JEE Main 2025 UP girl topper Ananya Tripathi shares exam tips for JEE Main April and JEE Advanced

JEE Main topper Ananya Tripathi

With an outstanding score of 271 out of 300 and a 99.94 percentile, Ananya Tripathi has become Uttar Pradesh’s girl topper in the JEE Main January 2025 attempt. In an exclusive interview with Moneycontrol.com, she shares her journey and valuable tips for aspirants preparing for the JEE Main April 2025 and JEE Advanced 2025 examinations.

Ananya's IIT JEE exam preparation started in Class 11 with a focus on understanding concepts thoroughly. "My strategy was always to build a strong foundation in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Rather than simply memorizing concepts, I concentrated on understanding them thoroughly while practicing a wide range of questions, from basic to advanced levels," she explains.

Balancing school studies, board exams, and JEE preparation was challenging, but Ananya managed it with proper planning and guidance. "I aligned my board exam syllabus with my JEE Main preparation, which saved a lot of time. I created a daily task list and ensured that I followed it diligently," she says. Synchronizing her revision schedule with the test schedule helped her stay on track.

Ananya dedicated around 9 to 10 hours to studying each day, taking small breaks in between. "Most of this time was spent revising class notes and completing homework assignments, while the rest was utilized for preparing for upcoming tests. Weekends were reserved for full-length mock tests and analyzing my weaker areas," she shares.

For her JEE Main 2025 exam preparation, Ananya relied on class notes and lectures for theoretical concepts and referred to NCERT for Inorganic Chemistry. "For problem-solving, I used study materials from my test prep center, previous years’ question papers, and additional reference books such as Irodov for Physics, MS Chauhan for Organic Chemistry, Neeraj Kumar and N. Awasthi for Physical Chemistry, and the Black Book for Mathematics," she adds. A strict revision plan in the last two months, focusing on key concepts and solving numerous mock tests, was crucial.

While Mathematics was Ananya's strongest subject, Inorganic Chemistry and certain Physics concepts were initially challenging. "To improve in these areas, I dedicated extra time to revising them multiple times and solved a large number of questions. Whenever I had doubts, I sought help from my faculty, which was immensely beneficial," she explains.

Effective time management during the exam was crucial. Ananya attempted questions in serial order, skipping difficult ones on the first attempt and revisiting them later. "Regular practice through multiple mock tests helped me refine this strategy and manage my time efficiently during the actual exam," she notes.

"My educators were instrumental throughout my preparation, constantly inspiring and motivating me. They also helped me maintain discipline and provided structured study material with plenty of practice questions," she says. However, self-study was equally important for consolidating what she learned.

Mock tests and previous years’ question papers were vital components of Ananya's preparation. "They helped me understand the exam pattern, recognize my strengths and weaknesses, and enhance my speed and accuracy. I attempted mock tests every weekend and increased the frequency as the exam date approached," she shares.

Ananya's biggest sources of motivation were her mother, her elder brother—currently pursuing a B.Tech at IIT Delhi—and her esteemed teachers. "Their constant support and unwavering belief in me kept me going, even during difficult times," she says. Engaging in hobbies like reading, listening to music, and exercising helped her unwind and stay refreshed.

For the JEE Main April 2025 attempt, Ananya plans to continue her preparation strategy with a focus on mock tests to enhance her performance and minimize errors. "My primary focus after the January attempt has been JEE Advanced, and my goal is to attempt as many mock tests as possible," she explains.

Ananya's advice to JEE aspirants is to stay consistent, focused, and sincere. "Prioritize understanding concepts over rote learning, and practice as many questions as possible. Manage your time well, take lectures and class notes seriously, and try to remain stress-free. With hard work and perseverance, success is sure to follow," she concludes.