From Not Knowing About IIT to Securing IIT Kharagpur Mechanical Engineering
Table of Contents
- Can an Average Student Also Reach IIT? Divya Prakash’s Transformation Story
- Why Starting JEE Preparation After Class 10 Helped Build a Strong Foundation
- How Did Mentorship Help When Test Scores Were Not Improving
- From 36/180 in Tests to IIT Kharagpur: Why Mistakes Are Important in JEE Preparation
- What Does It Take to Maintain a 12–14 Hour Study Routine for Two Years
- Why Are Regular Tests More Important Than Just Completing the Syllabus
- Why Is Mentorship Beyond Physics, Chemistry and Maths Important for JEE
- How Did Family Support Help in Divya’s JEE Journey
- What Advice Should Students Who Dream of IIT Follow
- Watch Divya Prakash’s Complete JEE Success Story Interview
eSaral › Success stories › From Not Knowing About IIT to Securing IIT Kharagpur Mechanical Engineering
Many students believe that only those who start early, have exceptional academic backgrounds or achieve top ranks in school can reach IIT. However, Divya Prakash’s journey gives an important message to every JEE aspirant your starting point does not decide your final destination.
Divya Prakash's JEE journey is a story of gradual improvement, discipline and continuous learning. Starting his preparation after Class 10, he transformed himself through consistent efforts, regular tests and the right guidance. After two years of preparation, he achieved a 99.5 percentile and secured admission to IIT Kharagpur Mechanical Engineering.
What makes his journey special is not just the final result but the transformation behind it. According to his mentors, when he initially started his JEE journey, he was a student who did not have much idea about IIT or competitive exams. Slowly, with consistent preparation and mentorship, he developed the confidence and ability required to reach one of India’s premier engineering institutes.
Can an Average Student Also Reach IIT? Divya Prakash’s Transformation Story
Many students compare themselves with toppers who have been preparing for competitive exams since an early age. This comparison often creates unnecessary pressure and self-doubt.
Divya’s journey shows that improvement is possible with the right approach. His mentors shared that when he started, he was not someone who had an extraordinary competitive exam background. He gradually built his preparation level through consistent work over two years.
The biggest learning for students is that JEE preparation is a journey of growth. A student does not need to be perfect from day one. What matters is identifying weaknesses, working on them and improving consistently. With proper guidance and a structured learning approach, students can build their concepts and gradually reach higher levels of preparation.
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Why Starting JEE Preparation After Class 10 Helped Build a Strong Foundation
Divya Prakash started his JEE journey after completing Class 10. After his board exams, he took a short break and then began preparing for competitive exams. Starting early gave him enough time to understand concepts, practise questions and gradually improve his preparation level. Instead of rushing through topics, he was able to build his understanding step by step.
For JEE aspirants, Class 11 and 12 preparation is not only about completing chapters. It is about developing conceptual clarity and learning how to apply concepts in difficult problems.
A strong foundation during the early stages helps students handle advanced-level questions with more confidence later. eSaral provides structured JEE courses where students can learn concepts, practise questions, and prepare systematically from the beginning.
How Did Mentorship Help When Test Scores Were Not Improving
Every JEE aspirant faces difficult phases during preparation. Sometimes students put in effort, but their test scores do not improve immediately.
Divya Prakash experienced a similar phase when his test performance was not satisfactory during August and September. His mentor had a detailed discussion with him regarding test analysis and areas of improvement.
After identifying mistakes and working on improvement areas, his performance gradually improved. His mentors highlighted that this continuous improvement eventually helped him achieve his best performance in JEE Advanced.
This shows why mentorship plays an important role in competitive exam preparation. A mentor helps students identify problems that they may not notice themselves and provides direction to improve. For serious JEE aspirants, guidance is not only about solving doubts. It is also about improving strategy, analysing performance and staying focused.
From 36/180 in Tests to IIT Kharagpur: Why Mistakes Are Important in JEE Preparation
Success in JEE preparation is rarely a straight path. Students experience ups and downs, and test scores can fluctuate throughout the journey. Divya’s lowest score in an eSaral test was 36 out of 180. However, instead of stopping or losing confidence, he continued appearing for tests and improving.
This is one of the biggest lessons for JEE aspirants. A low score in a mock test does not define your final result. The purpose of tests is to identify gaps before the actual examination. For students preparing for JEE, solving previous year papers and understanding exam patterns is equally important. Resources like JEE Main Previous Year Question Papers and JEE Advanced Question Papers help students understand the actual difficulty level of exams.
Students who analyse their mistakes and continue improving are the ones who gradually develop exam confidence.
Regular testing helps students understand their preparation level and make necessary changes before the final exam.
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What Does It Take to Maintain a 12–14 Hour Study Routine for Two Years
Consistency over a long period is one of the most challenging parts of JEE preparation.
Divya shared that he generally studied around 12 to 14 hours daily during preparation. On one occasion, he even attempted studying for 19 hours, but his routine remained around 12–14 hours.
