JEE Main 2022 Topper Interview: Palli Jalajakshi (AIR 9) - “Learn from your mistakes”

JEE Main 2022 results are out and the announcement brought happiness to Palli Jalajakshi who scored AIR 9 in the entrance exam that is the gateway to engineering admissions at the NITs, IIITs and other GFTIs. In an interview with Careers360, Jalajakshi credits her success in the JEE Main 2022 exam to her father, faculty at Sri Chaitanya and feels that one should always analyse their performance to get the best results. To know her success mantras and her preparation strategy, read on...

Careers360: Congratulations on your performance in the JEE Main 2022 exam! What is your score in the exam?

Jalajakshi: Thank you. I scored 290 out of 300 marks in JEE Main 2022. I attempted both the phases. I did not expect the rank though I did work hard and was expecting good results. I feel happy about my performance but my goal is JEE Advanced 2022.

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

Jalajakshi: My father is a Govt school teacher and my elder sister is studying medicine. My mother is a homemaker. I had appeared for the AP Intermediate Board exams this year and scored 982 marks. I am a student of Sri Chaitanya Junior College, Gayatri Veda Vyas , Vijayawada.

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

Jalajakshi: I am interested in Maths and Computer Science engineering is what I am interested in. I simply like it hence my choice.

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

Jalajakshi: In reality, I started preparing when I was in my Inter first year. However, the intensity of my preparation went up in the second year. The first year is all about learning the concepts and understanding them. We had weekly tests and that helped in understanding weak areas where we need to work a bit more.

My daily routine has been the same for these two years. My day starts at 7 with classes. We have 2 hours of classes followed by study/ preparation of the same. We cover all three subjects (Physics. Maths and Chemistry) every day. Every week there is a test to understand where we stand in terms of our preparation.

Careers360: Was there a difference in the preparation strategy in the last months of JEE Main considering that the board exams are also coming up? How did you manage preparation for both?

Jalajakshi: Yes. The last months are all about revision and practice. One needs to have learnt all the topics and then simply build on the same. So, we have been just revising the topics and subjects in these past few months. We also have three tests per week now. We would check our mistakes and try not to repeat them. Also, weak areas and doubts had to be cleared so that the next test would go fine. Here the faculty have helped a lot.

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

Jalajakshi: I study in Sri Chaitanya Junior College, Gayatri Veda Vyas, Vijayawada. The college also gives coaching for JEE. My target is JEE Advanced. So, I am still preparing for the exam.

With the coaching available here, we have good support in terms of the subjects, what type of questions to expect, time management etc. The faculty tries to simulate the JEE exam environment and that helps a lot. The study material is also precise and based on the JEE syllabus.

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

Jalajakshi: Yes. I think it's important to practise with the help of mock tests. The first thing is that it is the same as the actual exam so it helps one to get familiar with the JEE Main exam pattern and methodology. Second, past year papers and mock tests help strengthen one’s concepts and answering strategy. Also, one gets to know the frequently covered topics that carry more weightage.

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

Jalajakshi: The material provided by my college was sufficient enough to prepare. I didn’t need other books as the books provided covered the syllabus well.

Careers360: Did you face any problems during the JEE Main examination? Which subject was the easiest and which was the toughest in JEE Main? What do you think is a tough thing to manage during the JEE Main exam?

Jalajakshi: For me Chemistry is the weak subject. I like and am good at Maths. So, in a way, it is my strongest subject. I think one needs to be good at time management as the questions in JEE Main have to be answered fast and therefore any preparation strategy should include this aspect.

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

Jalajakshi: Well, my father’s support, the faculty at my college are the people behind my success. Besides that, I think one needs dedication and a single minded focus on the goal. If you work hard for it, you can achieve it.

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

Jalajakshi: We don’t have much time after our daily study schedule. I live in a hostel and we don’t have access to social media and such. This can be an advantage as there are no distractions. Having said that, I have not bothered much about hobbies and such as my goal is JEE Advanced. However, good health matters so eating well on time and good sleep is very important. I think, this is also one reason for my success.

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 Main exam?

Jalajakshi: Yes. While studying or doing the mock tests, try to ensure that you learn from your mistakes and don’t repeat them. This is really important so you can move further and closer to your goal. Study time should be focused. Only then it’s possible to achieve success.