The Day Before JEE Mains: A Story to Remember

Enough of Mock Tests!

I woke up at 8 AM that day and made myself a promise: No mock tests today.
But as much as I tried to stay calm, thoughts of the next day refused to leave my mind.

“What if things don’t go as planned?
What if I let my parents down after everything they’ve sacrificed for me?
What if my mind goes blank, and I forget the formulas I’ve practiced a hundred times?
What if I get stuck on questions I know I can solve?
What if all these months of sleepless nights and hard work end up meaning nothing?”

These questions kept me company as I stepped into the day.
My Maa, busy preparing breakfast in our small rented room in Delhi, had let me sleep in. She knew the pressure I was carrying—the weight of expectations, the dreams of a 17-year-old.
Even though I didn’t say a word, she saw it in my eyes. She didn’t wake me up, thinking a little extra rest might help me more than anything else.

Once I was ready, I sat down at my desk with a clear plan: No new problems, no new topics—just revision.

I started with Physics. I was confident in mechanics but knew a few areas needed a quick review—velocity formulas for inelastic collisions, moment of inertia, center of mass formulas, and gravitation. By 11 AM, I had covered the Class 12 syllabus and felt a little more prepared.

Next up was Physical Chemistry, which I managed to wrap up in an hour.
Then came the real challenge: Inorganic and Organic Chemistry. These were my strengths, and I wanted to make sure I didn’t forget anything, from tests and salt colors to named reactions. NCERT for inorganic, class notes for organic—I stuck to the basics. By 3 PM, I had gone through everything.

After lunch, it was time for Maths. I revised formulas for coordinate geometry, integral calculus, and 3D algebra—the parts I often forgot. 

By evening, I picked up my mistake copy. It was my secret weapon, filled with every error I had made in the last two years. Going through it wasn’t just about avoiding silly mistakes; it reminded me of how much I had learned and how far I had come. By the time I closed it, I felt more confident and ready for the next day.

By 8 PM, I was done with everything. I even skimmed through Environmental Chemistry and Chemistry in Everyday Life—two chapters I hated but didn’t want to miss out on. (Ironically, I still missed that question in the exam!)

That evening, my teachers called. Their words were like a boost of energy. BGU Sir, who made me love physics, said,

“Dekho Soumyadeep, tumhe koi nahi puchega ki tumne mains mein woh tough sawal hila diya ya nahi. Tumhe bas tumhare 4 number chahiye, chahe woh ek asaan sawal se aaye ya mushkil se. Kal kisi sawal mein ulajhne mat lag jaana.”

(Look, Soumyadeep, no one will ask if you cracked the toughest question in the exam. You just need your 4 marks, whether they come from an easy question or a tough one. Don’t waste time getting stuck on any question tomorrow.)

Dubey Sir called too. He made sure I wasn’t still studying and told me to close my books and get some sleep. 

I truly believe those 5-minute calls from my teachers gave me a much-needed boost of confidence before the exam. Inspired by that,
I now make it a point to personally call each of my students before their D-day.
A simple call like this might seem small, but I know it can mean the world to them.

As I lay in bed, I reminded myself that sleep was just as important as all the studying I had done. I resisted the urge to pick up my books or scroll through my phone. Slowly, the calm set in, and I fell asleep, knowing I had done everything I could.

The day before JEE wasn’t about cramming or stressing—it was about trusting the effort I had put in and staying as calm as possible.

If you’re preparing for an exam, remember this: focus on revision, avoid unnecessary stress, and let your mind and body rest. Trust yourself—you’ve got this. 

All the best! :)