This young lad from Bhilai (Chhattisgarh) achieved two accolades this year – he earned the first rank in AIEEE and the fifth rank in IIT-JEE. He shares his journey to the top, his hopes, plans and the upcoming International Physics Olympiad in Croatia, this month.
Q. Congratulations. Which institution are you opting for?
A. Computer Science branch at IIT-Mumbai because I’m interested in things like Logic and programming, and also because I’ll get a good recommendation for further studies from there. Another factor is that IIT-Mumbai Computer Science degree has a very good value in the market.
Q. So you plan to go for further studies after your engineering?
A. Yes, I plan to do my MS and PhD and get into research.
Q. Now that the results are out are you enjoying the well-deserved break?
A. Not exactly. I am preparing for the International Physics Olympiad right now, which is being held from July 17-25 in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. 80 nations are participating, India is being represented by five students and I am one of them.
Q. How were you selected?
A. I was selected by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science and Education, Mumbai. There are two national-level written rounds and the third was a camp held there. I cleared all three rounds and hence got this chance to represent India. At the camp, there were orientation lectures by professors from various colleges including IIT-Kanpur and Guwahati. Then we had an experiment session and five tests ; three experimental tests and two written theory tests.
Q. Who inspired you? Who’s your role model?
A. My parents have always guided me very well. They’ve always motivated me and inspired me a lot. There have been students earlier from Bhilai like Shashank Shekhar Dwivedi who secured AIR 1 in IIT-JEE 2003 and is currently studying in MIT Boston. Also there was Shariq Rizvi who secured IIT-JEE AIR 5 and is running his own company in the US. So from their experiences I knew it could be done.
Q. How did you come to have so much clarity at such a young age?
A. I knew I had to go in this field and IIT was the best in this line. I was in Class 6 when Shashank topped IIT-JEE. My parents also knew about IIT well and told me about it. Then I participated in National Level Science and Mathematics Olympiad and I always secured a top 25 ranking. They told me that with such a good ranking I could get in the best IIT in the country, so I knew I had to go there. When I was in Class 7 I had also participated in the India Child Genius Contest conducted by Mr. Siddhartha Basu, I was the national semi-finalist at East zone runner-up over there. I’ve been to many national-level quizzes after that and it gave me a lot of confidence when I won in these where participants were there from all over the country. So I knew I was amongst the top in the nation and knew I could do it!
Q. When and how did you start your preparation for IIT-JEE?
A. In Class 7 and 8. I was clear that IIT was my target. In Class 9 I started studying advanced topics, and joined a Brilliant Tutorials correspondence course. If there was any topic in NCERT textbook, it was covered in the Brilliants course with higher concepts. For example, if there was something about mechanics then it used to cover Newton’s Laws, which are actually taught in Class 11. So I had some idea of what was going to be taught in Class 11, too.
Q. What really helped you score such a high rank? Was it coaching or long years of preparation?
A. I was very clear from the beginning that the main part was self-study only. I joined FIITJEE because the course was integrated with the syllabus at school. Computers and English were taught to me by my school teachers whereas Physics, Chemistry and Maths were only taught to me by my FIITJEE teachers. So, I didn’t have to study these subjects separately at school and run after tuitions in the evenings.
Q. So you saved time. How come this was worked out?
A. They had a tie-up with our school, M.G.M. Bhilai with such arrangement. It is optional for the students. Actually the fees for the same is Rs. 2 lakhs but I got a 100% fee waiver since I stood All India 2nd in a written exam conducted by them in December of Class Xth.
Q. So you used to study only Computers & English at school and PCM at FIITJEE?
A. No, I was taught PCM by FIITJEE teachers inside the school campus only. So I didn’t have to waste my time running here and there in the evening and therefore I could spend a lot of time on my self-study. From my self-study I used to gather all my doubts and discuss them with my teachers for hours at a stretch. The FIITJEE teachers were very good at doubt clearance too.
Q. Did you have any separate strategy for Physics, Chemistry and Maths?
A. I used to give equal weightage to all the subjects, because questions can be from any topic.
Q. Any difference in your preparation for IIT-JEE and AIEEE?
A. Actually I didn’t prepare for AIEE separately, just prepared for IIT-JEE throughout. There were some additional topics for AIEEE from Maths and Physics which I covered in the two weeks between IIT-JEE and AIEEE.
Q. Is the level of questions same for both the exams?
A. The level is same and also there are objective questions in both but while in AIEEE all questions are “single-option correct questions”, in IIT-JEE you have a variety like match the following, multi-correct questions, some numerical questions etc.
