I’m not a topper, but I cracked JEE Advanced after failing badly once. If you’re stuck revising chapters and can’t see any progress, this might help. Long post ahead.

My background:
In class 11, I didn’t even know what JEE was. Started prep halfway through 12th. Just watched lectures, made notes, never revised, never touched PYQs.
Result- 25 marks, 60 percentile in Mains. Didn’t even qualify Advanced.

Then I took a drop year and changed everything. Focused only on revision, PYQs, and mock analysis. Didn’t even do the full syllabus – just 45-50% for Advanced and 70-80% for Mains, but did it deeply.
Ended up with 174 in Mains (97.4%ile) and cracked Advanced with AIR 5855.

Now listen to me.
Your friend isn’t scoring more because they’re smarter or work harder. They just know how to study in a way that works. My friend, you are not behind, you’re not dumb, you’re not less capable , it’s just that you haven’t learned the process of making a chapter rock-solid, yet.

I’m going to tell you exactly how to do that:

Step 1 : Make long notes while the chapter is going on.
As the chapter is being taught in class, actively take complete notes alongside the teacher. Write down every concept, derivation, and example covered, along with any doubts the teacher explains that you might not remember later. Avoid simply listening or watching – record everything neatly. These notes will form the foundation on which you build your understanding.

Step 2 : Do two revisions the same day you finish the chapter.

First revision: Go through your notes in full. Re-read all the theory, make sure you genuinely understand each derivation, and practice them by writing them out yourself. Then, in a rough notebook, re-solve every example your teacher covered in class ,not in your head, but step-by-step on paper.

Second revision: Create a short, separate formula sheet. This isn’t meant to be a chapter summary : only include key formulas, special cases, and quick facts you’ll need for rapid revision later. Limit it to one or two pages. These sheets will become your most valuable revision aid over time. At first, your formula sheets might not be great, but by the third or fourth chapter, you’ll get much better at making them.

Step 3 : Wait exactly one week, then start PYQs.
This step matters a lot. Give the chapter a few days to sink in. Then, exactly a week later, follow this routine:

• Spend 15–20 minutes quickly skimming through your detailed notes – just enough to bring everything back to mind.

• Next, go through your formula sheet carefully. Make sure you understand each formula and where it’s applied. Don’t just read – actively try to recall them before checking. Done properly, this will take 20–30 minutes.

After that, you’re ready to begin solving PYQs.

Step 4 – Do Mains + Advanced PYQs together.

• Start by solving about 40 or more Mains-level PYQs from that chapter, one after another without overthinking in between.

• Take a short break.

• Then do atleast 10+ Adv pyq’s of the same chap.

If some questions feel impossible or you get stuck, that’s completely fine -that’s exactly what this first round is meant for. This is when you start noticing how the concepts you studied actually appear in real exam papers. Go slow, don’t try to finish in a hurry.

Honestly, this stage can feel overwhelming and even make you wonder if preparing for JEE was the right choice. But if you push through it, things will get a lot smoother. Think of it as the tough entry ticket you have to get past before the real improvement kicks in.

Step 5 – Repeat after 1–2 weeks.
Now repeat the whole process again. This round will feel a lot more comfortable and less draining.

• Revise your formula sheets. Then solve 60 or more Mains PYQs from that chapter – it’s fine if some are repeats, because the goal here is to build recognition. After that, tackle 10–15 Advanced-level PYQs.

By this point, you’ll start spotting patterns in the questions, and your brain will automatically connect the right formulas and concepts to different problem types. That’s when future revisions start becoming quicker and more effective.

I repeated this cycle 5–6 times for most chapters. Not because someone told me to, but because it was the only way I stopped forgetting things every week. Slowly, my confidence went up. Chapters I used to run away from became my strong areas. And Chapters stopped looking Scary.

Do this for one chapter – just one full cycle – and see the difference yourself.
It’s not only for Maths or JEE. This works for any subject, any exam. The form might change – some people use flashcards, some use phone notes – but the process is the same.

Your Formula sheets are and will be your best friends through this tough journey. Don’t waste your valuable time on long notes repeatedly. If you need my formula sheets: Handwritten Formula Sheets You’ll Regret Not Having on Exam Day.(-70%)

So now you know why, despite studying for 6 months, you score less than your friends who study for half the time. Now go to work champ, and ALL THE BEST.

If you need my help in making formula sheets or choosing which chapters to begin with, feel free to ask in the comments. I’ve been through the same situation, so happy to help.