it? How to manage time? What should be the revision pattern?

Tools that will help in the preparation:

1- Reference Books

2- Study Materials

3- Test Series 

4- Previous Year's Papers

5- Notes (Notes Making is very important)

6- Notes of Mistakes

7- Peer Group

8- Online Resources

9- Planning Calender

Let us talk about the above tools in detail.

1. Reference Books:

one should have exactly one good reference book. How to decide which book is good?

Factors:

1. Managed and To the syllabus contents.
2. Examples.
3. Level wise Practice problems.
4. Quality of problems should be good.

For students it will be difficult to judge about the books so take the advice of some expert or go along the folks. If you are confused between two or more books then use point system (as used earlier for deciding coaching) and then compare. But buy only one reference book.

How to use it?

1. First read the content or theory part.
2. Try to solve the examples without looking at the solution.
3. Look at the solution analyze your method and learn shortcuts, formulae, method update it to your notes.
4. Go for the exercises and solve it to the end. Reaching to the end is important.

I have seen most of the student, they start the exercise let’s say there are 100 problems then they reach up to 70-75 problems and leave the rest. Due to lack of time or due to rushing nature that “I have to touch the next chapter.” Sometimes students buy 2 or 3 reference books and try to solve all of them at a time. Suppose there are 100 problems in each books, what they do, they pick one book, solved 10 problems, then pick another one solve 10 problems then next book solved 10 problems. Ultimately for them they have solved 30 problems. But in my opinion they have learned only the 10 problems. This is a wrong approach. Suppose there are 200 problems and you have lack of time. Or you want to solve only 100 problems then solve the problems at even place(2,4,6,8,……,100) or odd place (1,3,5,…..,99) this way you will cover nearly all type and level of problems.

"I fear not the man who has practiced 10000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick10000 times."

Bruce Lee (a famous martial artist)

Approach should be buy only one books and master it in such a way that you can solve thousands of such books rather than buying thousand books but not able to solve even one book completely.

Note: Always Update your notes if you find anything special.

2. Study Materials:

There are a lot of coaching/ institutions available. Mostly provide study materials. One can buy any good coaching’s study materials. Why to but a coaching material, when one has bought a reference book? Study materials are prepared for exactly the entrance exam point of view. These are concise and the representation is good. Key points are highlighted. Problems to the recent pattern. Regularly updated. Tips, tricks and shortcuts. Analysis is good.

How to use it?

1. First read the content and theory part.
2. Try to solve the examples look at the solution analyze the method and learn shortcuts, formulae, method.
3. Find anything unique update it into your notes
4. Go for the exercises and solve it to the end.

3. Test Series:

Regular evaluation is necessary for the competition so join any test series or get the papers of test series somehow. Benefits of the test series.

1. Evaluation will keep you on the track.
2. Timely completion of syllabus.
3. Experience of examination environment.
4. Time management will improve.

Points to keep in mind:

1. Take the tests seriously.
2. Take each test as it is the final examination.
3. Set goals for each test, if required change the strategy.
4. After each test analyze the mistakes. Categorize the mistake.
5. Update the mistakes in the notes. Or make a separate notes “Notes of Mistakes” for this see the next post on “Notes of Mistakes”

4. Previous Years Papers:

After reading the reference books and study materials and solving the problems in there. One should try the problems of previous years’ papers. If you are able to solve the problems correctly, It means your preparation is going in the right direction. If wrong then see the type of mistake and improve it.

If you are not able to solve the problems then possible reasons are as following.

1. You have not understood the concepts or the methods, not attentive in the lectures. (Your side problem)
2. You might not have been taught. (Teacher side problem)
3. Others, you can categorize see the “Notes of Mistakes”.

Some problems you will find which will need knowledge of many chapters. Come again and solve those remaining problems after finishing those chapters.

Try to solve previous year papers completely.

Update the concepts into your notes time to time.

It will boost your confidence as you are able to solve the problems which came into previous years’ papers. You will know the pattern of the examination, level of the questions. It will give you a direction “what and how much is still needed?” By analyzing you can guess the problems that might come in future.

Note: Buy that previous years’ papers books that is written chapter wise. This way you can monitor your progress chapter wise.

5. Notes Making:

In this section I will tell you the importance of notes. What should be put into the notes? How it should look like? In short how to make a good notes?

Notes making is an art. Good notes can give you success in the examination. When you are taking notes, you are writing by your hand, at the same time you are printing on your memory. It keeps you attentive in the lecture and self study time as well. Very helpful in revision in the last minutes.

