A Last Minute Checklist for JEE Advanced 2014

JEE Advanced is the entrance to India’s most prestigious engineering colleges, a dream of all engineering aspirants.Though this exam ranks among the toughest examinations of the world, but still it is not about just book worms and school toppers making up to it. You can also see some smart people making up to it leaving everyone astonished. So sometimes not just hard work but smart work comes handy! You need to have confidence in yourself that you are capable of making it to the IITs. It is very common to feel lack of confidence before JEE Advanced. Nervous peers, Panicked parents, and so much hype in everything around you can surely make you feel very low in spirits during this time. Plus, to add on to that you may feel your friends may have prepared better. But now you need not worry, you have landed at the right page.

It would be interesting to know that confidence is a skill, which can be acquired. It is true that everyone who looks confident around you,might not be as thoroughly prepared as you may believe. But on the other side, there may be some really nervous guys who know it all. So what should be done in order to gain confidence before JEE Advanced? Here are a few practical tips we have compiled for you.

An evening before you leave for JEE Advanced 2014, just take a look at the below checklist so that you don’t miss out anything:

JEE Advanced Admit card: You definitely do not want to forget this. Sometimes students remember on the way and in worst cases they remember it after reaching the hall. Though there may be enough time to get it, but it just multiplies your stress level. So be sure that it JEE Advanced Admit card is the first thing on you checklist.
Class 12^th hall ticket: It is mandatory to carry your Class 12^th Board Exam Hall Ticket. So do not forget it. You have to show it to the examiner and then only you can begin your exam.
Using a comfortablepen: A lot of you would believe in taking your lucky pens to the exams, which is quite common. But remember to do a writing practice with your lucky pen to ensure that it gives you a comfortable writing experience too. Also, do not use brand new pens for your exams as they may be rough on the paper initially.
Take extra pens: It is possible that your pen may stop working whilst you are still writing. So keep extra pens with you. Also, keep the same kind of pens because it is easier adapting the same feel of the pen to maintain a flow of writing. Just as in the last point, make sure that these extra pens have been used by you and are smooth to write.
Other Stationary: Please carry all the required stationary like scales etc. so that they don’t have to borrow from others during the exam.
Wrist Watch: Time is the most important element in any competitive exam especially when it is subjective. Always wear a wrist watch to any examination.Keeping a tab on whether you are going at a moderate speed will give you more confidence. Do not be too fast or too slow.
Water: Carrying a water bottle serves two purposes: It helps in keeping your stress levels in check and keep you relieved throughout the examination, and also you do would not have to ask for it and thus break your thought process or flow of writing. Relax for a minute after drinking water. You would feel fresh doing so.
Some nutritional cereal bars: They are full of proteins and a source of instant energy. And also, some quick munchies can never be bad, right? Keep a bar or two with you. It will help you in case you feel low, and will also give you some time to think.
Forget all problems, tensions and anxiety: World peace is overrated, so forget it! There might be circumstances at home or elsewhere which would be eating into your peace of mind. It can also be about some unfinished future work. But you have to let go of all the tensions and remember that you have a time bound examination where you can either give your best, worst or moderate performance. So, choice is in your hands. Rest of the world can wait for the time being.
Feeling fresh: This is very important. Feeling fresh from inside boosts your focus and concentration a lot. This can be achieved collectively by a few factors:

Have a good night’s sleep and wake up feeling refreshed.
Take blessing from parents and elders.Good wishes are always great motivators!
Have a healthy breakfast without caffeine. Always remember that food is the fuel for your body and mind to work accurately.

Apart from all the Dos stated above, there are certain Don’ts as well to be implied before or during the JEE Advanced examination 2014–

Avoid wearing bangles or rings: Don’t wear much jewellery, as it affects the speed with which you write in the examination.
Do not hold or press the pen tightly: This may sound vague, but it very important. Holding the pen very tightly strains your fingers and affects the speed of writing. Thus hold the pen lightly. In case holding lightly doesn’t provide a good grip then hold just moderately tight. And, never press the pen heavily on the as it will just drain out your energy during the course of examination and you will feel tired and irritated.
Avoid taking loo breaks: These are not welcome breaks, please remember.They hinder your thought process and thus may affect your accuracy if you are amidst writing an answer. Go to the restroom before your exam starts.
Do not check what other students are doing: Don’t we do this all the time? There might be students who ask for five extra sheets,and some super kids who will finish their exam much prior to you. Looking here and there would not help. So don’t feel distracted, instead concentrate on what you have in hand and avoid making mistakes.

All the above-mentioned points might not be new, but adherence to them is what creates the difference. To achieve maximum marks in JEE Advanced 2014, you cannot rely on the text books alone- you have to play smart!

About Author:Rakeshsingh is Product Development Manager at askIITians.com, India’s leading online education company. He is an MBA post-graduate from IIM Kozhikode and a B.Tech graduate from IIT Delhi.