JEE exam preparation is not easy, isn’t it? Preparing for a national-level engineering entrance exam needs a complete study plan, strategy, discipline, guide, and more because of its vast syllabus, difficulty level of examination, and high competition.
NTA conducts the Joint Entrance Examination Main every year twice a time. Dates for JEE Main 2025 January session and April session are officially announced.
Candidates who are going to take the exam remain for around a month and a few days. And if you are still seeking JEE preparation tips, it would be wise to focus on smarter strategies instead.
What is Pareto Principle?
The Pareto Principle is also known as the 80/20 Rule. The definition of principle varies as per the fields, but in simple terms, it’s a state where 80% of the outcomes come from 20% of the efforts. In the context of JEE preparation, this means focusing on the most critical topics and techniques to achieve maximum results.
Let us understand this with an example: In any exam, the weightage and difficulty level of chapters and topics are not the same. Instead of focusing on all subjects in detail, you can identify topics that have high weight but are less difficult, saving time and making them easier to understand.
How can Pareto Principle be applied to studying?
This principle can be applied while studying, as it’s an effective strategy that will help candidates prepare for the examination easily or make the study process easier. The 80/20 Rule is one of the preparation strategy helps to work smarter rather than harder. This principle will be only beneficial if applied correctly.
While studying, it is very important to use the time efficiently. Don’t focus on topics that are very vast and difficult to understand and have very little weightage.
You should improve your accuracy and focus less but more sincerely on the critical areas that will help you in problem-solving. Go check the questions that have been asked in previous years and practice them, or related questions that cover all the questions asked previously.
Applying the 80/20 Rule to JEE Main Preparation
You can use the Pareto Principle while preparing for the JEE Main by considering the below-given points:
1. Identify & Go Through High Impact Topics
There are three subjects in JEE Syllabus Main Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Collect the previous year’s official JEE papers, go through it thoroughly, and note down the common topics that are frequently asked and carry more weightage.
For example below are the topics from which NTA has asked questions frequently and also these have good weightage:
- Physics: Heat & Thermodynamics, Electromagnetic Induction & Alternating Current, and Modern Physics.
- Chemistry: Organic Chemistry (reaction mechanisms), Coordination Compounds, Carboxylic Acids & Its Derivatives and Aromatic Compounds.
- Mathematics: Calculus, Definite Integral & Area Under the Curve, and Coordinate Geometry.
Candidates should prioritize these topics, as questions from them are likely to be asked which will help improve their scores and boost their overall marks.
2. Focus on Core Area
If you are good at some topics or subjects, take out some extra time for them. By doing this you will gain better confidence while preparing and you will also build confidence. Preparing for a competitive exam like JEE needs the aspirants to be confident.
3. Strengthen The Basic
Go through the complete JEE Main exam pattern along with it while preparing rote learning is very important, however what is more important than it is clearly understanding the foundational principle of the exam and the design of the exam. Topics that you understand thoroughly will form the 20% effort’ that drives 80% results.
4. Optimize Problem-Solving Skills
- Spend time-solving previous year’s papers and mock tests.
- Make sure to analyze your mistakes and focus on improving accuracy.
- Practice high-weightage problems repeatedly to solidify your approach.
5. Time Management
The key to using the Pareto Principle is time management. Give more time to the topics that are more scoring and less effort-giving. Make a good study timetable and allocate equal time to all the subjects. Take out some extra time for the high-yield chapters, and make sure to dedicate time for revision every day.
Mistakes to Avoid During Applying JEE Main Pareto Principle
Aspirants should avoid a few common mistakes while JEE Main Preparation, keeping the Pareto Principle in mind.
- Dont ignore Low-Weightage Topics Completely: Having a balanced approach is a must. While 80/20 Rule highlights high-impact areas, neglecting low-weightage topics doesn’t suggest entirely neglecting all the topics as it can affect the overall score.
- Depending Only on Shortcuts: The most important and key aspect of preparing for JEE is to have clarity of subjects and topics. The Pareto Principle is not about skipping the topics or it is about prioritization.
- Relying on Mock Tests: Practice is the key, attempting numerous JEE Main mock tests will not really help you, but focused practice will surely help to understand the topic chapter better.