Components of a Good notes:

1. Concise and to the point information, and only with key terms.
2. Use of geometrical shapes circles, ovals, lines (mind maps).
3. Highlighted texts.
4. Use of Graph, flow chart.
5. Use of 2 to 3 color pens Or Underline by solid/dashed lines.
6. Classification and arrangement.
7. Questions with star rating.
8. If there is any mistake or wrong method write it too in the notes and a cut by single crossed line highlighting it as wrong method with reason why is it wrong.

Steps :

1. For note making buy in a good notebook as you have to study it many time.
2. Put page numbers in the notebook.
3. Leave first two or three pages for “Table of Contents”. You have to make the content table as following table:

S.No.	Chapter or Topic	Page no.	Date	Revision dates
1	Quadratic Equation	3	15/06/201..	01/07/201..	03/10/201..	10/02/201..
2	Progressions	21	25/06/201..	03/07/201..	03/10/201..	10/02/201..
3	Complex number	52	02/07/201..	02/08/201..	04/11/201..	11/02/201..
4	Binomial theorem	70	15/07/201..	5/08/201..	04/11/201..	11/02/201..

Write Revision dates so that you can monitor your revision pattern you can also put an advance date when you want to plan the revision.

4. Start making notes from the chapter you want to start. Write date on top of the paper and title of the chapter.
5. Make it neat, clean and spacious. It should feel good to the eyes.
6. While revising the notes use star rating, highlight the texts which seem important.
7. A separate notes “Notes of Mistakes” can be prepared Or can use the tips of that in this notes as well. It is your choice want to make separate notes or combined notes.

      

      6. Notes of Mistakes: We will talk about it in different post. (click here)

      7. Peer Groups:

What is peer group?

A group of people of approximately the same age, status, and interests. You have to create your own peer group of students preparing for the same competition. If you have joined a coaching/institution then it will be easier. But be careful the group should not be big, 4 to 5 students are enough. This will help you in problem solving, concept clearing, comparing the marks and knowledge.

Peer groups are healthy when they exert a positive influence, disastrous when rejection or negative pressure is involved. It acts like all will sail across the river or all will drown into it.

Take part into the discussions related to the topics of syllabus. Don’t involve into too much discussions. Share your notes in the peer group. Look into the notes of others and update and improve your notes.

8. Online Resources: Lots of online resources are available one can use it wisely. 

    Warning: Remember your aim is to get the amount of knowledge required to get into IIT         only. Don't start research work means don't give a lot of time for just one topic. If you will       do it Believe me you won't be able to finish the syllabus in time.

     I will try to provide topic wise list of contents with time requirement in some of my future       posts. You can follow that but remember that all of us have 24 hours a day.  

9. Planning Calendar: Take 12 A4 size papers or you can use the pages of your         notebook. Make a Monthly calendar. You have to mark the reasons why you could not             study on particular date. This way you can monitor your progress and how you can reduce       the wastage of time.  Suppose on 15th July you were sick. So mark due to sickness.                 Suppose on 26th July a friend came and you could not resist to go with him so mark the           name of that friend and how much time you were with him. 

How to prepare for IIT? 6- How to get ready for the war?

I have heard from some gossips that getting into IIT/NIT/Govt Medical college is very tough job. Many give the reason as every year lacks of students give the examination and seats are limited. Quite true. Many students give up to go for the preparation. My say is, don’t give up so early and even without trying.

Suppose you are not playing football in the ground then how many goals can you hit? It is sure that the answer is a big “O”. But if you are playing then how many goals can you hit. Still you can’t say anything definitely. But if you have practiced hard you know how to tackle the ball. Then there is a possibility that you might hit a goal. And with practice and proper guidance you can increase the chances.

So are you afraid of losing the battle before getting into the battle-field? Then I am going to help you overcome the fear of it. That’s my promise. If you try then there are chances of getting into IIT/NIT/Govt Medical college. If you are reading this it means you are keen to take part in the cut throat competition.

Yes, you heard it right, it’s a cut throat competition and reason is limited seats available.

So what is it all about?

What am I gonna tell you?

I think the answer of the first question is clear to you. Hopefully you are willing to give some competitive examinations ahead or had given in the past want to know how to improve or want to advice somebody you care about. And for the answer of second question you have to read it ahead. Obviously I will be sharing experiences of mine, my friends and my students and the stories of some personalities related to the topic.

I’ll talk about the strategies , how to plan things in a better way? how to know what books one should read? Blah blah blah……………..all these type of questions which remain bogging one’s mind.

I am very much confident that this will enhance your analyzing power. You will start seeing things differently. In short your world will get downside up. You will feel more confident about what you have to do and what to do? You will be able to clear the things.

