IIT JEE Preparation: How Much Does Board Exam Performance Matter?

In India, the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), the pathway for pursuing an engineering career, opens the doors to various engineering institutes of high repute, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs). But a commonly asked question in every aspirant’s mind is: How does one’s performance in board exams affect their JEE rank? However, preparing for JEE is the foremost, and balancing the board exam is also important. Realizing the balance between the necessary board exams and preparation for JEE Main and Advanced can make it easier for students when organize their time.

The Importance of Board Exam Marks in JEE Main

Securing good board exam marks plays a crucial role in JEE Main, as it not only boosts eligibility but also enhances the overall ranking and admission prospects.

1) JEE Main and the Normalization Process

To achieve equity in JEE Main results, there is a procedure of normalization that is done. The above method was used to improve fairness in education by eliminating the level of differences in difficulty witnessed among various state and central board examinations. However, beginning in 2017, the JEE Main rank calculation in which board marks were used was removed. Rather, the prospective applicants are required to accumulate a minimum of 75 percent in the class twelve board exams or be among the top twenty percentile in their respective boards to be eligible for admission to IITs, NITs, or any other recognized engineering colleges.

2) Board Exam Knowledge Enhances JEE Preparation

Much of the content for the Class Twelfth board examinations runs parallel to that of the JEE Main and Advanced subjects, especially the core subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. For example, a good knowledge of board exam topics assists students in navigating JEE. By taking up board exams, students develop an important perspective of basic concerns that are core to tackling JEE problems of advanced levels.

In fact, quite a few of the toppers also point out that it is the core understanding of the various levels of basic concepts that are acquired during the board exam preparations that helped the students perform well in the JEE. The assets of NCERT books, which are common to the board exams, form the foundation of most preparations for JEE Main, which is why it is important for learners to do all of them as well.

Also read: A Comparison of JEE Main Vs. JEE Advanced

Why it is Important to Prepare for Board Exams and JEE at the Same Time

Preparing for both board exams and JEE simultaneously allows students to strengthen their understanding of fundamental concepts, as the syllabus overlaps significantly, ensuring efficient time management and better performance in both.

1) Time Management

Effective time management is the key for students wishing to excel in the board exams, JEE, and other entrance exams. Both exams are different in nature. Boards emphasize descriptive answers, whereas JEE stresses more objective-type questions. This implies that students need to set aside some time to practice writing long and elaborate answers for the board exams while also sharpening their analytical skills for the JEE.

Time management in scheduling so that both exams are given appropriate time within a reasonable span. Tasking the students with subjects that seem to play to their strengths first aids in subject management.

2) Subjective vs. Objective Assessment

In board exams, the evaluation mainly includes written long answers. Scoring in JEE is more objective in nature. Students who sit for board examination only may find it difficult to make a transition from answering in long descriptive ways to answering in very short, bullet style. In contrast, a JEE preparation calls for a developed sense of how to tackle questions quickly and accurately, which can only be achieved after a lot of practicing.

The practice of tackling the long theoretical aspects in the boards has been overtly beneficial in enhancing students’ acceptance ability. This understanding comes in very handy while addressing the objective questions in JEE, which are very difficult and require a lot of comprehension within a limited time.

3) Different Weightage to Topics

While it is true that the syllabus for JEE Main and board exams are almost identical, the weightage of each topic differs. In board papers, every single chapter has an equivalent weighting; however, in JEE, a certain chapter will be tackled more than others. Therefore, it is crucial to study both types of topics during the study period to eliminate the possibility of any subjects being overlooked. For example, “Calculus” and “Mechanics” may have more questions in JEE Main, but chapters like “Electrostatics” and “Organic Chemistry” are also very important for board exams.

Tips for Balancing Board Exams and JEE Preparation

The following are some tips for balancing board exams and JEE preparation.

Employ a Dual Approach: As there is considerable overlap between the syllabi, the students must use the same material in preparing for the board exams and JEE. NCERT books should be utilized to the full since they establish the basis needed to write the two exams.

Refer to Past Year Papers: Previous year’s board papers and boards and JEE question papers should thus be solved to grasp the structure of the questions and the possible time each will take. In some instances, JEE problem solving has to be completed under a stipulated period, while in boards, answers have to be written based on logical structure and in-depth.

Take Regular Mock Tests: Mock test exams for both board examinations and JEE should be administered to give you experience of what the actual exams will be like and to know the areas where you may be lagging behind.

Revise Often: The process of fixing information into memory entails the withdrawal process and is called revision and should be practiced. A revision calendar corresponding to both JEE and board examinations will eliminate beaching at the last minute.

Take Professional Help: Joining the coaching classes that prepare the students for both the JEE and board examinations at the same time is a big advantage. These programs make sure that there are no two extremes, one of excessive reliance on only preparing for the school board exams and the other on competitive exams that almost entirely neglect the academic curriculum.

Read more: How to Score 200+ Marks in JEE Mains 2024?

How the Best JEE Candidates Study for Their Boards

Most of the candidates also stress that while they are preparing hard for JEE, it is equally essential for them to keep their attention on the board exams as well. With discipline and consistence, these students are able to do well and manage both things together. They are able to periodically review the requirements of the board exam preparation and also set aside some time for the JEE preparation and practice, which helps them perform well in both exams.

Toppers, too, more frequently, bring to the fore the role of taking both exams seriously. Although JEE is most important for getting into an elite engineering school, it is not good to fail the board exams since it may bar one from eligibility. For this reason, top performers have a habit of crafting a plan that permits them to be stars in everyone’s eyes.

Conclusion

The board’s performance helps the students qualify for the best engineering colleges. Particularly, the performance in the board exam does not affect the JEE Main rank anymore. Since there is a lot of common material covered in both, studying for the board examinations usually results in good performance at the JEE, particularly because of this overlap.

Students who wish to concentrate on preparing for board examinations and JEE simultaneously can avail themselves of the properly structured programs offered by institutions such as Alpha Entrance Academy. With specialized coaching, the students do not have to worry about timelines and can more than cope with two essential examinations while achieving their set academic requirements.