JEE Main Preparation Tips for Chemistry

JEE Main Preparation Tips for Chemistry - Students planning to appear for Joint Entrance Examination, i.e. JEE Main 2020 and looking for tips on how to prepare for Chemistry are at the right place. Chemistry is one of the three sections in the JEE Main exam and is also considered the most scoring one. There are some who are a pro at all subjects and then there are students who need JEE Main 2020 preparation tips for Chemistry as they find it hard to learn lengthy reactions and need some help. For such students, here is some information on what books should be referred and the topics that need more focus in the JEE Main exam. Thus, read the complete article below for JEE Main preparation tips for Chemistry and know what practices need to be inculcated in the study regime.

JEE Main 2020 is conducted by NTA twice a year in online mode only. A candidate must know that JEE Main 2020 is the first hurdle that one has to cross to appear and qualify the next level, i.e. JEE Advanced, to get into an IIT. Here are some useful JEE Main 2020 preparation tips for chemistry section and the exam as a whole.

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• Don't clog study with books

Reducing the clatter around the study table would not only help students have a clear mind but improve their efficiency. For example, with fewer books around, it will be much easier to remember where a particular topic was read. If revision is required, one can go back to that specific topic in that specific book and do the revision immediately.

In the alternate scenario where there are more books than one can keep count of, students end up reading bits and pieces from every book. And every time revision is needed, they have to spend a lot of time and energy just to find the specific page for revision!

Typically, to save time, students may consider revising from a different book, but the problem is the style and presentation of every book is different, so it will be a lot like reading it for the first time.

• Start JEE Main preparation early

JEE Main 2020 is a tough battle and the chances of losing increase with partial preparation. So, in order to succeed, students need to prepare well. And preparing well in its essence, means preparing early.

As an early starter, students will have time to tweak preparation if the track is lost for one or the other reason. For example, if the student is lagging in a particular section or topic, there will be time to decide if coaching is the way forward, or some other type of intervention is needed. With enough time to prepare, they will be able to keep things under control and not panic as exam day approaches, assuming of utilizing their time reading and practicing harder problems.

• Refer recommended books

Buy books that deem easy and understandable, and cover every section of the syllabus in detail. Books have lots of illustrations and examples to aid understanding of concepts. They also have fewer mistakes and ambiguous comments. NCERT Chemistry Class XI and XII books are examples of good books, and are reliable material to build preliminary concepts. Also, note that not all books by foreign writers are good, just like not all Indian writers are bad. J.D. Lee is a great asset for the physical chemistry part, while Modern Approach to Chemical Calculations by R.C. Mukherjee, an Indian writer, is an equally good book for mastering numerical problems.

As a note of caution, avoid books that use extremely tough and advanced terminology.

• Recommended book for your JEE Main preparation:

NCERT Books: NCERT Chemistry books on their own aren't enough to answer every question asked in JEE Main, and students have to read other books as well for holistic JEE Main Chemistry preparation. But another crucial fact is that they are the most reliable material for building the basic concepts of all the topics included in the syllabus. Students must especially pay attention to the highlighted sections and exercises presented in these books, as they are the key to understanding basic theories of the subject and pave way to understand concepts that one will come across in higher-level chemistry texts like Atkins.

To get more out of these books, practicing problems from NCERT Chemistry Exemplar is also recommended.

Why NCERT Books?

1. NCERT books are authentic and reliable and a must for JEE Main 2020 preparation

2. The language used is easy to understand

3. It contains helpful illustrations to drive a point home

4. Each book includes standard questions which will test the understanding of concepts and problem-solving ability

5. Importantly, NCERT books are launching pads for more higher-level books

6. They form the basis for the Class XII board exams too. So you attain two goals with one single stroke.

For example, if a student brushes up the basics for JEE Main 2020 syllabus with NCERT books, then moving on to higher-level books like a J.D. Lee or Atkins becomes easy.

Outside of NCERT books, other section-wise books to be included in the collection are:

Physical Chemistry:

Atkins' Physical Chemistry: This book helps to improve numerical problem-solving ability, as it includes enhanced explanations and mathematical presentations. There are numerous solved examples throughout the book for easy reference and concept building, as well as practice sets at the end of each chapter to give edge to JEE Main Preparation.

