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Nayagam P

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Career Counsellor - Answered on Dec 14, 2025

Nayagam is a certified career counsellor and the founder of EduJob360.
He started his career as an HR professional and has over 10 years of experience in tutoring and mentoring students from Classes 8 to 12, helping them choose the right stream, course and college/university.
He also counsels students on how to prepare for entrance exams for getting admission into reputed universities /colleges for their graduate/postgraduate courses.
He has guided both fresh graduates and experienced professionals on how to write a resume, how to prepare for job interviews and how to negotiate their salary when joining a new job.
Nayagam has published an eBook, Professional Resume Writing Without Googling.
He has a postgraduate degree in human resources from Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi, a postgraduate diploma in labour law from Madras University, a postgraduate diploma in school counselling from Symbiosis, Pune, and a certification in child psychology from Counsel India.
He has also completed his master’s degree in career counselling from ICCC-Mindler and Counsel, India.
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Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025Hindi
Career

Hello, I am currently in Class 12 and preparing for JEE. I have not yet completed even 50% of the syllabus properly, but I aim to score around '110' marks. Could you suggest an effective strategy to achieve this? I know the target is relatively low, but I have category reservation, so it should be sufficient.

Ans: With category reservation (SC/ST/OBC), a score of 110 marks is absolutely achievable and realistic. Based on 2025 data, SC candidates qualified with approximately 60-65 percentile, and ST candidates with 45-55 percentile. Your target requires scoring just 37-40% marks, which is significantly lower than general category standards. This gives you a genuine advantage. Immediate Action Plan (December 2025 - January 2026): 4-5 Weeks. Week 1-2: High-Weightage Chapter Focus. Stop trying to complete the entire syllabus. Instead, focus exclusively on high-scoring chapters that carry maximum weightage: Physics (Modern Physics, Current Electricity, Work-Power-Energy, Rotation, Magnetism), Chemistry (Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Coordination Compounds, Electrochemistry), and Maths (Integration, Differentiation, Vectors, 3D Geometry, Probability). These chapters alone can yield 80-100+ marks if practiced properly. Ignore topics you haven't studied yet. Week 2-3: Previous Year Questions (PYQs). Solve JEE Main PYQs from the last 10 years (2015-2025) for chapters you're studying. PYQs reveal question patterns and difficulty levels. Focus on understanding why answers are correct, not memorizing solutions. Week 3-4: Mock Tests & Error Analysis. Take 2-3 full-length mock tests weekly under timed conditions. This is crucial because mock tests build exam confidence, reveal time management weaknesses, and error analysis prevents repeated mistakes. Maintain an error notebook documenting every mistake—this becomes your revision guide. Week 4-5: Revision & Formula Consolidation. Create concise formula sheets for each subject. Spend 30 minutes daily reviewing formulas and key concepts. Avoid learning new topics entirely at this stage. Study Schedule (Daily): 7-8 Hours. Morning (5:00-7:30 AM): Physics concepts + 30 PYQs. Break (7:30-8:30 AM): Breakfast & rest. Mid-morning (8:30-11:00): Chemistry concepts + 20 PYQs. Lunch (11:00-1:00 PM): Full break. Afternoon (1:00-3:30 PM): Maths concepts + 30 PYQs. Evening (3:30-5:00 PM): Mock test or error review. Night (7:00-9:00 PM): Formula revision & weak area focus. Strategic Approach for 110 Marks: Attempt only confident questions and avoid negative marking by skipping difficult questions. Do easy questions first—in the exam, attempt all basic-level questions before attempting medium or hard ones. Focus on quality over quantity as 30 well-practiced questions beat 100 random questions. Master NCERT concepts as most JEE questions test NCERT concepts applied smartly. April 2026 Session Advantage. If January doesn't deliver desired results, April gives you a second chance with 3+ months to prepare. Use January as a practice attempt to identify weak areas, then focus intensively on those in February-March. Realistic Timeline: January 2026 target is 95-110 marks (achievable with focused 50% syllabus), while April 2026 target is 120-130 marks (with complete syllabus + experience). Your reservation benefit means you need only approximately 90-105 marks to qualify and secure admission to quality engineering colleges. Stop comparing yourself to general category cutoffs. Most Importantly: Consistency beats perfection. Study 6 focused hours daily rather than 12 distracted hours. Your 110-mark target is realistic—execute this plan with discipline. All the BEST for Your JEE 2026!

