Cracking the JEE or NEET exam is not just about determination but an achievable dream for aspirants who are willing to do anything from studying for extended hours to referring to every possible book. In the process, many students commit some of the deadliest study mistakes without realizing it.
These mistakes can cost them their long-cherished dream. So, learning about them and working on avoiding them is very important.
Here are the top 5 mistakes that students make but no one talks about:
- No Personalised Time Table
It’s an undeniable fact that a time table plays an important role in helping students succeed in competitive exams like JEE and NEET.
It gives them an idea of when to study, what to study, and how to focus.
However, a well-defined time table that clearly mentions the areas to be covered from subjects and topics to other required skills, truly matters.
Most students blindly follow others or successful candidates without understanding where they personally need more focus.
- Repeated Revision of Interested Topics
Revision is another crucial part that determines the success of JEE and NEET aspirants. However, the revision should be balanced among complex, moderately difficult, and easier topics.
Instead, many students repeatedly revise the topics of their interest while ignoring others, which negatively affects their overall performance.
- Thriving for New Study Materials All the Time
Referring to third-party materials is important to explore different problem models and concepts in every subject — Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
But the constant curiosity to solve new problems from new study materials all the time is not the right approach, as nearly 75% of the questions come from the main NCERT books.
Does that mean referring to third-party materials is unnecessary for cracking JEE/NEET?
Absolutely not.
Students who solve the remaining 25% of challenging and complex problems stand out in the competition. However, understanding which problem models are essential and which books cover them is far more important than referring to endless materials.
- No Breaks or Long Breaks
There are generally two types of students preparing for JEE/NEET. One group studies for long hours without rest, leading to stress and burnout. The other group studies minimally but takes long breaks, misunderstanding the idea of “healthy breaks.”This disrupts focus and productivity.
So, setting an alarm for 10–15 minutes of break after every 2 hours of study is ideal.
what if a student feels the need for more rest?
Taking 2–3 short breaks during 6–7 hours of study won’t harm productivity. Still, if they feel mentally exhausted, taking a longer break for a few hours or even 1–2 days is fine, as long as they stay aware of their body and mind’s needs.However, keeping long breaks minimal is crucial.
- Focusing Directly on Problem Solving
Problem solving is the ultimate goal for every JEE aspirant. But directly jumping into it without understanding the basic concepts or memorising the required formulas can make it difficult to solve even a single problem.
Giving sufficient time to strengthen the basics helps students solve a wide range of problems with better accuracy and confidence.
