Personal Insights: Struggles and Triumphs in the IISER Aptitude Test 2018

I was on a break, feeling rather bored and unproductively so. A random thought popped into my head: 'Why not give the IISER Aptitude Test a shot today?' I grabbed a small piece of paper and began to solve a few questions, pushing myself to complete it within an hour.

Biology

Biology was a particularly challenging field for me, as a year of preparation did not yield good results. I found myself floundering without comprehension, struggling to understand the questions despite my best efforts. With just a bit of knowledge from my 12th grade, I managed to answer a couple of questions but did not fare very well in this section.

Chemistry

Chemistry posed a different set of challenges. For organic chemistry, I was completely clueless, and my understanding of physical chemistry was rather rusty. I managed to answer a few questions based on what I could recall from my 12th grade, but it was clearly not enough to cover the vast range of topics required.

Mathematics

Mathematics, on the other hand, felt more approachable. I was able to solve most of the problems, mainly focusing on functions and calculus. While I had to rely on principal formulae, I did not recall any shortcuts, which slightly hampered my performance.

Physics

Physics was a mixed bag. I attempted around 12 questions in this section, rushing through them without a solid grasp of the formulae. The difficulty level varied, with some questions involving extensive calculations and others being quite difficult. Unfortunately, I was unable to solve the question based on I.E. Irodov's book, which I had previously left unanswered due to time constraints.

Overall Performance

In total, I managed to score around 50 marks in the aptitude test. The highlight of the test was the 6 marks I managed to get in Biology, which I was particularly proud of. However, these results were far from fulfilling, and I realized that IISER would not be a viable option for me this year.

Reflections and Future Plans

Feeling rather disappointed, I decided that I would give the test another shot next year. Along with this, I vowed to avoid Quora for a year, knowing how dependent I had become on it for my knowledge and insights.

While this experience was not particularly tough, the 2018 IISER Aptitude Test highlighted the need for a more balanced and comprehensive preparation. Attempting to solve the test in a hurry proved to be inefficient, and a thorough review of core concepts is essential for success.

For those facing similar challenges, it is important to approach the test with a calm and focused mind, and not to rush through questions. Understanding the core concepts is key to performing well, especially in subjects like Physics and Chemistry.