From JEE Advanced Topper to Quantitative Trader: The Inspiring Journey of Sarvesh Mehtani
Joint Entrance Exam - Advanced 2026 ( JEE Advanced )
Sarvesh Mehtani bagged JEE Advanced AIR 1 in 2017. In an interview with shikhsha.com, Sarvesh said he got motivated to take engineering after watching the movie "3 Idiots," a film that highlights the importance of education and passion.
From JEE Advanced Topper to Quantitative Trader: The Inspiring Journey of Sarvesh Mehtani
Sarvesh Mehtani, who topped the JEE Advanced exam in 2017, decided to become an engineer in class seven. Currently, he has a successful career as a Quantitative Trader, where he specialises in developing high-frequency trading strategies for financial derivatives. His LinkedIn profile indicates that before his role as a Quantitative Trader, he completed several internships that contributed to his expertise and experience in the financial sector.
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The story of Sarves is inspiring for all those candidates who want to branch out of the traditional engineering roles. After beating the beat of an exam - JEE Advanced, Sarvesh earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Bombay. Sarvesh and his journey are proof of how an engineering degree from IIT can open up doors to many other career opportunities.
Also Read: JEE Advanced Rank Needed for IIT Bombay CSE Admission
How Did Sarvesh Mehtani Become JEE Advanced Topper?
In a 2017 interview with Shiksha.com, Sarvesh said he started his JEE preparation two to three years before the exam. He was enrolled in coaching, and he dedicated five to six hours of study per day. Gradually, he increased this duration to 10 to 12 hours per da,y which included extensive revision.
In 2017, Sarvesh scored an impressive 325 out of 360 in the JEE Main exam and an All India Rank (AIR) of 55. He also appeared for the BITSAT exam, where he scored 430 out of 486.
Also Read: How to Prepare for JEE Advanced After JEE Mains
How to deal with weak areas?
Sarvesh said that when he was stuck at a particular topic or chapter, he would ask for help from his teachers. He said that reviewing and revision are the key to tackling the weaker areas.
Is Coaching Important for JEE Preparations?
Sarvesh believes that for a exam like JEE Advanced, help is a must. However, he also pointed out the fact that there are candidates who do well in the exam without coaching.
How are the JEE mock tests, sample papers & previous years' question papers helpful?
Sarvesh said he solved many JEE previous year question papers & mock tests, which helped him a lot by providing insights into the pattern, topic weightage, etc.
You can prepare for all entrance tests at same time. It is a tough task but not impossible. For this a proper strategy is required. Here are some important tips.
- Compare the syllabus: All engineering entrance exams have almost the same syllabus. There might be some additional topics in some exams. The aspirant must study the syllabus for all exams and find out the topics that are extra, and prepare those separately. Almost 90% of the topics will be common for all entrance exams, and hence, syllabus completion for one exam will lead to completion of the syllabus for all the exams.
- Prepare for JEE Mains and incorporate the preparation for all other exams: Apart from JEE Advanced, all the exams are pretty straightforward for a well-prepared candidate. JEE Advanced require a higher level of preparation as the questions are multi-conceptual. However, the state-level entrance exams, and exams like BITSAT, VITEEE, etc., have direct questions. Most of the questions in JEE Mains are also direct and require the application of basic concepts. Hence, the candidates must prepare for one exam, like JEE Mains, that will cover their preparation for all other exams.
- JEE Advanced needs extra effort: For JEE Advanced candidates must focus on time management and building exam day temperament. Learn how to apply multiple concepts to a question.
The bottom line is to prepare for JEE Mains to cover the preparation for all other CETs and exams like BITSAT and VITEEE. For JEE Advanced, work on sharpening your skills of time management, stress handling, multiple concept application, speed and accuracy.
So far no student has ever scored full marks in JEE Advanced signifies exam's difficulty level. Highest marks one has achieved to date in JEE Advanced are 355 marks out of 360. Ved Lahoti scored these marks in 2024.
Recommended Books for JEE Preparation
According to Sarvesh
- For physical chemistry books by N. Awasthi.
- When it comes to organic chemistry, he pointed out the works of Himanshu Pandey as particularly helpful.
- For inorganic chemistry, he recommended the books authored by K. Kumar.
- Additionally, for mathematics, he thought a series of books by Vinay Kumar would be very useful.
