What I Wish I Knew Before Starting My JEE Preparation!

How I Got Into the JEE Race

Lets be real. If youre in Class 10 or 11 and from a science background, youve probably heard,
"You should try for IIT."

And like most of my friends, I said okay, without really thinking it through.

I joined a coaching class, bought all the NCERT books, downloaded some apps, and felt like I was doing everything right. But looking back, I had no idea what I was getting into.

The Pressure I Didnt See Coming

JEE isnt just another exam. Its a pressure cooker.

No one talks enough about the emotional toll.
Every test makes you feel like your future is hanging by a thread. Some days you're on top of the world, and the next, you cant solve even a basic question.

There were weeks I felt stuck.
Just opening my physics notebook gave me anxiety.

What wouldve helped?

• Talking to seniors who had been through it
  
  

• Getting honest advice from mentors
  
  

• Knowing its okay to feel lost sometimes
  
  

Why Choosing the Right Coaching Actually Matters

This is something I completely underestimated.

I thought all coaching classes were the same. Spoiler: Theyre not.

I wasted six months in a place where I didnt learn much. Too many students. Doubts never got solved. The pace was insane.

Later, I shifted to one of the best IIT JEE coaching in Nagpur, and it honestly changed everything.

Heres what worked:

• Smaller batch size
  
  

• Teachers who actually cared
  
  

• Weekly performance tracking
  
  

• Individual doubt-clearing sessions
  
  

If youre in Nagpur, dont just go by brand names. Talk to students, sit for demo lectures, and see where you actually learn, not just sit and listen.

Self-Study Isnt Just a Buzzword

People kept telling me:
"Self-study is the key to cracking JEE."

I heard it. I didnt get it.

For the longest time, I thought sitting in class was enough.
But JEE isnt about who attended the most lectures. Its about who understood and practiced the most concepts.

Heres what helped once I got serious:

• Two hours daily for revision
  
  

• Making my own notes (even messy ones helped)
  
  

• Solving at least 1520 questions a day from each subject
  
  

Start small. Build the habit. Youll thank yourself later.

Time Management? Yeah, Its Real

No schedule = total chaos.

In my first few months, Id study randomly.
Some days 6 hours, some days 1 hour. Some days I only did math.

What I learned late:

• You need a timetable
  
  

• Break your day into 3 study slots
  
  

• Keep one slot just for revision
  
  

• Have a buffer for unexpected stuff (festivals, school work, low-energy days)
  
  

And dont forget weekly planning. Id spend 15 minutes every Sunday just setting goals for the week.

The Subjects Dont Treat You Equally

I was good at math. So, I kept doing math.

It felt safe. Easy. Familiar.

But JEE isnt a math exam.
Its math + physics + chemistrywith equal weightage.

My chemistry scores were terrible until someone pointed out that I was ignoring it.

Tips I wish I had followed earlier:

• Treat all subjects as equals
  
  

• Rotate subjects daily to stay in touch with all
  
  

• Focus more on weak areas (even if they suck)
  
  

• Dont wait for motivationuse a stopwatch, and just begin
  
  

The best IIT JEE coaching in Nagpur really helped me balance this. They had a structured plan, and that kept me on track.

Not Everything Online Helps

YouTube, Telegram, online PDFsits all too much.

In the beginning, I downloaded everything I saw.
50+ PDFs. 10+ channels. 20+ mock test series.

Guess how many I actually used?
Maybe 10% of it.

Its easy to feel productive while collecting resources, but the real work is solving and understanding.

Stick to:

• One set of notes per subject
  
  

• One book for each topic
  
  

• One test series from a trusted source
  
  

Quality > Quantity. Always.

Mock Tests Can Be BrutalAnd Helpful

My first mock test score was so bad, I thought maybe I should quit.

It felt like all that studying was pointless.

But here's the thingmock tests arent there to make you feel good. Theyre there to expose your gaps.

Over time, I learned:

• Attempt full-length tests every 2 weeks
  
  

• Analyse them honestlydont skip this part
  
  

• Track your progress (even 10 10-mark improvement matters)
  
  

Once I joined the best IIT JEE coaching in Nagpur, they gave a detailed test analysis.
I could finally see where I was making the same mistakes again and again.

Friends, Distractions, and Mental Noise

FOMO is real.

While youre solving thermodynamics, someones posting reels from a party. While youre studying organic chemistry, your phone lights up every few minutes.

Distractions never go away.
You just have to decide what you want more.

Things that helped me:

• Silent mode during study hours
  
  

• Deleted Instagram for a year (brutal, but worth it)
  
  

• One weekly chill daymusic, movie, whatever I felt like
  
  

Its about balance. Not complete isolation.

Health: The One Thing I Ignored

I thought I was being productive by studying till 2 AM and skipping meals.

But I paid the price.

I fell sick three times in my drop year. Missed classes. Lost track of schedules.

Later, I made basic changes:

• Slept 67 hours daily
  
  

• Ate home-cooked food
  
  

• Took short breaks every hour (walk, stretch, water)
  
  

You dont need fancy routines.
You just need to not burn out.

Final Thoughts: I Wish Someone Told Me

Heres the truth no one told me clearly:

JEE is not just about intelligence.
Its about consistency.

You dont need to be a genius.
You just need to show up every day for 2 years (or more).

And most importantly:

• Dont compare your journey to others
  
  

• Seek help when you feel stucktalk to teachers, mentors, or even batchmates
  
  

• Believe that effort adds up, even when you dont see it instantly
  
  

If youre from Nagpur, finding the best IIT JEE coaching in Nagpur isnt just about cracking the examits about building a routine, mindset, and support system that keeps you going.

I made mistakes. You will too.
But if this helps you avoid even one of them, Id say its worth sharing.

All the best. Keep going.