Another Must Read: Physical Chemistry by N Awasthi

Physical Chemistry JEE Main Syllabus

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Organic Chemistry:

The JEE Main preparation for chemistry would be effective only if organic chemistry is given due attention. It may happen sometimes that the students might be tempted to overlook the difficult parts of organic chemistry and focus only on the easier parts which is a practice to be avoided. Also, it must be noted that organic chemistry can be conquered and be scored off as well. Here are some books to help in that mission:

O.P. Tandon Organic Chemistry: It is one of the most important books for Organic Chemistry, and is written especially for competitive exams like JEE Main. Here are some reasons why this book should be kept as part of JEE Main chemistry preparation package.

Highlights of the book include:

1. Multiple-choice, matching type, and assertion reason type questions at the end of every chapter for practice.

2. Easy to understand language

3. Illustrations and example solutions

Other popular books:

• Organic Chemistry by Paula Bruice Yurkanis

• Organic Chemistry by M.S. Chauhan

Organic Chemistry JEE Main Syllabus

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Inorganic Chemistry:

Inorganic Chemistry is considered to be the easiest and most scoring section in Chemistry, because there is no need to solve problems, do calculations or employ complex formulae’s to answer questions. It is akin to answering general awareness questions.

Strategy to answer Inorganic questions: If the answer is not known, don't stick around. Move on quickly to the next question.

J.D Lee: After being done with NCERT books and having understood the basics of inorganic chemistry, the next destination should be this fine book by J.D Lee. It more or less covers the entire JEE inorganic syllabus and is recommended by many toppers and teachers.

Highlights of the book:

1. Includes hundreds of MCQs, assertive-type questions, and single-choice questions to practice from

2. At the end of each chapter, answers to the questions with detailed explanation can be found that are designed to clarify concepts

3. Each concept is supported by proper reasoning and experiments. Language of the book is also suited to Indian students.

4.Most student reviews of the book tip towards positive making it a sound option.

Note: Buy the original book and not the adopted versions by Indian authors. In Indian versions, some important topics and comments may be edited.

O.P. Tandon: It is another reliable book to supplement what you have learned from your NCERT books.

Inorganic Chemistry JEE Main Syllabus

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Common book for all sections in JEE Main Chemistry:

Modern Approach to Chemical Calculations by R.C. Mukherjee: This is one go-to book if the aim is to master the tricks and formulas to solve numerical problems in chemistry across all branches of chemistry.

Some of the important highlights of the book include:

1. Explains the mole concept in detail and with great clarity

2. Illustrations and examples are used throughout the book for easy learning.

3. Contains sufficient JEE-level solved and unsolved problems to practice after each chapter.

4. Questions are graded according to their difficulty level, which makes evaluating your learning easier.

5. It covers all the branches of chemistry-inorganic, physical and organic.

• Follow a routine:

Or maybe not!

But having a routine can bring method to the madness that is preparing for JEE Main. One thing a routine can do is it can help outlining the short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals may mean daily or weekly goals, like completing a specific topic or specific set of problems. Long-term goals can be to complete the syllabus in a specific time. This way it becomes much easier to rate your progress. If the student is lagging behind, necessary changes can be made in the routine.

As for those who don't want to restrict themselves to a routine, they might want to do a prognosis of their progress from time to time to ensure they are on track.

• If the body is willing, then mind would too!!

Humans do not have any endless source of energy and need timely rest and refreshment. Otherwise, the body will not respond to the challenges the way its required. Also, while JEE Main 2020 is a difficult exam, there is no need to make the body perform a superhuman effort to crack the exam. Like there is no need to study 14-15 hours; simple 7-8 hours daily should suffice.

Get up on time, study for regular hours and go to bed, again on time. The results will be good enough!

Practice previous year's question papers: Mistakes made on certain days are costlier than on other days. Like mistakes are allowed while solving previous year's question paper and still be upbeat. But the same mistake on the exam day might be risky game.

To avoid such a fate, practice previous year's question papers as much. It will teach time management, help finding out areas where silly mistakes are happening, and get familiar with the JEE Main exam pattern. Also, if qestions papers of the last ten years or so are solved, there is a good chance that some questions may be repeated. If that happens some free scores can be earned!

• Keep an eye on speed and accuracy: The last in the list of JEE Main 2020 preparation tips for Chemistry is related to the execution of what is learned.

When practising question papers or taking a mock test, check whether the problems can be solved and answer all the questions within the stipulated time. If time runs out and the student is still stuck with half a dozen questions, it is a sign improvement in speed is required.

Improving the strike rate of answers is also vital to score well in chemistry. Mistakes can be reduced by clearing the concepts and also by practicing problem exercises.

All the best!