EARLY, METHODICAL AND CONTINUOUS PREPARATION WILL BE YOUR KEY TO SUCCESS FOR THE ALL INDIA ENGINEERING ENTRANCE EXAMINATION (AIEEE). PROF RAVI PRAKASH, DR N K BAJAJ AND DR K L KAPOOR PROVIDE VALUABLE TIPS

The ninth All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) is likely to be held in the last week of April 2010. Nearly 10 lakh aspirants are expected to appear in this exam. Many prestigious engineering colleges and institutes (excluding the IITs) use the AIEEE ranks to fill seats through their own counselling.

BASIC GYAN

The exam consists of two papers. Three attempts are permitted. The subject combination for each paper
and type of questions in each paper is given below: Paper 1 (only for BE/BTech aspirants) tests your knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics. It has objective type questions with equal weightage to all three subjects. The duration for it is three hours.
Paper 2 (only for BArch/ BPlanning)tests your knowledge in mathematics, your aptitude and drawing skills. Questions are objective in nature and this paper is also of three hours duration.

PREP TALKS

Starting your preparations early is the cornerstone of success for all competitive exams and it holds true for AIEEE too. Needless to say, one needs to have a strong
fundamental base in order to take the toughest of competition head on. The clear advantage that early starters have is more time on hand not only to consolidate the preparation but also spend quality time on revision.
   That brings us to the next question- When to start? The best time to begin preparation for AIEEE is when you have are mid way through your class 11 course, precisely a year and a half before the actual D-day of the AIEEE. You also need to ensure that you maintain a healthy study routine throughout the preparation stage. It is certainly not recommended that you make it a habit to study late at night and sleep in daytime. This will not only upset your daily routine, but will eventually prove counterproductive during the examination day as you may not be fully active and focused.

Subject wise preparation analysis is as follows:

MATH-MAGIC

The math section usually consists of 30 questions which are: (a) Direct and objective in which only one of the four given alternatives is correct. (b) Assertion-reason type: Here two statements are given and there are four alternatives for the correct answer.
   Generally there are 25 objective questions and about five assertionreason questions.
   In math, it is important to budget your time for each question. Firstly, try to understand the entire question carefully and then your knowledge to find the solution.
   There may be some simple questions waiting for you which you could solve easily. Concentrate on them first and then tackle the difficult ones. However do not spend too much time on any difficult problem. Move on to the next and then come back after you have the time.
   The analysis of the math questions over the past eight years has shown that it is not possible to leave any topic. Questions are being asked from all topics in a random manner. Before moving to the next section (physics or chemistry), rework those questions which you could not solve and see whether you could arrive at a solution. Make sure you do not spend too much time on this.

PHYSICS FUNDAS

The format of the physics section of AIEEE questions has changed in the last three years. Questions based on paragraph, assertion-reason type were included apart from MCQs.Here are a few tips that will help you score well in this section:
   Do not ignore NCERT books and the board syllabus while preparing
   Learn definitions and formulae of each chapter and write down important formulae in a separate book. The derivation of formulae is not necessary but the mathematical tools and logic must be clearly understood.
   Concentrate both on theory and numerical part in each chapter.
   Make a note of exceptions and special techniques in solving problems in each chapter.
   Practice previous years’ paper and carefully examine the pattern
   Set down strict time limits to complete the paper. Over a period of time you will acquire speed and accuracy
   In each chapter identify the problem areas which need closer study. Prepare a note of the questions you failed to solve in the first attempt and then try them again

CHEMISTRY CALCULATIONS

In chemistry, it is extremely important to keep your focus on scoring maximum marks (which does not necessarily mean hundred per cent). Thus it becomes imperative to pay attention to topics that form the bulk of the questions. Also, accurate knowledge of formulae of compounds is essential.
A few important topics from where questions are frequently asked are: Bohr’s theory of atomic structure, quantum numbers and orbitals Concept of hybridisation/VSEPR theory and Mo approach to diatomic molecules Van der Waals equation of state Crystal systems, packing of atoms, ionic solids Colligative properties of electrolytic solutions Boron and its compounds, silicates and silicones Oxides and oxoacids of N, P and S Isomerism including optical isomers of organic compounds Characteristic reactions of aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acid and derivatives Reactions with Grignard reagents and those of diazonium salts Qualitative analysis of inorganic and organic compounds. Rates of reactions including radioactive decay Carbohydrates and polymers Characteristic reactions of aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic-acid derivatives.

PRACTICE PERFECT   

Have self belief that you can succeed.
   Your preparation must be continuous and not in patches of hard work. Each subject must be given proper and regular time. Instead of preparing one subject for some days, then taking up another subject, prepare all the three subjects (physics, chemistry and mathematics) each day within a specified time period. It also helps in breaking the monotony.
   The pattern of AIEEE today is completely concept based and thus it is very important to have clarity of concepts while you are preparing.
   Invest time in preparing good notes while attending lectures or during self study. This will prove helpful at the time of revision.
   After systematically understanding the concepts, practice relevant problems to consolidate the topic.
   After you have covered the entire syllabus, it is advisable to make a list of the problem areas that you have and revisit those topics again and study them thoroughly.

Difference between preparation for IIT and AIEEE

Both IIT-JEE entrance and AIEEE require in-depth knowledge of the subject. IIT-JEE entrance relies heavily on the finer points of each concept and a clear understanding of the fundamentals so that you can solve tough questions which are often presented in an indirect manner. On the other hand in AIEEE, speed and accuracy count a lot. Quick calculations involving numerical quantities play an important role.
(Dr Ravi Prakash is the Associate Professor, Rajdhani College,Delhi; Dr N K Bajaj is the former Head of the Physics Dept, St Stephens College, Delhi; and Dr K L Kapoor is a former Associate Professor, Hindu College, Delhi. All of them have authored popular books for IIT and AIEEE published by Tata McGraw-Hill)
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