Q. What was your course material?
A. Apart from FIITJEE ’s packages and Brilliant’s packages, I used some books referred to by my teacher like Paula Bruice for Organic Chemistry in which I was weak. This I had discovered through the various national level Olympiads I had participated in and also my exposure to Organic Chemistry in Class Xth.
Q. How did you overcome this weakness? Who helped you?
A. When my teacher was teaching Physical Chemistry, that time only I approached him and said my Organic Chemistry is weak, so he suggested I buy the book and I used to read it regularly when Organic Chemistry started and discuss all my doubts with him. He helped me a lot by giving some extra papers and summaries of this topic.
Also, I was good at Physics but used to score a bit less in the All India Test Series in the subject. In the last 5 to 6 months, I came in touch with the HOD of Physics at FIITJEE, South Delhi and we used to interact over the phone and email. He helped me improve a lot in Physics and now, I am representing India at the international level in Physics, thanks largely to his efforts along with my own. I dedicated entire January 2010 to strengthening my Physics.
Q. What would you say is the mantra of your success?
A. Time Management. Many students first go to school and study all subjects there and then in the evening time run to various teachers, typically two each for Physics, Chemistry and Maths. For me, everything was over in school time only so I had a lot of time at home for self study. Also I had only one teacher each for all subjects and they were all good.
Q. I heard you also went to Japan recently?
A. Yes I went to Japan in August 2009 to attend Asian Science Camp where I got the opportunity to listen to 7 Nobel laureates. There was a contingent of 30 participants from India within which I was one of the 7 who had got scholarships from the Japan government for the tour. The rest 23 had been sponsored by the Indian government.
Q. Any message you would like to give to IIT-JEE and AIEEE aspirants?
A. Focus on your topics and don’t try to study from too many teachers. Try to gain exposure as it helps build your confidence.
Q. Congratulations. Which institution are you opting for?
A. Computer Science branch at IIT-Mumbai because I’m interested in things like Logic and programming, and also because I’ll get a good recommendation for further studies from there. Another factor is that IIT-Mumbai Computer Science degree has a very good value in the market.
Q. So you plan to go for further studies after your engineering?
A. Yes, I plan to do my MS and PhD and get into research.
Q. Now that the results are out are you enjoying the well-deserved break?
A. Not exactly. I am preparing for the International Physics Olympiad right now, which is being held from July 17-25 in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. 80 nations are participating, India is being represented by five students and I am one of them.
Q. How were you selected?
A. I was selected by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science and Education, Mumbai. There are two national-level written rounds and the third was a camp held there. I cleared all three rounds and hence got this chance to represent India. At the camp, there were orientation lectures by professors from various colleges including IIT-Kanpur and Guwahati. Then we had an experiment session and five tests ; three experimental tests and two written theory tests.
Q. Who inspired you? Who’s your role model?
A. My parents have always guided me very well. They’ve always motivated me and inspired me a lot. There have been students earlier from Bhilai like Shashank Shekhar Dwivedi who secured AIR 1 in IIT-JEE 2003 and is currently studying in MIT Boston. Also there was Shariq Rizvi who secured IIT-JEE AIR 5 and is running his own company in the US. So from their experiences I knew it could be done.
Q. How did you come to have so much clarity at such a young age?
A. I knew I had to go in this field and IIT was the best in this line. I was in Class 6 when Shashank topped IIT-JEE. My parents also knew about IIT well and told me about it. Then I participated in National Level Science and Mathematics Olympiad and I always secured a top 25 ranking. They told me that with such a good ranking I could get in the best IIT in the country, so I knew I had to go there. When I was in Class 7 I had also participated in the India Child Genius Contest conducted by Mr. Siddhartha Basu, I was the national semi-finalist at East zone runner-up over there. I’ve been to many national-level quizzes after that and it gave me a lot of confidence when I won in these where participants were there from all over the country. So I knew I was amongst the top in the nation and knew I could do it!
Q. When and how did you start your preparation for IIT-JEE?
A. In Class 7 and 8. I was clear that IIT was my target. In Class 9 I started studying advanced topics, and joined a Brilliant Tutorials correspondence course. If there was any topic in NCERT textbook, it was covered in the Brilliants course with higher concepts. For example, if there was something about mechanics then it used to cover Newton’s Laws, which are actually taught in Class 11. So I had some idea of what was going to be taught in Class 11, too.
