JEE Advanced 2020 Topper Interview: Hardik Rajpal (AIR - 6) 'Keep working towards your goal'

JEE Advanced 2020 Topper Interview: Hardik Rajpal (AIR - 6) - A key to a good outcome is to keep working on your mistakes and misconceptions irrespective of the circumstances around you. With such a positive attitude, Hardik Rajpal from Hyderabad has managed to secure AIR 6 in JEE Advanced 2020. Not only JEE Advanced, Hardik is one of the toppers in other engineering entrance exams as well such as JEE Main 2020 B.Arch (AIR 1), TS EAMCET (Rank - 5), AP EAMCET (Rank 8), JEE Main B.Tech (Rank 111). He believes that one should keep working towards their goal no matter what. Careers360 team conducted an exclusive JEE Advanced 2020 topper interview with Hardik Rajpal. Read the detailed interview of JEE Advanced 2020 topper Hardik Rajpal below.

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Hardik Rajpal is interested in Computer Science and Engineering as he has always liked to understand how computer programs tick and used that knowledge to further customise his own working space on a computer.

Careers360: Congratulations for your performance in JEE Advanced 2020! What was your reaction upon knowing your score?

Hardik Rajpal: I was shocked to the bones on hearing of the JEE Advanced result as I had no clue that I did the exam so well. In fact, right after the exam I was almost certain that I had messed up and lost the opportunity. However, it turns out I did much better than others.

Careers360: Tell us something about yourself. Which board have you studied under? Which school have you studied in?

Hardik Rajpal: I completed the intermediate course (11th and 12th) under the Telangana State Board at Narayana Junior College, Hitex Branch. My study in the 9th and 10th grades were done as IGCSE (Cambridge International Examinations) at Rockwell International School in Hyderabad.

Careers360: What is your score in JEE Advanced 2020? What's your score in Physics, Maths and Chemistry?

Hardik Rajpal: In JEE Advanced, I secured a total of 329 marks, with 109 in Mathematics, 105 in Physics and 115 in Chemistry.

Careers360: Did you appear in JEE Main, TS EAMCET and AP EAMCET also? What were your scores then?

Hardik Rajpal: Yes, I appeared in JEE Main, TS EAMCET and AP EAMCET exams as well.

• I secured a percentile of 99.993 in the B. Tech paper of JEE Mains which fetched me a rank of 111 in the open category. I secured 100 percentile in Maths, but not in Physics (99.96) or Chemistry (99.91).

• In the B. Arch paper of JEE Mains, I secured all India Rank 1 and hundred percentile, with a 100 percentile in Maths and 99.64 in Aptitude and 93.36 in Drawing.

• In TS EAMCET, I ranked 5th with a total score of 139.22, divided up as 61.56 in Maths, 39.11 in Physics and 38.55 in Chemistry.

• Also, I was ranked as 8th in the open category in AP EAMCET. My total score was 153.39, split up as 78.92 in Maths, 36.29 in Physics and 38.18 in Chemistry.

Careers360: Why do you want to study engineering? When did you decide to study engineering? Which branch would you be interested in? Any reason?

Hardik Rajpal: Engineering is a very welcoming field due to its many applications in the modern world. I decided to pursue engineering in 8th grade, however, I did not start JEE preparation until 11th grade. I am deeply invested in Computer Science and Engineering as I have always liked to understand how computer programs tick and use that knowledge to further customise my own working space on a computer.

Careers360: Did you face any difficulties since the examination was conducted completely in computer based mode?

Hardik Rajpal: I didn’t face any hurdles due to the digitalisation of the exam.

Careers360: How did the pandemic affect your preparation for the exam?

Hardik Rajpal: Even during the pandemic, our college kept us focused on the JEE Advanced exam with regular worksheets and Video lectures, and the effect of the pandemic was negligible.

Careers360: When did you start your JEE Advanced preparation? Tell us something about your preparation strategy and daily routine for JEE Advanced?

Hardik Rajpal: I only took coaching for JEE Advanced and JEE Mains. For Mains, the target was to achieve 100% accuracy, with zero errors in the exam from the student's end, failing which I received my rank as 111. Therefore, for JEE Advanced, the aim was to develop a selective and systematic approach to attempting the paper, with which the Narayana management helped me greatly. I was well in touch with the syllabus and hence I only wrote consecutive practice papers for Advanced, one to two per day.

Careers360: Did you take coaching for JEE Advanced 2020 and if yes from where? What are the benefits of coaching according to you?

Hardik Rajpal: I did take coaching from Narayana for JEE Advanced. The key benefits of joining a coaching institute are their top-notch resources and facilitators.

Careers360: Mock tests and sample papers – how extensively did you practise with the help of these? Do you think practising from the previous year papers help and how?

Hardik Rajpal: In fact, I only practised with sample papers and previous papers that were provided on the website and these really helped me shape my strategy for the final exam and in figuring out the time allotment per subject. I solved one to two papers per day.

Careers360: Are there any special books that you feel have helped with your JEE Advanced preparation? Are the school text books adequate for preparing for JEE Advanced and Class XII?

Hardik Rajpal: I only read my class notes, NCERT textbooks and solved the questions provided by my college and coaching institute. The key benefits of joining a coaching institute are their top-notch resources and facilitators. These were more than sufficient for the exam.

Careers360: What do you think are the key factors behind your stupendous success in JEE Advanced?

Hardik Rajpal: My parents are my pillars of strength. The unstinted support provided by them in my journey to success cannot be measured. Their confidence in me has only spurred me to always do my best. This, coupled with the competitive environment as well as the support provided by the Narayana management have been the reasons for my success in all the entrance exams today.

Careers360: How did you de-stress yourself during the preparation? What are your hobbies? How often could you pursue them?

Hardik Rajpal: I used to unwind by listening to music, mostly pop and most of the time by Taylor Swift. I also used to watch sitcoms, when time was in my favour but otherwise, songs were a quick and really effective way to relax. My hobbies are writing and reading but I didn’t touch them even once during the last month of my preparation. (Otherwise I used to turn to them once in a week.) I did, however, listen to music and when I felt I needed to. There were times when I was extremely let down or elated and I didn’t hesitate much to sneak ten minutes out of my tight schedule.

Careers360: Who is your ideal or biggest inspiration in life and why?

Hardik Rajpal: At the moment, I am fascinated with Taylor Swift’s undeterred and unmatched success in the music industry. I have often fought my way out of difficult situations, taking her as an example. I am moved by her unquenchable desire to work for her art’s own sake, despite what the media and people in general say or think of her.

Careers360: You know you are an inspiration to thousands of students across the country. Do you have any message for future aspirants on tackling the JEE Advanced exam?

Hardik Rajpal: So many tips come to my mind for the future aspirants but if I am to provide a very brief word of advice, I would tell them to keep working towards their goal no matter what. They could be preparing for JEE Advanced, Mains or EAMCETs; there will be days when they are let down by their result and find it hard to believe in themselves but the key to a good outcome is to keep working on your mistakes and misconceptions irrespective of the circumstances around you. Just look to take the next closest step in your preparation, undeterred by what others say or think of you.