Group study is a myth, self-study is the real game-changer in your life.

 Group study is a myth, self-study is the real game-changer in your life.

Some of the smart tips according to me are the following. But let me first tell who am I to give these tips?

• I have cracked AIEEE along without any drop and coaching during my class XII itself. Got an NIT.
• I have cracked GATE along with college without joining made easy in Delhi. That too in the final years of college and I was not a topper in my college. I got a PSU with it.

Though these were not great scorecards in someone's life, I did not do very well in these exams.

• I was not able to crack IIT and score a decent rank in AIEEE, just sufficient enough to get an NIT.
• Though I cracked GATE, I am not suggesting that I did exceptionally great as I was able to get into a Mini-Ratna PSU, not a Maha-Ratna.

So, if you are reading further from here onwards then try to be cautious. Please don't continue reading if you can’t trust me.

Here are some of the tips.

1. Always have a destination before starting your journey.
1. This can be the single most important criteria for your success.
2. Do the previous year question paper analysis and study. Doing question paper analysis is necessary because no one can do it better than you, not even the coaching teachers.
3. Sometimes you can find some easy topics which are more scoring than the others.
2. Always have an action plan according to the time left.
1. And please stick to it!
2. Every 1 minute spent on planning saves 10 minutes of execution.
3. Divide your time, list your priorities according to the previous year's questions & syllabus and focus on covering the scoring area first, religiously.
3. Don’t just follow what toppers say!
1. If you are self-studying then you must be referring to some toppers videos on YouTube.
2. Let me tell you, most toppers don't even know what worked for them and they end up giving the cliche advice.
3. Short cut notes from toppers are not magical words, it is just a book written in a colorful way and more presentable way.
4. Moreover, toppers generally lie about their strategy either to look cool or get money from the coaching center.
4. The quality study is the key!
1. Concentration is the key, here!
2. Whether you study for four hours with a mobile on your study table or you study for an hour with concentration. You are free to experiment.
3. Distractions are natural, but you have to concentrate now for 40 minutes at a time for making the last 40 years of your life easy.
5. Timing matters!
1. Prefer to read in the morning because generally your mind is empty and you can concentrate more without many distractions.
2. If you are reading, take a break! The break does not mean to use mobile. Drink some water, pee, or make tea!
6. Listen to music, if it helps!
1. Concentration is a key, if your music can help then it is worth trying. I used music to mask out the outward noises and only my boom-box was the one making noise with the HR (Himesh Reshammiya) songs.
2. But just concentrate, if you are serious.
7. There is no substitute for hard work.
1. Smart works always come with exceptions depending on various parameters.
2. So, remember hard work is the key to success.
8. Self-evaluation is a must!
1. Join a test series and check your progress regularly.
2. It will help you reach the set benchmark required for getting the exam success.
9. If you are in love, then just wake-up!
1. If you are less than 21 year old and you are in true love. Don’t think that your bf/gf is going to stay with you forever! Then, Knock! Knock!!, Please wake up my friend.
2. Your success is just above the clouds of your love story.
10. Friends are temporary, but marks are lifelong!
1. I know it can be harsh, but it is the truth!
2. Friends, whom you are dying to meet daily and chat daily, are temporary in your life journey
11. No one is going to ask about your friend's circle but your 10th marks will speak in almost all of your job interviews. You need to work at job, till you attain the age retirement.
12. Just make target, implement it, and then again make target, get it!

Reward yourself once you achieve some of your milestones. But never discuss your target, goals with anyone.

Just work hard!

But remember this wonderful line from one of my favorite movies — Fight Club