JEE Advanced 2025 Topper Interview: Divyanth Jayakumar AIR 80

Divyanth Jayakumar secured AIR 80 in the JEE Advanced 2025 exam. He scored a total of 285 out of 360 marks in the exam. Divyanth was declared the Tamil Nadu State topper in the JEE Advanced 2025 exam. He chose to take coaching for the JEE Advanced exam from Aakash Educational Institute. His natural inclination towards Maths & Physics from a young age led to his interest in engineering. Divyanth discussed his preparation techniques, interests, hobbies and more with Careers360.

Ques- 1- Congratulations on your performance in the JEE Advanced 2025 exam. What was your reaction upon knowing the scores?

Ans- My JEE Advanced result brought immense joy—not just to me, but also to my parents and teachers. Securing the position of Tamil Nadu state topper made the moment even more special.

Ques 2- In which session of JEE Main have you attempted and what was your score and rank in the exam?

Ans- I wrote both sessions of JEE Mains 2025. I secured a rank of 112.

Ques 3- Why do you want to study engineering? When did you decide to choose engineering? Which branch would you be interested in? Any reason?

Ans- I have had a deep interest in mathematics and physics from a young age, which naturally led me to pursue JEE Advanced with the goal of becoming an engineer. Currently, I am considering between Computer Science and the newly introduced Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (AI&DA) branch. My inclination toward these fields stems from my passion for problem-solving and mathematics, as well as promising career opportunities.

Ques 4- Tell us something about the preparation study and daily routine for JEE Advanced.

Ans- I began my JEE preparation in Class 9 and became more serious about it from Class 10 onwards. Rather than following a fixed schedule, I prefer a flexible approach. I plan ahead by outlining tasks for the upcoming days and making my schedule for each day based on that list. I believe that the quality of study is more important than the number of hours. To stay productive, I avoid long, tiring study sessions, rather, I take short breaks to stay refreshed and focused. On school days, I study for 3 to 4 hours after returning home, while on holidays, I dedicate around 7 to 8 hours to studying.

Ques 5- Did you take coaching, and if ye,s from where? What are the benefits of coaching, as per you?

Ans- I joined the FIITJEE integrated program in Class 9. However, towards the end of Class 12, I had to switch to Aakash due to the financial crisis in FIITJEE. In my view, coaching institutes play a crucial role in JEE preparation. The structured study material, faculty guidance, peer group, and test series form the foundation of your preparation.

Ques 6- Which subject did you find the easiest during preparation? What do you think is the toughest thing to manage during the exam?

Ans- All subjects have their own challenges, and what feels easy or difficult often depends on one’s natural aptitude and the quality of teaching they receive. For me, Physics and Mathematics came more naturally, while Chemistry required a bit more effort.

During the exam the toughest thing to manage is your composure (especially in a life-determining exam like JEE), it is very important to remain calm and confident throughout the exam.

Ques 7- What do you think are the key factors behind your success?

Ans- The key factors behind my success are consistent efforts and continuous self-improvement. It was a combination of hard work and smart work. I’m especially grateful to my parents, particularly my mother, for taking care of me and providing me with a very comfortable, distraction-free and stress-free environment that allowed me to focus entirely on my studies. I would also want to thank my teachers for believing in me and guiding me throughout this journey.
Also read: JEE Advanced 2025 toppers list

Ques 8- How do you de-stress yourself during preparation? What are your hobbies, and how often could you pursue them?

Ans- JEE preparation gets quite stressful at times, and it is important to manage stress. To unwind, I would listen to music, take a walk, talk with a friend or watch something on Netflix or YouTube to relax. I didn't really have any hobbies during my preparation, but it is totally possible to manage a hobby along with your preparation.
See: AIR 2 JEE Advanced 2025 topper interview | AIR 3 Topper interview in JEE Advanced 2025

Ques 9- Mock test and sample paper- how extensively did you practise with the help of these? Do you think practising from previous year papers helps and how?

Ans- JEE Advanced Mock tests and sample papers play a crucial role, especially during the revision phase of JEE preparation. They help to evaluate what you have learnt till now, find out your weak areas and improve them. They also help in improving exam temperament, teaching us to identify which questions to leave and which ones to attempt and how to manage time between the 3 subjects.
See- JEE Advanced previous papers

It is crucial to attempt the previous year's papers of JEE advanced to truly understand the nature of the exam. In the final weeks leading up to the exam, I chose to solve only the last 10 years of JEE Advanced papers, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I made as it boosted my confidence and helped me remain calm during the exam. I would strongly recommend future aspirants to do the same.

Ques 10- Do you have any tips and messages for future aspirants?

Ans- Confidence is key, once you lose confidence, it is very easy to get trapped in a downward spiral. Always believe in yourself. Do not compare yourself with others, your primary competitor should be yourself. Focus on consistent self-improvement and gain confidence through that. Everyone experiences ups and downs during their JEE preparation—no one is exempt from this. So don’t get disheartened if you don’t perform well in a few tests. Also, remember it is never too late to bounce back.
Also read: AIR 1 JEE Advanced 2025 topper interview

Quality over quantity. Solving hundreds of questions won’t help much if you don’t take the time to correct and analyse your mistakes; otherwise, where is the improvement happening? When analysing, it is important to ask yourself questions like “Why didn't I think of this method?”, “Where else can this method be used?” and more.

Make sure you are productive while you study, 4 hours of productive study is much better than 10 hours of staring at a book. Also, never compromise on sleep. Sleep is a must to be productive and to be able to think properly. There is no substitute for hard work, but it is also important to work smart. It is also very important to be consistent and bring yourself to study even when you don't feel like it. Anyone can study when they are motivated, but it's discipline that truly sets you apart and makes a real difference in the long run.

Wishing all future aspirants all the very best!!!