AIPMT 2014: Tips to crack the exam from AIPMT 2012 2nd Topper

Madiha Jawed | shiksha.com

For Rajkot based Aishwarya Rathod, being announced as the AIPMT 2012 topper with an All India Rank-two was a dream come true. She believes that- ‘we are our best judge’ and re-stating the same she says, “You should remember, out of everyone in the world, you are the best judge of yourself”.

Talking about her strategy for cracking this national level exam, she explains, “To crack PMT, you should dedicate the last two years of your school life to it. Of course, it is extremely necessary to balance your entertainment, physical health and your education, but making some sacrifices for two years won’t hurt when you have your report card with a top rank in your hands. “

Read on this exclusive interview, to know more about her mantras and strategies that led her to climb the ladder of success.

Ideally speaking, it isn’t just the last two years of your 11th and 12th grade which determine your selection in the AIPMT. Rather, it is the strong foundation you have made in your 9th and 10th, which gives you way to achieve a good rank. I had started my preparations in my 9th grade. The aim was not gaining a top rank in AIPMT, but to study the three subjects, Physics, Chemistry and Biology to its full potential for the first two years. When you have understood the subject thoroughly, you spend the next two years of 11th and 12th grade on exam focused study i.e. studying in a pattern of MCQs and trying to think by putting yourself in the examiner's mind. 

Frankly speaking, yes, coaching does help, not by clearing your concepts but by providing a competitive environment which inspires you to study. When I used to go for my coaching classes, I used to carry a MCQ book with me. When I didnt find the class useful, I used to sit behind and solve the questions in the book. So, coaching is NOT AT ALL necessary for understanding of the subjects, but when you look at hundreds of students around you aiming for the same goal, you work with double the dedication to achieve the same. 

Every student should make a schedule of his own. There are some specific topics which deserve more time, because first, they are more difficult than others and second, because they have greater weightage in the exams. These include Electromagnetism and mechanics in physics, organic chemistry (named reactions and aldehydes, ketones, and the last three chapters of 12th NCERT which needs to be learnt by heart) and solutions in chemistry and for Biology, both the NCERTS should be on tips. 

You should remember, out of everyone in the world, you are the best judge of yourself. I was weak in chemistry and my strong subjects were physics and biology so I used to dedicate more time to chemistry. Usually, from what I have observed, students find Physics difficult so it’s important you try to put in more effort to study it rather than running away from the subject. The more you study, the easier it gets. The topics I mentioned earlier deserve especially more time if you are weak at it. If you have doubts, collect them all and go to your teacher once a week to get them cleared.

Revision is the most important part of the regime. If you have studied a topic once but haven't revised it at least once, there are very less chances you will remember it till your exam. So whenever you get free time or your mind is a bit tired, rather than learning a new topic, try revising a topic you studied months ago. This will help you retain it for a long time and there is a good probability that even if you have forgotten the topic in the exam, the answer may strike you when you see the question in the paper. 

Books I personally recommend:

Physics: D.C.Pandey , H.C.Verma

Chemistry: O.P.Tandon, Universal Self Scorer

Biology: NCERT and NCERT based MCQs (2 books for 11th and 12th)

To crack PMT, you should dedicate the last two years of your school life to it. Of course, it is extremely necessary to balance your entertainment, physical health and your education, but making some sacrifices for two years won’t hurt when you have your report card with a top rank in your hands. If you are able to sleep with satisfaction of giving every breath of yours to the preparations every day, no one can stop you from being a topper. So, work hard and harder every day.

1. Remember every second counts.
2. Smart, skillful and repetitive study is the key to success.
3. Some amount of stress is useful. Try it.
4. Compare yourself against yourself, AND others. 
5. Drop your negative friends. 

1. Don't compromise on your sleep. 
2. Don't keep studying for 18 hours a day, Refresh yourself, Take a break. Your brain needs it.
3. Don't procrastinate. 
4. Don't go for a shortcut. There is none. 
5. Never, Never, Never GIVE UP.