Are you ready for the battle? Let’s start kicking the ball.

How to prepare for IIT? 5- Know Your Examination (KYE)

Before starting the preparation one should be aware about the examination. What are the things that one should know? How and where to get those information regarding the examination?

The first and most important thing is to go through the information brochure of the examination. Read it carefully and note down the following points

1. Eligibility conditions
2. Syllabus
3. Pattern of the examination
4. Important Dates

Competition	Form filling start date	Last Date	Admit card (link Opening date )	Exam date	Date of Result announcement
NEET 2017	31/01/2017	01/03/2017	15/04/2017	07/05/2017	08/06/2017
AIIMS 2017	24/01/2017	23/02/2017	01/05/2017	28/05/2017	14/06/2017
JEE Main 2017	01/12/2016	02/01/2017	2nd week March 2017	02/04/2017	By 27th April2017
JEE Advanced	28/04/2017	02/05/2017	10/05/2017	21/05/2017	11/06/2017
BITSAT-2017		06/03/2017 (5.00pm)	15th April – 10th May 2017	16 th May – 30th May 2017	after all the tests are completed
UPSEE-2017	18/01/2017	28/02/2017	07/04/2017	16/04/2017	on or before 30th May, 2017

The purpose of writing this table is to have an idea of tentative dates related to the examinations. You are advised to make a table of your own. The information brochure can be found on the websites of the concerned examinations.

Some links are as following:

1. http://cbseneet.nic.in/
2. http://mbbs.aiimsexams.org/
3. http://jeemain.nic.in/
4. https://jeeadv.ac.in/
5. http://www.bitsadmission.com/
6. http://upsee.nic.in/

If you are not able to search on the internet find contact numbers of few coachings/ institutions and just call them and ask for the information.

You can get the syllabus printed in any cyber café from information brochure (don’t take the print out of whole brochure). In initial few pages of the reference books one can find the syllabus of the examination. Get a photocopy of that.

Read the syllabus 2-3 times and make a mind map of that.

How to prepare for IIT ? 4- Which coaching/ Institute should one join for IIT?

This is the most difficult question. Answer of this question is to be decided by the candidate itself. I will guide and tell what factors one should take into consideration. See the following table it is just a sample format that I have prepared one one add more points and remove or modify the point.

             This is a 300 point table. You can use it to decide which coaching one should use. One can change the point allotted according to them. Then start giving the point to coaching A and Coaching B. How to allot the points in the factors. Suppose we have to allot in the faculty qualification row if all faculties are IITians give 30 out of 30 points. If two are IITians one is NITians can give 25 points. Like that you can award the points. Years of experience: 4 points per year of experience up to 5 years above 5 years give full points. Friendliness how to check it? Go and meet the faculties interact with them if possible. Ask previous year students if possible. 

4th point is Fees Structure if someone has not economic problem then he can leave that point but many have this problem. Coaching fees may not come into the budget so give more point is fees is lesser. 

In infrastructure you have to see the classroom size how many students can sit in a class if it is less than 60 give full points. If it is between 60 to 100 give 3/4^th point and like that you can decide.
Let us understand why If classroom size is small then number of students will be less then teachers can focus on each student. Suppose there are 300 hundred student seating in a class one cannot be able to focus on individual student. There will not be any difference between a video lecture and classroom study. When it comes to doubt clearance either other teacher will handle it or student will not be able to ask doubts after the class because it will take a whole lot of time for one doubt to reach near the teacher.

Similarly other factors can be understood if anybody has any specific question regarding the factors can comment in the comment section. I will try to respond as per my schedule. 

You can add other factors too if you have anything in your mind and allot that factor and give it some points.

This way you can compare the coachings. Choose the most appropriate.

How to prepare for IIT? 3-Is coaching necessary for the preparation of IIT?

This question is a little tough to answer because it depends on one’s educational background and environment. If one has access of right course material and assistance of someone who can clear doubts then coaching is not necessary. But this kind of situation is difficult to find for most of the folks. So my advice is, it is better to join a coaching.  Getting a personal guidance is a good thing but that person too has some commitment of time. 
                  Now a days coaching centres are available in every corner of the country. Many online programs are running. Good amount of youtube videos are available on nearly every topic of syllabus. Lots of test series and books on previous year's papers are available. Content availability is not an issue the major issue is how to finish the syllabus in time with adequate knowledge. After watching youtube videos few of my students given feedback that for one topic they watch many videos so repeating is a major issue. It seems a waste of time. Second thing is which video they should watch and which they should leave. It seems a waste of time. In some of my blog I will provide the topic wise links of the contents. But the benefits of the coaching can not be neglected.