Q. What really helped you score such a high rank? Was it coaching or long years of preparation?
A. I was very clear from the beginning that the main part was self-study only. I joined FIITJEE because the course was integrated with the syllabus at school. Computers and English were taught to me by my school teachers whereas Physics, Chemistry and Maths were only taught to me by my FIITJEE teachers. So, I didn’t have to study these subjects separately at school and run after tuitions in the evenings.
Q. So you saved time. How come this was worked out?
A. They had a tie-up with our school, M.G.M. Bhilai with such arrangement. It is optional for the students. Actually the fees for the same is Rs. 2 lakhs but I got a 100% fee waiver since I stood All India 2nd in a written exam conducted by them in December of Class Xth.
Q. So you used to study only Computers & English at school and PCM at FIITJEE?
A. No, I was taught PCM by FIITJEE teachers inside the school campus only. So I didn’t have to waste my time running here and there in the evening and therefore I could spend a lot of time on my self-study. From my self-study I used to gather all my doubts and discuss them with my teachers for hours at a stretch. The FIITJEE teachers were very good at doubt clearance too.
Q. Did you have any separate strategy for Physics, Chemistry and Maths?
A. I used to give equal weightage to all the subjects, because questions can be from any topic.
Q. Any difference in your preparation for IIT-JEE and AIEEE?
A. Actually I didn’t prepare for AIEE separately, just prepared for IIT-JEE throughout. There were some additional topics for AIEEE from Maths and Physics which I covered in the two weeks between IIT-JEE and AIEEE.
Q. Is the level of questions same for both the exams?
A. The level is same and also there are objective questions in both but while in AIEEE all questions are “single-option correct questions”, in IIT-JEE you have a variety like match the following, multi-correct questions, some numerical questions etc.
Q. What was your course material?
A. Apart from FIITJEE ’s packages and Brilliant’s packages, I used some books referred to by my teacher like Paula Bruice for Organic Chemistry in which I was weak. This I had discovered through the various national level Olympiads I had participated in and also my exposure to Organic Chemistry in Class Xth.
Q. How did you overcome this weakness? Who helped you?
A. When my teacher was teaching Physical Chemistry, that time only I approached him and said my Organic Chemistry is weak, so he suggested I buy the book and I used to read it regularly when Organic Chemistry started and discuss all my doubts with him. He helped me a lot by giving some extra papers and summaries of this topic.
Also, I was good at Physics but used to score a bit less in the All India Test Series in the subject. In the last 5 to 6 months, I came in touch with the HOD of Physics at FIITJEE, South Delhi and we used to interact over the phone and email. He helped me improve a lot in Physics and now, I am representing India at the international level in Physics, thanks largely to his efforts along with my own. I dedicated entire January 2010 to strengthening my Physics.
Q. What would you say is the mantra of your success?
A. Time Management. Many students first go to school and study all subjects there and then in the evening time run to various teachers, typically two each for Physics, Chemistry and Maths. For me, everything was over in school time only so I had a lot of time at home for self study. Also I had only one teacher each for all subjects and they were all good.
Q. I heard you also went to Japan recently?
A. Yes I went to Japan in August 2009 to attend Asian Science Camp where I got the opportunity to listen to 7 Nobel laureates. There was a contingent of 30 participants from India within which I was one of the 7 who had got scholarships from the Japan government for the tour. The rest 23 had been sponsored by the Indian government.
Q. Any message you would like to give to IIT-JEE and AIEEE aspirants?
A. Focus on your topics and don’t try to study from too many teachers. Try to gain exposure as it helps build your confidence.
vipul congrats for selection in IIT-2010 at 5th rank. i would be in 11th class and take the exam of IIT in 2013. i want some important guidance and suggestions for cracking this IIT-JEE exam regarding the subjects of PCM.which institute's correspondence material is best. i will also want to know that which institute should i join for classroom coaching.my chemistry is also weak but physics and math are good.i want your guidance regarding for success in this exam.i think i would get above 90% marks in 10th class.thanking you .......! GAURAV RATHEE 09416479940(can you give me a call if you are free) my email is amanrocker.rocker7@gmail.com
ReplyDeletevipul can u tell me why did u choose pinnacle & not
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please explain what happens in pinnacle as i am very far from my coaching centre
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ReplyDeleteJCECE Results 2018 for engineering course will be announced in the 4th week of May 2018. All the candidates who have taken the exam will be able to check the result in the online mode on the official website
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