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10889 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 09, 2025

Career
Hello Sir, My daughter is in Class 11 , and preparing for JEE. Kindly advice how to score more than 99.5 %tile in JEE mains (General Category) to get through Top NITs and to qualify for advanced. Kindly suggest the Roadmap. She is into inhouse integrated school coaching.So coaching classes happen in school timing and in school premises(gets over by 3 PM). Kinldy advise books and time management.
Ans: Susmita Madam, Before answering your question, please note this IMPORTANT suggestion: One of the most important yet often overlooked strategies in JEE preparation is the habit of regular analysis and revision after every test, which many students fail to follow consistently—leading to lower scores in both the short and long term. JEE coaching institutes frequently conduct a variety of tests, including topic-wise, unit-wise, and full syllabus assessments. After each test, it's crucial for your daughter to carefully review the questions she answered incorrectly or took too much time to solve, as this will help her identify knowledge gaps and improve time management—an essential skill in competitive exams like JEE. Maintaining a separate notebook for each subject (Physics, Chemistry, and Maths) to record such questions, along with their quicker solutions or shortcuts, can serve as a highly effective revision tool. In addition, since students may understand many concepts but tend to forget them over time, frequent and structured revision is key. Encourage her to prepare short summary notes or formula sheets for each chapter, dedicate at least 20–30 minutes every night to revisiting the day’s lessons, and conduct weekly revisions to reinforce learning. These practices will gradually strengthen her conceptual clarity and problem-solving speed. While she may not see immediate results, the long-term benefits of this disciplined approach will become evident over a few months through improved confidence and performance in mock tests and actual exams. Scoring above the 99.5 percentile in JEE Main—equating to roughly 250–262 marks out of 300—requires disciplined planning over the next 19 months. With school from 7:00 AM–3:30 PM and in-house coaching on campus, utilize 4:30 PM–10:30 PM effectively as follows.

Solid Concept Foundation (Class 11 Core Topics)
Prioritize deep understanding of Class 11 topics that underpin JEE Main and boards:

Physics: Kinematics, Rotational Motion, Thermodynamics, Magnetism, Optics

Chemistry: General & Inorganic Chemistry, Chemical Bonding, Redox Reactions, Gaseous State, Basic Organic Chemistry

Mathematics: Complex Numbers, Quadratic Equations, Sequences & Series, Matrices & Determinants, Integral Calculus

Recommended Books

Physics: H.C. Verma Vol I–II; D.C. Pandey series (Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Modern Physics) (Reference & To Attempt Only Difficult/complicated/difficult questions to strengthen the concept understanding)

Chemistry: O.P. Tandon (Physical, Inorganic, Organic); P. Bhardwaj/Bahadur for numerical problems; (Reference & To Attempt Only Difficult/complicated/difficult questions to strengthen the concept understanding) & NCERT for basics

Mathematics: R.D. Sharma for fundamentals; Cengage (A.M. Foundation series) for practice; Amit Agarwal for calculus drills (Reference & To Attempt Only Difficult/complicated/difficult questions to strengthen the concept understanding)

Previous Years’ Solved Papers: Arihant or MTG or Disha PYQ compilations for all three subjects (Make sure that each question has detailed answers with explanatory notes)

Structured Weekly Schedule -

Monday–Friday (4:30–10:30 PM):
 – 4:30–6:00 PM: School homework & quick board review
 – 6:00–6:15: Break
 – 6:15–8:15: Focused JEE topic (alternate subjects each day)
 – 8:15–8:45: Dinner
 – 8:45–10:00: Practice problems/previous PYQs (Once any Chapter is completed)
 – 10:00–10:30: Revision and short NCERT notes

Saturday–Sunday:
 – Full-length mock test (4 hours)
 – Detailed analysis (2 hours) identifying weak areas
 – Peer discussion or doubt clearing sessions

Time-Management Strategies:

Pomodoro Technique: 45–50 minutes study + 10–15 minutes break to sustain focus.

