Kartikey’s eSaral to Top NIT Success Story

eSaral › Success stories › Kartikey’s eSaral to Top NIT Success Story

Until Class 10, Kartikey had limited awareness about engineering, IITs, NITs, or the preparation required for competitive examinations.

He started understanding the JEE journey only after entering Class 11. Within two years, he built his Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics preparation from the beginning.

Kartikey scored 99.15 percentile in the January JEE Main 2026 attempt while appearing with Class 12.

He also secured an AIR of approximately 18,000 in JEE Advanced. During counselling, he was considering several strong NIT options, including NIT Allahabad, NIT Rourkela, NIT Jamshedpur and NIT Bhopal.

His final college and branch were yet to be decided when the interview was recorded.

Watch Kartikey’s Complete eSaral Interview

In the full interview, Kartikey explains how he began JEE preparation in Class 11 despite having little knowledge about engineering until Class 10.

Can a Student Start JEE Preparation in Class 11?

Kartikey’s story answers a common question asked by students and parents: is Class 11 too late to begin preparing for JEE?

For Kartikey, Class 11 was the starting point.

He did not spend the year only trying to understand what IIT-JEE was. He began following the system created by his teachers and mentors.

His preparation focused on three basic actions: attending lectures, completing homework and staying consistent.

Within two years, that simple system helped him reach 99.15 percentile.

Students beginning preparation after Class 10 can explore the eSaral two-year JEE course for Class 11 for structured Main and Advanced preparation.

What Was Kartikey’s Daily Study Schedule?

Kartikey said that he studied regularly from approximately 7:00 p.m. to midnight.

The timetable was not based on random topics. He followed the academic direction provided by eSaral teachers.

He completed the assigned homework and attended the lectures regularly.

This routine may appear shorter than the 12–14 hour schedules often discussed in success interviews. However, Kartikey’s preparation shows that consistency and focus matter more than merely reporting a high number of study hours.

His five-hour routine remained connected with actual academic targets.

He Attended the Lectures and Completed the Homework

Kartikey did not describe a complicated success strategy.

He followed the classes.

He completed the homework.

He remained consistent.

These actions sound basic, but many students struggle because lectures, homework, and revision begin moving separately.

A student may attend a class but postpone its questions. The unfinished homework then becomes a backlog while the next chapter begins.

Kartikey prevented that cycle by staying aligned with the eSaral schedule.

Why Were Regular Tests Important?

Kartikey attempted all the major tests provided during his preparation.

Regular tests helped him check whether the topics studied during classes could be applied under examination conditions.

A mock test reveals more than a total score. It shows weak topics, strong topics, careless mistakes, and time-management problems.

The interview confirms that Kartikey did not merely attempt the tests. He also analysed them.

Students can follow a similar process through the eSaral JEE Main and Advanced Test Series.

The Test-Analysis Notebook That Helped Him Improve

Kartikey maintained a separate notebook for test analysis.

Whenever he answered a question incorrectly, he noted the mistake and the related weak topic. He then returned to that concept and worked on it again.

This turned every test into a preparation tool.

Without analysis, students may repeat the same conceptual or calculation mistake in several examinations. A separate notebook makes recurring weaknesses visible.

Kartikey’s system connected three stages:

Class learning created the concept.

The test checked its application.

The analysis notebook decided what needed to be revised.

Scoring 99.15 Percentile in the January Attempt

Kartikey scored 99.15 percentile in JEE Main Session 1.

The result arrived in January, before his Class 12 Board examinations and JEE Advanced preparation were complete.

After Session 1, his attention was divided between Boards and JEE Advanced. He reported that his April percentile was lower.

However, the strong January result had already given him access to several competitive NIT possibilities.

Aspirants can use JEE Main previous-year papers to understand recent question patterns and improve speed before the first session.

Why Did Kartikey Consider an NIT After Qualifying JEE Advanced?

Kartikey secured an AIR of approximately 18,000 in JEE Advanced.

At this rank, he said that the available IIT branches were lower in his preference order. He therefore considered choosing a stronger branch at an NIT.

Kartikey was considering NIT Allahabad, NIT Rourkela, NIT Jamshedpur and NIT Bhopal. The final decision depended on the branch available during counselling.

Students should compare previous allotment trends through the eSaral JoSAA opening and closing rank tool before locking their preferences.

He Was Once Confused Between PCB and PCM

Near the end of Class 11, Kartikey became confused about whether he should continue with PCM or shift towards PCB.

This was a serious decision because changing streams would also change his competitive-examination direction.

His parents advised him not to change the path simply because he was feeling uncertain. Since he had already entered Class 12, they encouraged him to continue with the preparation he had started.

Their guidance helped him avoid an emotional decision.

Kartikey remained with PCM and eventually scored 99.15 percentile in JEE Main.

Kartikey in His Own Words

“Teachers told us to remain consistent, so I studied daily from around 7:00 p.m. to midnight.”

“I attended the lectures, completed the homework, and attempted all the tests.”

“I maintained a separate test-analysis notebook. I noted the questions I got wrong and the topics that remained weak.”

“My parents were very supportive. Whenever I became confused, they helped me remain on the path I had already chosen.”

“I created my Instagram account only after JEE Advanced.”

Kartikey’s story shows that students do not need to begin JEE preparation in middle school to achieve a competitive result.

They need the right academic system, consistent execution and the discipline to keep improving after every test.

Explore the appropriate eSaral JEE course and make every lecture, homework assignment and test part of the same preparation plan.