It’s a very common practice among students preparing for competitive exams — whether it’s EAPCET, JEE Mains, or JEE Advanced — to carefully observe what toppers have done to succeed. Many try to copy their entire routine: from study timetables, reference books, mock test strategies, to even their stress-relief habits. The assumption is simple ,if it worked for them, it should work for me.
But the truth is, blindly following toppers without understanding your own strengths, weaknesses, learning pace, and mental state can actually do more harm than good. The preparation journey for JEE is highly personal. What suits one student perfectly may completely overwhelm or confuse another.
In this article, let’s understand the solid reasons why blindly imitating toppers is not the smartest strategy when preparing for one of India’s toughest entrance exams.
- Areas of Expertise Are Unique
Every student has their own strengths and weaknesses. Your proficiency in subjects, memory capacity, problem-solving skills, and grasping ability are different from others. The topper you are following may have needed multiple revisions to master a topic and planned their timetable accordingly. But if you understand that same topic in one reading, copying their schedule will waste your valuable time which could have been used to strengthen your weaker areas. - You Are Not Them
It’s very important to accept that you are a different individual. The topper might be strong in certain subjects but weak in others and thus referred to specific books for improvement. Those same books may not suit your current level or your areas of improvement. Following their exact book list without understanding your own needs may leave your own weak spots unaddressed and affect your overall preparation. - Your Interests May Not Be the Same
Managing stress is a crucial part of JEE preparation. Many students ask toppers how they stayed calm during preparation. While it’s good to know different ways, you must assess whether those methods work for you. Some people prefer meditation, some enjoy music, others like spending time doing nothing to relax. What worked for one person may not work for another. It’s important to find your own way to manage mental pressure effectively. - Style of Preparation May Not Match
Preparation style is different for every student. Balancing complex topics with easier ones, managing new syllabus while revising old concepts, and developing a problem-solving approach are highly personal. Trying to adopt someone else’s preparation style may make you feel uncomfortable and stressed. Success does not depend on how you copy someone’s method, but on how well you create your own effective plan and execute it consistently.
Final Thought:
Learning from toppers is good for gaining inspiration, but success in JEE depends on understanding your own needs, building your own strategy, and sticking to a plan that suits you best. Customize your preparation based on your strengths, weaknesses, and comfort levels, because at the end of the day, it’s your journey, not someone else’s
