I appeared for IIT JAM 2023 examination in mathematics which was organized by IIT Guwahati. I was then a student of the Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, and was admitted to the Bachelor of Science (Math Honors) program. I did not particularly do well in the exam. I managed to score 42 out of 100 on that relatively easy paper and my rank was 769, with that rank one does not even get to go into the top NITs, let alone IITs. Although my concepts were strong I did not know many tricks or shortcuts for solving problems, nor was I very quick in solving problems (that comes with practice).

I also did not take many mock tests because of which my time management skills were very poor and given the paper was on the easier side, I was unable to cope due to my slow speed. That being said, now I tell you what you should be doing to do well in this particular exam. First, you can take any online coaching, for instance, unacademy is a good platform for starting IIT JAM preparation, particularly attending classes or seeing videos of Sagar Surya sir. Ideally one should start preparation 12 months before the said exam and you should be giving regular mock tests (career endeavor mock tests ) are good.

Please focus on strengthening your concepts, that is the most important aspect of starting early. IIT JAM is a relatively easy exam, I know a friend who cracked the exam in two-digit rank but started preparing for the exam 1 week before. I studied at BHU, which offered a rigorous curriculum, so I mainly focused on my core concepts and semester exam, that is why, even though I could not clear the IIT JAM examination with a good rank, I was shortlisted for interviews in TIFR, NISER, IISERs.

I eventually was able to crack the interview at IISER Mohali and now I am an integrated PhD at IISER Mohali, which is one of the premier research institutes in India and I am having far better research exposure than what I could have in a top IIT. Moral of the story is, if you like mathematics, you should study mathematics just for the sake of it, these exams, especially IIT JAM are very swallowed exams and they are no way a good parameter of judgment of your mathematical skills.

So don’t worry, if you did not do well in this exam, you can always fill out forms of ISI, CMI, IISERs, and TIFR, where you would be interviewed (subject to clearing their qualifying exams) and if you have a good base and your concepts are clear, you sure can also get admitted in these premier research institutes. BEST OF LUCK!