First Mock | Not what i expected | JEE 2025

Summary

The speaker reflects on their first exam under pressure, where they studied extensively but struggled with time management. Despite feeling anxious, they prepared well and were confident in their knowledge. However, poor planning led to mistakes in answering questions and managing time across subjects. The speaker realized they could have solved more questions with better time management and avoided second-guessing answers. While they acknowledged mistakes in physics, math, and chemistry, they remained optimistic about their accuracy and identified key areas for improvement, particularly math speed and overall time management, for future exams.

Takeaways

• 😀 The student experienced exam pressure for the first time, which was a new and uncomfortable sensation.
• 😀 Despite studying intensely for over 12 hours a day in the past two days, the student struggled with time management during the exam.
• 😀 The plan to use the first 10 minutes of the exam to choose questions was disrupted, leading to lost time and increased stress.
• 😀 The student made several mistakes by re-reading and attempting to solve questions they initially skipped, further eating into their time.
• 😀 Chemistry was the one subject where the student felt confident and found a flow state, completing many questions with ease.
• 😀 Time management was the biggest challenge, with the student failing to complete all planned questions due to poor pacing.
• 😀 The student struggled with math due to a lack of speed in solving problems, often second-guessing answers and rechecking calculations.
• 😀 Despite mistakes, the student found that their accuracy in solving questions was relatively good, especially in chemistry.
• 😀 The student acknowledged that stress and pressure impacted their performance, especially in subjects like math and physics.
• 😀 A key takeaway was the need to trust their knowledge and stop second-guessing answers, especially in math.
• 😀 The student reflected on the fact that the exam environment was more stressful than usual, making them realize the importance of time management in future exams.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial reaction when they realized they were feeling pressure before the exam?

The speaker was surprised by the pressure they were feeling, as they were typically laid back before exams. They acknowledged it as a new experience, which felt uncomfortable but also positive in some ways because they were learning how to deal with pressure.

What did the speaker do to calm themselves down before the exam?

The speaker meditated to calm themselves down, focusing on deep breaths and mindfulness to reduce the sense of pressure building up inside.

What decision did the speaker make regarding their scooter's petrol situation?

The speaker decided to fill up the petrol in their scooter, even though it added an extra 5-10 minutes to their journey. They chose this option to avoid the risk of running out of petrol during the commute.

How did the speaker plan to manage their time during the exam?

The speaker planned to spend the first 10 minutes reviewing the exam paper and selecting the 16 easiest questions across the three subjects. They aimed to solve these first and leave the more difficult questions for later.

What mistake did the speaker make regarding their exam strategy?

The speaker's main mistake was not sticking to their plan of only selecting and solving the easiest questions first. Instead, they spent time revisiting unselected questions and second-guessing themselves, which wasted valuable time.

How did the speaker feel during the chemistry section of the exam?

The speaker felt more confident during the chemistry section, experiencing a flow state where they were able to solve questions quickly and efficiently. They were pleased with their performance in chemistry, as it was the first time they were able to solve so many questions in this subject.

What issue did the speaker face while solving math questions?

The speaker faced difficulties with time management and self-doubt while solving math questions. They spent too much time on individual problems, often redoing calculations multiple times due to uncertainty, which slowed them down.

What were the speaker's final thoughts on their performance in the exam?

The speaker was somewhat satisfied with their performance, particularly in chemistry, but acknowledged that there was significant room for improvement. They recognized that better time management and self-trust would have led to a better result.

What key lesson did the speaker learn from this exam experience?

The key lesson the speaker learned was the importance of time management. They realized that sticking to a clear plan and avoiding distractions would help improve their performance in future exams. They also learned to trust their abilities and stop doubting themselves.

How did the speaker handle their anxiety during the exam?

The speaker experienced anxiety throughout the exam, especially as time passed quickly. They attempted to calm themselves through meditation and deep breathing but struggled with panic as the exam progressed. They also became more focused as they entered a flow state during the chemistry section.