JEE Main 2025 Topper Ahmad Shayan Interview: "Right Mentorship & Guidance"

Ahmad Shayan, a JEE Main 2025 topper with AIR 629, shares his tips and exam strategy with Careers360! He scored 100 percentile in physics and an overall of 99.86 percentile. Ahmad started his preparation for the JEE Mains 2025 exam in class 11th. He believes right mentorship and guidance give an extra edge for a national-level exam like JEE Mains.

As the exam approached, Ahmad started practising multiple PYQs and JEE Main sample papers. He believes it significantly boost his performance in the JEE Main January session exam. His biggest inspiration are his parent although he also draws inspiration from other JEE Mains toppers Ahmad shares must know JEE Main 2025 topper tips on how to deal with stress and prepare for board exam simultaneously. Read the article to know the JEE Main topper tips 2025 by Ahmad Shayan.

Careers360: Congratulations on your performance in the JEE Main January 2025 exam! What was your reaction upon knowing your score?

Ahmad Shayan: I was extremely overjoyed to see my score, it was a big achievement for me.

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

Ahmad Shayan: So, my name is Ahmad Shayan, I am currently a student at Delhi Public School, Eldeco, Lucknow. Although I have switched schools a handful of times, I have remained in the CBSE board.

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

Ahmad Shayan: I am reminded by my mom that I would play with screwdrivers and screws from about the age of 2. I think it is purely my interest in engineering that led to my decision to prepare for JEE. My preferred branch, at least for now is Electrical and Electronic engineering, although I am not entirely certain about that.

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

Ahmad Shayan: I started my JEE preparation in 11th grade, and joined Allen Online, as I had already seen impeccable results from Allen and felt confident in them. I would mainly listen to my mentors and teachers, not straying from their guidance. I typically studied 2-3 hours a day apart from school and coaching, and on holidays, I would push up to 7 or 8 hours.

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

Ahmad Shayan: Personally, I did not face any difficulty from the exam being online, a big reason is the incredible practice that Allen had to offer, right from the first week of my joining their institute, so I had had thousands of mock tests; it all felt familiar.

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?

Ahmad Shayan: Yes, there was definitely a difference in my preparation strategy during the starting months and the last few months. I did not think much of it though, I followed my teachers without questioning much, and it always worked. Mostly, when we prepare for JEE, we automatically cover everything we need for the board exams.

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

Ahmad Shayan: Yes, I took coaching from Allen Online. Initially, I was hesitant to take coaching, but my parents insisted, and they were absolutely correct in their wise decision to enrol me in Allen. I feel that this journey of nearly two years becomes far more treacherous without coaching and l would likely have not done as great without my coaching's guidance and support.

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

Ahmad Shayan: I attempted numerous mock tests, most provided by my coaching. In the days starting from November, my teachers told me to solve the JEE main 2024 papers, and that, I believe has single-handedly been a great boost to my performance.

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?

Ahmad Shayan: I did not refer to any books beyond those offered by my coaching Allen. The modules had everything that could ever be asked, if at all you cover it entirely, you won't miss even a tad bit of the syllabus. School textbooks are more than adequate for board exams, but for physics and mathematics, I suggest that modules from one's coaching should be more than adequate.

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?

Ahmad Shayan: During the exam itself, an hour of waiting before the test really spiked my stress, and for the first 2 minutes, I could not recall pretty much any formula. I then remembered some advice from my maths teacher Harsh Malav sir, to take a minute, breathe deeply, relax and begin from a different subject. It worked brilliantly. I found physics to be the easiest, and maths to be slightly tougher than the other two subjects.

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

Ahmad Shayan: I think the biggest thanks go to Allen; without their support, I could not have achieved such a score. I must thank all my teachers, Pradeep sir, Saurabh sir and Surendra sir who taught me in 11th, Avinesh sir and Jeetendra sir who taught me in 11th and a special thanks to Harsh sir, who has been with me during 11th as well as 12th grade and constantly been in touch with me, helping me as and when I needed him.

Careers360: Will you be appearing for the April session of JEE Main 2025 too?

Ahmad Shayan: Yes, I believe every attempt we get is an opportunity to outshine ourselves, there is always room for improvement.

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

Ahmad Shayan: I had a handful of hobbies that I would indulge in every once in a while, maybe not daily, but every other day. I play the piano, so I'd practice that for about 15 minutes every other day. Sometimes after my tests, I would even play video games for about 30 minutes. Trackmania and Portal are some of my favourites.

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

Ahmad Shayan: Personally, I think the biggest motivation for me is my parents; there is no other role model for me, although yes, other JEE Mains toppers also inspire me to achieve something big.

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?

Ahmad Shayan: I believe that the best way to tackle JEE is to get the right mentorship and guidance. The right teacher will tell you whether you should focus on high-weightage chapters or complete the entire syllabus based on your abilities and they make sure that we all give our fullest.