How to Handle the Tonnes of JEE Study Material Available in the Market?
“Too many cooks spoil the broth”—This phrase, which your English teachers have been repeating since KG, is applicable in every walk of life including JEE preparation. It is also true that more than half the trees, at least in India, are felled to manufacture JEE study material for the innumerable students working hard to achieve that elusive JEE rank. This article is meant to caution you about staying away from the multitude of superfluous books that will only cloud your mind and suggest how to keep your JEE preparation study material lean.
During the three years of my JEE preparation, I made the big mistake of chasing fancy books that included tough and unheard-of problems. I hope those reading this article won’t do the same.
Using multiple books for a particular topic or subject gives you the false sense of safety. It makes you think that you are ahead in your preparation and that you’re likely to outdo the rest of the candidates. However, there is nothing more fallacious than this.
The more books you accumulate, the greater the temptation to re-read and explore the same things/concepts. It is a criminal waste of time especially when you are trying hard to make every minute constructive. It also adds to the confusion when concepts are not entirely clear. Ultimately, it creates a random mishmash of ideas, which destroys the interest of the students in the topic or the subject itself.
To save yourself from this anguish, I’d suggest that you start off using limited books for your theory. NCERT books are definitely a must-have in your JEE study material. Also, use one set of problem books and material from whichever coaching institute you have subscribed to.
Referring to ‘XYZ guides for AIEEE/JEE’ or ‘Crack JEE in 100 Days’ type of books are marketing gimmicks by publication houses to entice students to spend money on them. Any good teacher or coaching class will advise you to stay away from them and focus on the essentials.
Undoubtedly, at a later stage, when you are confident that you have acquired the conceptual clarity and attained problem-solving maturity, you should seek more books to try out and widen your knowledge. You can also go for sample papers, and All India Test Series to help you find your strengths and weaknesses. It is worth knowing that some problems may be wrong or have erroneous solutions, and should be omitted for sure.
Whether it’s books, materials, sheets, DPPs (Daily practice papers) and whatever else authors are cooking up nowadays, refer to only the best from each resource and use it to polish your skill set.
Here is a list of JEE books that you should definitely have. Moreover, you can also take a look at the mistakes you should avoid during your JEE preparation.
Stick to the fundamentals, choose your books wisely and make your preparation a smart one. Cheers and Good Luck.
