From Brain Surgery and 36.2 Percentile to IIT Guwahati: Ashish’s eSaral Success Story

eSaral › Success stories › From Brain Surgery and 36.2 Percentile to IIT Guwahati: Ashish’s eSaral Success Story 

Ashish’s journey to IIT Guwahati did not begin with two uninterrupted years of JEE preparation. It began with a serious health condition, brain surgery, and nearly six months during which he could not even open his books.

When he appeared for the first JEE Main session, he scored approximately 36.2 percentile, with a rank close to 9,34,000. At that stage, even Ashish had not imagined that IIT Guwahati could become part of his story.

Instead of accepting that result as the limit of his ability, he joined the eSaral Bounce Back Course and started rebuilding his preparation. He simultaneously worked towards his Class 12 Boards, the second JEE Main attempt, and JEE Advanced.

His JEE Main rank improved to around three lakh in the April attempt, with a category rank of approximately 25,000. In JEE Advanced, he secured category rank 1,929 and received admission to IIT Guwahati.

Watch Ashish’s Real eSaral Interview

In the complete interview, Ashish explains how brain surgery disrupted his Class 12 preparation and kept him away from books for approximately six months.

What Happened to Ashish During Class 12?

Ashish’s preparation was interrupted by a serious medical condition. According to his account, a cyst was pressing a facial nerve and causing severe facial pain. Doctors advised surgery, and he underwent brain surgery during Class 12.

He said that he had been visiting the hospital from around April and underwent surgery in June. The treatment and recovery period consumed nearly six months of Class 12.

During this period, studying was not the priority. Ashish said that he did not open a book for approximately six months. His parents were also more concerned about his health than about forcing him to prepare for an entrance examination.

The surgery was successful, and he did not experience the serious complications his family had feared. However, the academic time lost could not simply be recovered in a few days.

Can a Student Reach IIT After Scoring 36.2 Percentile?

Ashish appeared for JEE Main Session 1 despite having received very little preparation time. He scored approximately 36.2 percentile, with a rank of around 9,34,000.

A score at that level can make an aspirant believe that IIT is no longer realistic. Ashish admitted that when the result came, he had never imagined that he would later hear the name of an IIT in connection with his own admission.

However, the first-attempt result did not represent his complete academic ability. It reflected a preparation period heavily affected by surgery, hospital visits, and recovery.

This distinction is important. A low score must be analysed in context, but context should not become an excuse to stop working. Ashish accepted the result and began searching for a preparation system that could help him use the remaining time effectively.

That search led him to the eSaral JEE Bounce Back Course.

Why Did Ashish Join eSaral Bounce Back?

Before joining eSaral, Ashish had not taken formal JEE coaching. He had mainly been preparing for CBSE Boards and had never planned his Class 11 studies around JEE.

After the first JEE Main attempt, he realised that he could understand the basic concepts and solve some questions. He believed that if one or two questions were becoming possible, proper guidance could gradually help him solve more.

He wanted clarity about which topics mattered, what types of questions could appear, and how he should prepare within the limited time available.

Ashish therefore joined eSaral Bounce Back as his first structured coaching programme. The course gave his preparation regular classes, guided question practice and access to mentors.

His objective was not to search for another motivational shortcut. He needed a system that could help him study Boards and JEE together after a long academic interruption.

How Did eSaral Mentorship Help During His Comeback?

Ashish’s preparation was monitored instead of being left entirely to self-discipline.

He recalled that when he became inactive or fell asleep during a class, eSaral mentors contacted him. The calls ensured that missing a class did not silently become a pattern.

The mentorship also provided accountability during a period when the volume of work was unusually high. Ashish had to manage his health, complete his Class 12 syllabus, prepare for Boards, and improve his JEE performance within the same academic year.

Mentor follow-ups helped him remain connected with the plan. The role of eSaral was not to perform the work on his behalf, but to ensure that the work remained organised and visible.

Students who want to evaluate their preparation through structured mock practice can use the eSaral JEE Main and Advanced Test Series.

How Did He Balance CBSE Boards and JEE Preparation?

Ashish did not ignore his Board examinations while preparing for JEE.

He tried to keep CBSE preparation active while attending eSaral classes and solving questions at night. Instead of treating Boards and JEE as two completely separate goals, he used concept learning to support both objective and subjective preparation.

