IIT-JEE and NEET are competitive exams for engineering and medical aspirants respectively to seek admission into colleges of their choice and build a strong foundation for their future careers. When the time comes for aspirants to make their choice of stream, the most discussed topic in each and every household by both parents and children alike is, how soon should children start preparing for JEE or NEET. We all have heard stories about students beginning their preparation for JEE as early as Class 6. Some enroll their kids in summer coaching classes, too. But how fruitful is this early preparation? Are students missing out on the little pleasures of childhood by forcing JEE/NEET preparation on them? These are hot topics that academicians and parents cannot come to a conclusion on.
In this article, we will explore this topic and dive deep to find out how early children should start preparing for JEE/NEET.
Every year, the number of students giving JEE/NEET keeps on increasing, while the number of seats and intake in the colleges does not increase with the same pace. This means that there will be stiff competition and this invokes fear for parents. Most parents in the fear of missing out, enroll their young kids in coaching centres right from Classes 6 and 7. They do this to make sure that their children are not missing out on the right training and guidance. But what guidance will a 6th-grade child require from a JEE/NEET mentor is a question we need to ask ourselves. Also, there is no guarantee that children starting coaching from Classes 6 and 7 will excel in the competitive exams. The key reason for failure in competitive exams is that there is no structure that is being followed. Parents simply enroll their children for the sake of enrolling and do it because everyone is doing it. This is not a healthy start to exam preparation.
To crack JEE/NEET, curiosity and various other skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and logical reasoning are required. There is no harm in preparing early for JEE/NEET. But there should be more focus on what kind of preparation is being given to students. Start your child’s preparation in a phased-out manner.
To crack competitive exams, critical thinking, problem-solving, puzzle solving, logical reasoning skills are required. It is up to the parents to impart these skills to children. These skills can be imparted to kids right from Classes 6 and 7 because they will be able to grasp them faster. Buy kids crossword books, maths riddles, and puzzle-solving books. This will excite them to solve the books, make studying enjoyable, and develop their skill sets.
Once your children acquire these skills, the academic curriculum in Classes 6, 7, and 8 will give them a strong foundation in the basics of Maths and Science. They will have time till Class 11 to put their skills to practice and become comfortable applying them to solve questions.
As they enter Classes 9 and 10, they will be exposed to the fundamental concepts in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. this will be the foundation for their preparation in Classes 11 and 12. If some parents want their children to get a head start in preparation, then they can enroll them for classes from Classes 9 and 10, when many coaching institutes will offer foundational programs for beginners, followed by intense coaching in higher secondary. Some students may feel balancing competitive exam preparation and board exam preparation pretty strenuous. In such cases, it is better to begin the preparation even before Class 11.
But as parents, you need to understand that forcing JEE/NEET preparation upon your children will not create a healthy learning environment for them. Make sure they are happy and mentally enthusiastic about preparing for competitive exams before enrolling them.