Benefits of joining a coaching are as following

1. To the point and concise study materials
2. Doubt clearance assistance
3. Proper evaluation
4. Proper counseling
5. Competitive environment and peer group
6. Consistency and continuity
7. Timely course completion

In my career so far I haven't met any person who has cracked IIT without taking any coaching also seeing the increased competition and not only limited but timely limited attempts for IIT supports the idea of joining coaching.

The power of Self motivated person should not be underestimated. If someone is determined for it and doing accordingly with consistency and continuity. He will surely get a way and will be surely successful. 

Conclusion: Overall my conclusion will be try to join a good coaching. If it is not possible then take distance learning program or online program and make a collection of topic wise videos. Proper plan for finishing the syllabus in time.

Note: One very important advice if you have joined any coaching try to join test series of another coaching Or get the papers of test series. And solve it properly.

How to prepare for IIT? 2-When one should start the preparation for IIT?

This is the most common question that is asked by the students, parents, guardians. Answer of this question is very simple. Most general answer is one year before taking the examination according to the eligibility conditions. One year is sufficient to ensure a seat into an IIT/NIT. But seeking the increasing competitive environment and trend. One should not take the risk and start preparation for their goal as soon as possible. Even some coachings/ institutions started taking admissions from class 6th. It is too early to decide for something. In my opinion joining two years foundation course i.e.  starting preparation from 11th class is reasonable.

Reason : Why one should start preparing for IIT from 11^th class. What is the syllabus of JEE for IIT/NIT? It is the syllabus of class 11^th and 12^th. One can argue that if one will learn the topics in advance then he will master them till the exam. My argument is what will happen if one tries to teach 12^th class syllabus to a class 6^th student. I am not saying that he won’t be able to understand anything or he can not do good in that but for him it will take more time to grasp the things and he will feel mental stress. Now look at the syllabus of NCERT books and who has prepared it. Read the introductory words, acknowledgements, look at the text book development committee. You will find that it is prepared by the experts who are very much experienced. We should value their efforts that they have put in the research work to prepare the books.

Conclusion: In my opinion best time to start the preparation for JEE (Main and Advanced) is from 11^th class.

How to prepare for IIT? 1-Introduction

Till my high school I never heard of IIT/NIT/AIIMS/ or any these kind of Institutions. I was the topper of my class. My father was a doing a government job but there aroused some problem in the Job due to governance. My family was facing financial problems. So I started to take some home tuitions in the town. Though it was not giving a very fascinating perks but was workable as I could pay my school fees and fulfil some basic necessities.

One day while I was teaching to one of my students at her home. A man came to her probably he was a relative of them. He asked few general type questions, was checking my knowledge. I answered all the questions. He got impressed and wanted to know more about me. I told him about me. Then he asked about my future plans. I said ,”I haven’t planed anything yet”. After board examinations result will be out then I’ll think what to do? Then he suggested me to think for IIT.

I am not writing my biography right now. Then why am I sharing an incidence of my life. I was lucky enough to get the information and right direction on right time. Should we left our future on luck? The point is many of us don’t know the carrier option available there. Though from my time a lot has been changed. Now a days information about anything is easily accessible. People have started to think about future plans five, six years ahead.

People are more aware right now. They want to everything to be planned. After many years of experience of teaching and thousands of counseling done by me. What I have observed is that it is good that people are aware but it has led many problems too. People are confused. They wander here and there. They ask many people, consult many but even they don’t know whom should they trust. Whose advice is right? Which source is correct? Many questions they ask like What is the right time to start the preparation? Which coaching is doing good? What books should be purchased? Which coaching material is good? Which city’s result are good? Is it safe to send my child to Kota? What is the outcome there? Whose result is authentic? Which coaching’s faculty are authentic? What is the fees? What fees is reasonable? A lot of questions are hitting the parents and the students. They are not able to get satisfactory answer. This is mostly due to the reason that they don’t get the logical reasoning for the facts.

Will this book answer all these type of questions? If I say “Yes”, then I am becoming over-enthusiastic. It will not answer the questions exactly but it will show the path, where to find authentic information. It will tell what factors one should consider while taking the decisions and it will also vary person to person. Everybody has to set the priority of the factors according to their conditions, environment and level of understanding.

First question that I will answer is “What is it all about?”. This is a guidance for the Engineering aspirants but the approach can be used be used in any competitive examinations.

In my next post I will discuss when one should start the preparation for IIT?