My Journey of JEE Exam Experience

The process of transforming the difficulties related to the Pandemic to the achievements was the main goal.

The way to achieving admission with an 85 percentile in JEE was a bumpy ride, which had the distinctive features of the COVID-19 pandemic- a challenge that was not known previously. This experience was not only about the hard work of the students studying and solving many problems; it was a test of the self-discipline, adaptability and resilience of the students.

The transition to online learning causes students to have less peer interaction due to their outlined micro-study spaces and vast distance from teachers, which can lead to a lack of motivation and self-management, thus negatively affecting academic achievement.

The pandemic shook the world in early 2020 and changed our lifestyle. Schools and coaching centres stopped their activities, and we were compelled to learn online, just like the whole world. The first stage of the change was hard to overcome. I had to quickly be able to grasp virtual classes, webinars and digital study materials to manage the school schedule and keep myself on track. The absence of direct face-to-face communication with teachers and peers was the main reason for the difficulty in staying motivated and getting the exact answers in a real-time situation.

Establishing a Productive Study Environment is the process of designing optimal surroundings for studying, which includes things like a quiet place to study, good lighting, comfortable furniture, and minimal distractions.

I got to know that a good study environment is very important and thus I made the home an exclusive place of study. This area was my peaceful place away from the traffic and noise. I brought all my study materials that I needed and thus, I was able to achieve my academic objectives. I carefully planned my day to make sure I had enough time for online classes, self-study as well as short breaks so that I could avoid getting burnt out.

The net is now my most precious asset. I took part in various educational platforms which included courses, video lectures and practice tests and thereby helped me in preparing for JEE. For Physics and Chemistry, “ Alakh Pandey Sir” and for Maths ” Neha Agrawal Mam” and various other YouTube channels hosted by experts in the field of education became my virtual classrooms. This feature of the online classes – the possibility to pause, rewind, and rewatch the tough concepts was a big plus over traditional classroom learning.

Maintaining contact and seeking help is essential to keeping in touch with a person who is in need while being a part of his life and staying connected.

Although I was away from my friends, being in touch with them and having my study groups was very important. We created online study groups, which were made possible by platforms like Zoom and WhatsApp, in which we discussed problems, exchanged notes and motivated each other. The connections formed among the students made them feel part of a community and gave them a sense of responsibility, thus, the preparation work was not a lonely experience anymore.

The pandemic likewise showed me the necessity of adaptation in the study methods. With the JEE syllabus being huge and requiring a lot of discipline, I decided to use the topic-wise study method. This enabled me to concentrate on one subject at a time, thus, the knowledge of the subject I was studying was well understood before I moved on to the next one. The completion of regular self-evaluation tests and former years’ papers gave me the ability to monitor my progress and ascertain the weak areas.

The uncertainty of the exam dates and the fear of the virus were the most worrisome mental barriers that the students had to face. To confront the stress and to keep my mental well-being, I included mindfulness practices such as meditation and regular exercise in my daily life. These tasks were the means to keep me upbeat and to sharpen my concentration.

With the exam date getting closer I stared intensely at my revision, concentrating on the high-yield topics and often going back to the hard concepts. I did not succumb to the temptation to learn new topics at the very last minute, instead, I concentrated on a detailed revision of the things I had already been studying. Management of the time during the practice tests was a key factor in building the stamina and speed which in turn was the basis for the actual exam.

Later, when the results were out, I was among the top ten, having scored 85 percentile. Although it did not belong to the top rank, it was a great success considering the unusual situation. It was proof that I had worked hard, and adapted to the new conditions and my family and friends had been with me all the way.

Conclusion:

The course of the JEE during the COVID-19 pandemic was a peculiar and demanding undertaking. It was a great teacher for me and taught me the career, self-discipline, adaptability, and the importance of mental resilience. The achievement of the 85 percentile was not only an indication of successful academic work but also a triumph over the many obstacles that the pandemic put in my way. This advent has given me abilities and attitudes that will be of great help in my future academic and personal projects.