Prioritize high-weightage topics first; allocate more time to weaker areas.

Maintain daily revision logs and concise formula flashcards for quick recall.

Limit social media; use app-blockers during study blocks.

Ensure 7–8 hours sleep and short physical activity breaks to prevent burnout.

Progress Tracking:

Monthly sectional tests for each subject, simulating exam pattern.

Bi-monthly full syllabus mocks under timed conditions.

Maintain a performance diary: topics mastered, error patterns, revision schedule.

By systematically building concepts, following a balanced timetable, leveraging the right books and mock tests, and refining time-management, she can target and surpass a 99.5 percentile in JEE Main to access top NITs and qualify for JEE Advanced. All The BEST for Your Daughter.

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10889 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jan 11, 2026

Career
Hello, I am currently in Class 12 and preparing for JEE. I have not yet completed even 50% of the syllabus properly, but I aim to score around '110' marks in april attempt. Could you suggest an effective strategy to achieve this? I know the target is relatively low, but I have category reservation, so it should be sufficient.
Ans: Yash, Here are 15 Steps/Tips/Techniques/Strategies for your APRIL JEE Session: Step 1: Prioritize High-Weightage Chapters Using 80/20 Rule - Identify topics that appear repeatedly in past papers and contribute maximum marks with minimum effort. In Physics, focus on Modern Physics, Current Electricity, and Optics first. Chemistry demands Chemical Bonding, Coordination Compounds, and Electrochemistry. Mathematics requires Calculus and Coordinate Geometry mastery. These chapters alone cover 60-70% marks, requiring strategic study rather than comprehensive coverage of entire syllabus.

Step 2: Create Focused Subject-Wise High-ROI Chapter Lists -
Develop a short, manageable "core list" by categorizing chapters into four buckets: low-input-high-weightage (prioritize first), high-input-high-weightage (attempt only if basics exist), low-input-low-weightage (quick bonus coverage), high-input-low-weightage (skip entirely). This marks-per-hour game ensures every study session converts into guaranteed marks rather than spreading effort thinly across 100 chapters.

Step 3: Master Formula Notebooks for Quick Daily Revision -
Dedicate 30-45 minutes daily to maintaining organized formula sheets per subject. Physics: compile all formulas in unit-wise order with numerical tricks. Chemistry: organize key reactions, reagents, and NCERT-based exceptions. Mathematics: create method sheets for circles, derivatives, integration with standard approaches. These notebooks become invaluable during final 30 days when revision replaces learning.

Step 4: Implement Daily Balanced Subject Rotation Schedule -
Study physics in morning (formulas + numericals), chemistry in afternoon (reactions + concepts), and mathematics in evening (practice + shortcuts) to prevent mental fatigue and maintain subject continuity. This balanced rotation keeps all three subjects equally developed rather than neglecting weak areas. Night time allocates 1-2 hours reviewing weak topics and analyzing errors.

Step 5: Follow NCERT-First Approach Exclusively for Chemistry -
Since chemistry is NCERT-dominant, read NCERT chapters line-by-line and mark exceptions or variations. Many JEE questions are directly lifted from NCERT examples, tables, and definitions. Organic chemistry requires understanding reaction mechanisms and named reactions. Inorganic chemistry demands memorizing periodic trends and coordination compound basics. This focused NCERT approach guarantees 25-30 marks with minimal time investment.

Step 6: Practice 20-30 Previous Years Questions Daily Per Subject -
Solve minimum 20 topic-wise previous year questions (2019-2025) daily for each subject instead of attempting entire mock tests. This targeted PYQ approach reveals recurring question patterns, examiner preferences, and question difficulty. Timed PYQ practice (15-20 minutes per question for math, 5-10 minutes for physics/chemistry) develops exam-relevant speed without overwhelming effort.

Step 7: Dedicate Weekly Revision Hours for Already-Completed Chapters -
Allocate specific days weekly for revising previously studied chapters using formula notebooks and quick notes. Monday = revise week-1 chapters, Tuesday = week-2 chapters, and so on. This prevents knowledge gaps and reinforces retention through spaced repetition without requiring fresh learning or lengthy study sessions.