He eventually scored 80% in his Class 12 Board examinations. He had expected a slightly higher score, but clearing the required academic stage while recovering from surgery and preparing for JEE was itself significant.

The solution is not to complete everything simultaneously. It is to follow a timetable in which classes, Board writing practice, JEE questions and revision each have a defined place.

What Was Ashish’s Daily Study Routine?

Ashish’s routine was disciplined without ignoring recovery and sleep.

He generally woke between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. and included some light exercise because maintaining physical fitness remained important after surgery.

He usually began serious study around 10:30 a.m. He first completed pending questions and then attended the eSaral Bounce Back classes, which often continued until approximately 8:40 p.m.

After class, he revised for another 20 to 30 minutes, had dinner with his family, and slept between 11:00 p.m. and midnight. This gave him approximately seven to eight hours of sleep, which his doctor had advised him to maintain.

The routine was demanding, but it was not built around sacrificing health. Ashish understood that without adequate recovery, the preparation itself could become unsustainable.

From 9,34,000 Rank to JEE Advanced Category Rank 1,929

Ashish’s improvement happened across multiple stages.

In JEE Main Session 1, he reported a rank of around 9,34,000 and approximately 36.2 percentile. In the April attempt, he recalled improving to a CRL of around 2.89 lakh to three lakh, with a category rank of approximately 25,000.

He then secured category rank 1,929 in JEE Advanced and received admission to IIT Guwahati.

These figures should be presented carefully. The transcript confirms the category ranks stated by Ashish, but it does not provide his overall JEE Advanced rank or IIT Guwahati branch.

The meaningful part of the improvement was not just the difference between two rank numbers. It was that Ashish moved from almost no JEE preparation to understanding concepts, practising questions, and qualifying for an IIT within the same Class 12 year.

Aspirants estimating their possible rank after JEE Advanced can use the eSaral JEE Advanced Rank Predictor before beginning detailed counselling research.

How Did Family and Friends Protect His Confidence?

Ashish had several reasons to feel defeated, but his family did not allow his health condition or first-attempt result to become a permanent label.

His parents reassured him that they believed he could still improve. They did not continuously pressure him or make him feel that the year had already been lost. Their first concern remained his recovery.

His motivation was closely connected with his family. During the interview, he said that he wanted to succeed for his parents because they had remained beside him throughout the medical and academic struggle.

How Did He Control Social Media Without Completely Avoiding It?

Ashish did not claim that he completely stopped using his phone.

He used Instagram and WhatsApp, but outside classes, his screen time generally remained around one to two hours. During the final three months, he reduced social-media usage further.

This is a practical lesson for aspirants. Preparation does not always require deleting every application, but it does require control. Ashish did not allow a short break to become several hours of scrolling.

He preserved some time for relaxation while ensuring that classes, questions, revision, sleep, and health remained the priority.

What Was the Most Difficult Topic for Ashish?

Ashish identified Rotation and parts of Mechanics as difficult areas.

His Class 11 foundation was weak because he had not initially planned to prepare for JEE. As a result, Advanced-level Mechanics created problems later.

This is why he repeatedly emphasised following teachers and practising questions. Difficult chapters become manageable when students stop searching for instant completion and allow concepts to develop gradually.

Aspirants working on weak chapters can practise with eSaral’s chapter-wise JEE Advanced previous-year questions before moving to complete papers.

From a Hospital Recovery to IIT Guwahati

One year before receiving admission to IIT Guwahati, Ashish and his family were dealing with a serious brain surgery and uncertainty about his recovery.

Six months of Class 12 passed without books. He entered JEE Main Session 1 with limited preparation and received approximately 36.2 percentile.

He could have used the medical setback as a reason to postpone every goal. Instead, after recovering, he joined eSaral Bounce Back, followed classes, solved questions, worked with mentors, and balanced JEE with Boards.

The result was IIT Guwahati.

Ashish’s journey should not be used to make unrealistic guarantees. Every medical condition, student and JEE outcome is different. Its real value lies in showing that a disappointing starting point does not always reveal the complete potential of an aspirant.

When the available time is limited, random preparation creates more pressure. The right eSaral course, consistent question practice, mentor accountability, and respect for health can give that remaining time a clear direction.

Explore the available eSaral JEE preparation courses and begin with the next chapter, test, or class that can move your preparation forward.

Read more verified eSaral journeys in which students rebuilt preparation after difficult academic phases. Explore eSaral JEE Main Results and Student Stories