Can Biology Students get into Top Engineering Colleges in India

By Bishal Baishya

Are you able to manage Biology with Math in Class 12? You can prepare for JEE too, as a lucrative backup to get into a good engineering college.

There’s a myth prevailing in our society that Biology students can't complete their higher secondary studies - to pursue Engineering in a top college - while doing well in both Biology and Mathematics. Even though, this subject combination is difficult to study together, but all it needs is dedication and religious time schedule to be followed. In most of the cases, students who like Biology and Mathematics rarely complain about stress but their only concern is lack of preparation for - NEET (for Medical entrance) and JEE (for Engineering).

In this article, let’s talk about how a biology student can prepare for JEE too, as a lucrative backup. This article is mainly for Class 12 pass outs or students who are still studying and can manage both Biology and Mathematics in their Higher Secondary.

The main intention of this article is to help students - who fear scoring bad in entrance exams - plan and successfully achieve a decent rank in the JEE (if they decide to not move forward with Biology). This does not mean that any subject or stream is inferior, but only that you have more choices to pursue your higher studies in an institution of choice.

So, let’s take a look at the study plan to help you crack entrance exams with a decent rank while doing well in Class 12 Boards too.

The first thing to do is find out how much time is available and prepare. Class 11 gets confusing mainly because of the combination as both subjects look incompatible when taken together in most of the cases. So a student generally starts preparing in Class 12 after deciding upon their choice.

Scenario 1: Prep from Class 11 or after qualifying it

You have decent enough time to test and improve yourself with Class 11 syllabus and proceed further to complete the important topics of Class 11. Subjects includes both Maths and Biology along with Physics and Chemistry. In most of the cases, the question bank and the review notes obtained from the annual pack of certain monthly magazines like, Biology Today, Chemistry Today, etc from MTG publications, and lots more available as choices, do help in for better recollection, preparation and self-assessment. Lecture notes written at school and/or coaching centre is often an advantage.

Scenario 2: Prep from November till the last date to apply for JEE

On proper estimation, a student approximately gets a minimum of 4 months and few weeks where preparation should happen with full dedication. By this time the Class 12 course is near completion in both school and coaching institute. The general feeling amongst students at his point of time is that they are done with the syllabus. In this case too, a student must go through the lecture notes written at school and/or coaching institutes, preferably self-written. The main aim is to complete the revision of the syllabus by December mid or end. Simultaneous use of last year question papers and question banks never go waste. But, one must not study just to find common questions in real paper but to have a decent concept of the subject, idea of the exam, accuracy and maintain a good speed which is required to attempt JEE questions.

Scenario 3: Preparation from December / from March

In most cases, PCMB combination becomes a big deal in terms of syllabus completion for both Class 12 appearing students or pass-outs. Some still manage to complete the syllabus before, but many are not able to do so. This does not and should not mean the end of hope, but it does mean putting more hard-work in a tight schedule that must be religiously followed.

In this case, the student must simultaneously solve question papers and revise topics they feel are difficult or are still left for completion. Some students may solve questions in daytime and study at night. At this time, it’s important to understand that solving question during the day makes your body and mind more active for attempting questions on the D-Day.

Secondly, it’s essential to make a time schedule and follow it more religiously. A time table is must for doing well in any exam. The schedule must be made as such that one does a minimum of 2 hours study till 8 am (if no school that day). Every student should take a break of 15 mins per 45-50 minutes of study to relax and rewind. The time table must be such that every subject must be given a minimum of an hour a day of study but since prime focus is on medical entrance exams, Chemistry and Biology must be given more time. There is no hard and fast rule that all subjects must be given equal time or there is some ranking of subjects in time preference. The main aim is to score high which requires strengthening of strong points and management of weak areas, not just by making weak areas strong or just focussing on strong points. It is often seen that a subject that was comparatively easier in some particular year’s paper is never so in the next year’s paper - so that subject’s time slot must never be compromised.

Thirdly, the topics to study. NEET and JEE syllabus for Physics and Chemistry is almost the same. But practically speaking, the types of questions changes the way of preparation. In this case, the syllabus and type of questions for NEET should never be considered less important. NEET questions need more preparation. One should gradually move towards JEE questions but should also solve NEET questions simultaneously. Either case, the student is judged on concepts. Ultimately, a lot of topics gets merged, completing both JEE and NEET. One cannot deny that the questions are never exhaustive in type. Preparation of NEET always adds to preparation of JEE, and sometimes polishes it.

Fourthly, the main concern is health. Health is the most important thing that many students neglect and end up paying for it on exam result day. It’s important for students to do away with sedentary lifestyle during exam preparation days. Too much rest, sleep or simply sitting and no physical workout affects the preparation. Students are advised to get a minimum sleep of 6 to 7 hours and possibly a power nap in the late afternoon or early evening. Have no Junk food, improve your food habits, keep yourself hydrated and get adequate sleep with daily physical workout.

Trust yourself, follow the guidance of your teachers. It never yields a wrong and unsatisfactory result. Since, JEE and NEET, both shall be conducted twice yearly means more competition but surely means opportunity to do better and plug the loopholes. Find out what you love more, Biology or non-Biology subjects and then make an informed career choice.

About the Author:

Bishal Baishya is a person with varied taste but all ends up with desire to serve the society. Co-Founder and Editor of Humanity Prevails, the very non-profit community that brings out INSANELY Magazine. He is also the host of, "Hobbies, Aesthetics and Health" Podcast.

He is an Empath Hypocrite Nature Admirer who simply wants to simplify things and help the society in the ways we all can afford, that does include my awareness generation.