Also Read: Difference Between JEE Main and JEE Advanced Syllabus: Comparison and Analysis
His Tips for JEE Aspirants
Work hard and do what you like. Don’t do anything that you don’t feel like doing. Follow your teachers blindly as they are your real guides. They will help you in achieving your success. Be organized in whatever you do.
Read full interview of Sravesh Mehtani here
What Is Quantitative Trading?
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Quantitative trading is a method of buying and selling investments based on careful math and statistics. They use careful and high-level calculations to understand the market movements.
Do quantitative traders earn a significant amount of money?
Yes they do, as they are highly sought among the high level traders. Wallstreet for example have a good demand for quantitative traders.
How do I become a Quantitative trader?
To become a quantitative trader, an interest in numbers is a must, and you should have strong maths skills. To pursue this career you should get a bachelor's degree in math or computer science and further do a master's in financial engineering or quantitative financial modelling, or even an MBA.
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Read More:
There is no seperate rank list released for JEE Advanced. The rank of the candidates in All India category and in the respective category of the candidate is meantioned on the result itslef.
As per the analysis of the previous year data, the candidates belonging to general category must aim to score around 180 marks out of 360 to qualify the exam. However, note that this marks will not get you a good rank and hence tier 1 IITs (IIT B, IIT M, IIT D) and courses will be out of reach.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates should ideally try to solve at least 3 previous year JEE question papers per week. However, candidates can also increase the frequency of this to 5 to 6 papers per week, one month before the exam.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 weeks ago
Well, becoming a rocket scientist is a long-term commitment, and it depends on your education path and goals It takes almost 5 to 6 years with a bachelor's and 8 to 12 years if you want to study higher. Here below is how long it usually takes:
- Bachelor's degree: You have to study aeronautical enginee
M
Beginner-Level 3
Answered 4 weeks ago
Who work on the rocket-propelled vehicles, they apply the principles of Mathematics, Physics, and Material Science to solve challenges related to these vehicles. Rocket Scientists are involved in the process of design and development of the vehicles such as small drones, satellites, and commercial a
L
Beginner-Level 2
Answered 4 weeks ago
Yes, this field is considered hard. It is complex and demands high precision. There can be extreme consequences for minor errors. The overall field is extremely challenging as it requires to apply the basic scientific principles to design and develop rockets. It requires sophisticated engineering wi
P
Beginner-Level 2
Answered 4 weeks ago
The following are the qualification which can help you to become a rocket scientist:
· Bachelor's Degree such as B.Tech/B.E can take up to four years to complete.
· You can do a two years Master's Degree M.Tech/M.E./M.S. after graduation.
· For advanced level study in this field, you
C
Beginner-Level 2
Answered 4 weeks ago
There can't be a straightforward answer to this question. The salary package differs as per the experience, location and employer. In India, one can expect somewhere between Rs 10 Lacs to Rs 43.5 Lacs annual salary. In US, it can range between $65,000 to $118,000.
Y
Beginner-Level 2
Answered a month ago
Well, that's great, as you are preparing for JEE Advanced Physics. From my research, I would like to recommend some of the books and resources that will help you learn the basics and understand the concept:
1. Concept of Physics (Vol 1 and 2) by H.C. Verma
2. Understanding Physics Series by D.C. Pande
M
Beginner-Level 3
Answered 2 months ago
- Candidates should have JEE Advanced rank.
- Candidates must have at least 75% aggregate marks in class 12 and SC, ST and PWD candidates must have atleast 65% marks.
- Candidates must be within the category wise top 25 percentile of successful candidates of their respective class 12 boards.
Y
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
No, your candidature will be rejected as you need to have minimum of 75% in class 12 to be eligible for admisison to the IITs, NIT, IIITs and GFTIs via the JoSAA counselling. Even if you pass JEE Advanced and JEE Main, of you do not have 75% minimum marks in class 12 boards you will no get admission
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
Devdutta Majhi was the female topper in JEE Advanced 2025. She has scored 312 marks out of 360 marks and got anm all India rank of 16.
A
Contributor-Level 6
Preparation for JEE Advanced begins by knowing exam syllabus. Every student must follow syllabus. Once preparation is done then start solving previous year questions for self-assessment. This will give an overview of your preparation.