However, long study hours alone do not guarantee success. The quality of preparation, consistency and focus matter equally.
Divya also maintained excellent attendance throughout his preparation. According to the discussion, he missed only a few classes during two years of live learning and attempted more than 300 tests.
For students, the lesson is to build a sustainable routine. Regular effort every day creates stronger results than occasional extreme study sessions.
Why Are Regular Tests More Important Than Just Completing the Syllabus
Completing the syllabus is only one part of JEE preparation. Applying concepts correctly under exam conditions is equally important. Divya attempted 300+ tests during his preparation journey and continued giving tests even when marks were not always high.
Many students avoid tests because they fear low scores. However, avoiding tests delays improvement. Regular testing develops problem-solving ability, improves time management and helps students understand exam patterns. A student who regularly practises under test conditions becomes more comfortable during the actual examination. eSaral’s test-based learning approach helps students practise regularly and track their improvement journey.
Why Is Mentorship Beyond Physics, Chemistry and Maths Important for JEE
JEE preparation is not only about learning PCM concepts. Students also need guidance about planning, mistakes, revision and improving their preparation strategy.
Divya shared that mentors played a major role in his journey. According to him, without proper mentorship, becoming an IITian would have been much more difficult.
He explained that mentors help students understand how to optimise preparation, what mistakes to avoid and how to improve continuously.
This highlights the importance of having a support system during a long competitive exam journey.
How Did Family Support Help in Divya’s JEE Journey
Behind every student’s achievement, family support plays a significant role.
Divya Prakash’s mother shared how the family made several sacrifices during his preparation journey. She regularly monitored his routine, asked about daily classes, and ensured that he completed his work before sleeping.
The family stayed focused on his preparation for years and supported him throughout the journey. Divya’s father also shared his happiness after seeing his son become the first IITian in their family. A positive environment at home can help students stay focused and motivated during challenging preparation phases.
What Advice Should Students Who Dream of IIT Follow
Divya’s advice for future JEE aspirants is simple: follow your teachers, stay consistent, and keep improving.
Students often get distracted by searching for multiple strategies, resources and shortcuts. However, success comes from following a reliable process and executing it properly.
Every student’s journey is different. Some may start ahead, while others may need more time to improve. What matters is continuous effort and the willingness to learn from mistakes.
Watch Divya Prakash’s Complete JEE Success Story Interview
In this interview, Divya shares his complete journey from starting JEE preparation after Class 10 to securing IIT Kharagpur Mechanical Engineering.
The conversation covers his improvement journey, low test scores, 300+ tests, study routine, mentorship experience, family support, and advice for future JEE aspirants.
| Timestamp | Student Journey Point | changes After Joining eSaral |
|---|---|---|
| 0:54 – 1:43 | Divya started his JEE journey after Class 10 and improved gradually after facing low test scores. | Continuous improvement and analysing mistakes can transform preparation levels. |
| 3:25 – 3:54 | Mentors discussed his mistakes and worked on improving his performance. | Personalised mentorship helps students identify and solve preparation challenges. |
| 5:21 – 6:39 | Divya maintained a 12–14 hour study routine, attended almost all classes and attempted 300+ tests. | Consistency and regular practice played an important role in his preparation. |
| 6:46 – 7:03 | His lowest test score was 36/180, but he continued improving. | A low mock test score is only a learning point, not the final result. |
From low test scores to IIT Kharagpur Mechanical Engineering, his journey shows the power of consistent efforts, mentorship and determination. With structured courses, expert guidance, study resources, and regular tests, eSaral supports students throughout their JEE preparation journey.
Start your JEE preparation journey with eSaral
For students preparing for upcoming JEE attempts, the focus should remain on building strong concepts, practising regularly and taking informed decisions.
Read more real journeys from successful students on eSaral Success Stories or watch more interviews on the eSaral Student Success Stories YouTube Channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions.
How can students maintain consistency during JEE preparation?
Students can maintain consistency by following a daily routine, completing targets and staying focused on improvement. eSaral provides structured learning support for long-term preparation.
What is the biggest lesson from successful JEE journeys?
Successful JEE journeys highlight the importance of consistency, learning from mistakes and following the right guidance. eSaral helps students prepare with a focused and organised approach.
Is starting JEE preparation after Class 10 beneficial?
Starting early helps students build strong fundamentals and gradually understand advanced concepts. eSaral provides foundation-level guidance to help students begin preparation effectively.
How many mock tests should a JEE aspirant attempt?
Regular tests are important because they help students understand their preparation level and improve continuously. eSaral JEE Test Series helps students practise exam-oriented questions.
Can an average student crack JEE and get into IIT?
Yes, students can improve significantly with consistent practice, proper guidance and disciplined preparation. eSaral helps JEE aspirants build concepts and follow a structured preparation approach.
What should students do after getting low marks in mock tests?
Students should analyse mistakes, identify weak areas and work on improvement instead of losing confidence. eSaral helps students use tests as learning opportunities.