Before Starting for IIT-JEE

This has been a week in which different examination results have come out. Many of us want our children to become Engineer and for that a seat in IIT is the preferred choice. Here are some facts that can be helpful in taking right decision.

About 16000 students passed CBSE 12th examination scoring over 90% marks (ref. TOI 26/5/09). Any guess about how many might have scored over 80%? What would this number be if we consider all the boards in the country like ICSE, state boards etc.? The number would easily touch 100 thousands. Majority of them must have aspired for a seat in IIT and taken IIT-JEE 2009.

IIT-JEE 2009 (an examination for undergraduate admission in IITs) was conducted with a maximum marks of 480. The results have been declared on 25th May. Based on the performance and results of some of the students I know, the cut-off is likely to be about 165-170 out of 480. This is just about 35%. Difficult to believe? I did web search and found that experts feel the same. No need to get surprised, this has been the trend always. What surprises is that so many coaching Institutes with great Professors are not able to produce even 5000 students from the country who can score more than just 50% marks in IIT-JEE. They coach tens of thousands of students who have always been scoring much above that in other examinations.

Questions are solvable. If you show a child who has just passed Class X, the questions of IIT-JEE 09 (the syllabus is of Class 12)and let him feel comfortable, he may agree with this. Toppers score more than 90% in JEE as well. So scoring 50% can never be a difficult task if one identifies his strengths and work on them. This needs to be done without any short-cut.

IIT-JEE has been regularly in the news in last few days. As per a news article on the first page of today's TOI, % of students getting into IITs without coaching is increasing and has now exceeded 50%. So, consider these facts and take a conscious decision in the best interest of the student. May be reading the book 'Enjoy IIT-JEE' helps.

While studying in Coaching Institutions

We are flooded with claims of various coaching institutions claiming thousands of successful candiadates in IIT-JEE from their classes. While I understand that these data are correct, I also understand that there are thousands of students who studied there but couldnot qualify.

Parents and students shouldn't feel that joining a reputed coaching class is good enough or necessary for clearing IIT-JEE. Every individual is different. So, he should understand himself and prepare accordingly for best results. Coaching classes are helpful, no doubt, but one needs to know where he requires help. This help can be obtained from any where. If someone feels that he requires help for each and every topic all the time, then I am convinced, he needs to first change himself.

So, one tip I can offer, in general that..

Do some research on internet about the cut-off marks in IIT-JEE, see past year JEE questions, and prepare yourself to score more than cut-off marks on those types of questions. Take help from wherever it is available and whenever needed. But you should know the past few years cut-offs and corresponding question papers. You should do this on your own without taking help from any compilation of coaching classes.

Some tips from me to IIT aspirants available on web

Read these article for some important tips related to IIT-JEE preparation.

http://www.chennaionline.com/education/2004/04iitjee.asp

http://www.goiit.com/posts/listByUser/15/2181.htm