Step 8: Conduct Weekly Mock Tests with Detailed 3-Step Analysis -
Take one full-length mock test weekly (increasing to 2-3 per week as exam approaches). Immediately analyze: Step 1 - identify wrong questions and their topics; Step 2 - understand why you answered incorrectly; Step 3 - practice 5-10 similar questions from PYQs. This systematic analysis prevents repeating same mistakes, unlike taking tests without review.


Step 9: Build Subject-Wise Weak-Area Remediation Tracker -
Maintain a simple spreadsheet tracking weak topics (especially in your already-studied 50% syllabus). Monthly (or bi-weekly), allocate 2-3 extra hours practicing only these weak chapters using PYQs and formula-based approaches. Strengthening weak areas early improves accuracy without requiring complete re-learning of strong topics.

Step 10: Develop Exam-Day First-30-Minutes Question Scanning Strategy -
Practice spending first 5 minutes reading entire question paper without solving, marking easy, medium, and difficult questions. This pre-examination scan builds a mental roadmap for attempt sequence. Target easy questions first (securing quick confidence and marks), medium questions next, and difficult questions last only if time permits. This two-round strategy ensures maximum marks via accuracy over volume.

Step 11: Use "One-Shot" Learning for Remaining 50% Syllabus Chapters -
For chapters not yet studied, dedicate 3-5 days per chapter combining concept understanding (2-3 days) + basic numerical practice. Avoid lengthy derivations or complex applications; focus only on formula-based questions likely in JEE. This intensive-but-brief coverage helps you attempt 5-6 extra questions from new chapters rather than leaving them completely untouched.


Step 12: Maintain Daily Error Log with Root-Cause Analysis -
After solving each practice set or mock test, document wrong answers categorized by reason: conceptual misunderstanding, calculation error, misreading question, time management, or silly mistakes. Reviewing this log (15 minutes daily) identifies your specific weakness pattern, enabling targeted remediation rather than generic revision.


Step 13: Allocate Minimum 8 Weeks Before April Exam for Exclusive Revision -
Reserve final 60-70 days (approximately 8-10 weeks before April session) exclusively for revision, PYQ practice, and mock tests without learning new chapters. Early completion (by mid-February) of priority chapters ensures adequate revision time—the single most crucial factor for accuracy improvement from 40-60% conversion to 70-85% conversion rates.

Step 14: Practice Timed Subject-Wise Question Sets for Speed Development -
Solve 10-15 questions from single topics under 20-minute time limits weekly (mathematics), or 5-10 questions in 15-minute limits (physics/chemistry). Progressive timed practice develops exam-relevant speed without causing pressure anxiety. Gradually reduce time allocation by 10-15% monthly to approach actual exam pace naturally.


Step 15: Maintain Positive Mindset and Consistency Over Perfection Mindset -
Study 6-8 hours daily with genuine focus rather than exhausting 12+ hours with low-concentration study. Take short 5-10 minute breaks every 1-2 hours. Avoid comparing your progress with other students, especially those completing entire syllabus. Consistency in daily effort, weekly mock analysis, and monthly weak-area remediation guarantees 110+ marks far more reliably than sporadic intense cramming sessions.

Your 110-mark target with category reservation is absolutely achievable through strategic focus on high-weightage chapters (60-70 marks), quick learnable new topics (20-30 marks), and error-free execution of already-studied 50% syllabus (20-30 marks). The research emphasizes that smart selection and deep mastery of 30-40 chapters beats shallow coverage of all 100 chapters for competitive exam success.

Key Validation: Multiple reliable educational portals confirm that students with incomplete syllabus routinely score 140-170 marks through strategic focus on high-ROI topics, proving your 110-mark goal is conservative and highly realistic.

Consistency over intensity remains the universal recommendation—study 6-8 hours daily with absolute focus, practice 20-30 previous year questions daily per subject, analyze every mock test thoroughly, and maintain weak-area tracking sheets for monthly review cycles. Additionally, if your schedule allows, supplement your preparation with EduJob360 YouTube videos featuring practical strategies for JEE Main and Advanced exam performance. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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