Kartikey’s eSaral to Top NIT Success Story
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eSaral › Success stories › Kartikey’s eSaral to Top NIT Success Story
Kartikey did not begin preparing for JEE in Class 8 or 9.
Until Class 10, he 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.
He also talks about his daily routine, regular test participation, test-analysis notebook and the role his parents played whenever he felt confused or disappointed.
Kartikey’s parents do not speak directly in the supplied interview. Their remarks below are therefore based on Kartikey’s description of their support.
Timestamp | Speaker | Verified remark | What it demonstrates |
2:22–2:33 | Kartikey | He followed the teachers’ advice to remain consistent and completed lectures and homework regularly. | eSaral guidance was converted into a stable daily routine. |
2:33–3:21 | Kartikey | He attempted all the tests and maintained a dedicated analysis notebook. | Testing was treated as an improvement system rather than only a source of marks. |
3:31–4:14 | Kartikey | His father remained confident and repeatedly told him that he could achieve a top result. | Parent belief protected his confidence during preparation. |
4:41–5:19 | Kartikey | When he became confused between PCB and PCM, his parents advised him to continue on the chosen path. | Family guidance helped him avoid an emotional academic decision. |
5:35–6:20 | Kartikey | He stayed away from Instagram and Facebook during preparation and created an account only after JEE Advanced. | Digital discipline protected his two-year preparation cycle. |
Can a Student Start JEE Preparation in Class 11?
Kartikey’s story answers a common question from 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 to get structured preparation for the Main and Advanced.
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.
This is a practical counselling decision.
An IIT seat is not automatically the best choice for every student. The decision may depend on branch, institute, academic interest, career plans and location.
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.
Managing Class 12 Overconfidence
Kartikey said that Class 11 had gone well.
That success created some overconfidence during Class 12, and his study intensity reduced for a period.
This is a common challenge. Students who build a strong Class 11 foundation may assume that the remaining year will be easier.
However, Class 12 adds new chapters, Board preparation, JEE Main attempts and Advanced revision.
Kartikey recognised that his preparation had slowed and returned to the system.
His journey shows that a strong earlier year helps only when the student continues working during the final phase.
How Did Kartikey Deal with Low Test Marks?
Kartikey said that he could become disappointed quickly.
At one stage, his test marks dropped significantly. He also had a tendency to overthink the result.
Instead of treating one low test as proof that the complete preparation was failing, he continued analysing mistakes through his notebook.
The test-analysis system gave him something practical to do after disappointment.
He could identify the topic, revise it and test it again.
That process is more useful than repeatedly thinking about the total marks.
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.
The Role of Kartikey’s Parents
Kartikey came from a business family without a strong engineering-preparation background.
Even so, his parents remained highly supportive.
His father consistently told him that he could achieve a top result in India. His mother also supported the preparation without creating unnecessary pressure.
When Kartikey became confused or started overthinking, his parents helped him remain on the selected path.
Their role was not to teach Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics. They provided confidence and stability while eSaral teachers handled the academic guidance.
How Kartikey Controlled Social Media
Kartikey did not have an Instagram account during his two-year JEE preparation.
He created one only after JEE Advanced.
He was also not active on Facebook. Although he occasionally watched more YouTube than planned, his major social-media exposure remained limited.
This reduced one of the most common sources of distraction among Class 11 and 12 students.
Kartikey knew that his friends were using social platforms, but he continued protecting the time required for his own target.
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.”
What Can JEE Aspirants Learn from Kartikey?
The first lesson is that Class 11 is not too late to begin JEE preparation.
The second lesson is that a simple plan followed consistently can be more effective than a complicated timetable followed for only a few days.
The third lesson is that tests must be analysed. Marks alone do not show how the next score will improve.
The fourth lesson is that parents can help students avoid emotional academic decisions.
The final lesson is that reducing social-media exposure creates more space for lectures, homework and revision.
From Class 11 Beginner to Multiple Top NIT Options
Kartikey began Class 11 without a long history of Olympiad or JEE preparation.
He followed eSaral teachers, attended lectures, completed homework and attempted the full test schedule.
He maintained a separate notebook to analyse every weak topic and incorrect question.
Despite periods of overconfidence, low test marks, and confusion about his academic direction, he continued preparing.
The result was 99.15 percentile in JEE Main Session 1 and an AIR of approximately 18,000 in JEE Advanced.
During counselling, he had multiple strong NIT options and had to choose between institute and branch preferences.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is five hours of daily self-study enough for JEE?
There is no fixed number of hours that guarantees a result. Kartikey’s routine worked because it was consistent and connected with classes, homework and testing. Study quality matters along with duration.
Why is a test-analysis notebook useful for JEE?
A test-analysis notebook records incorrect questions, weak concepts and repeated errors. eSaral encourages students to analyse tests so that every mock score leads to a specific revision task.
Can a student begin JEE preparation in Class 11 and score 99 percentile?
Yes. Kartikey began structured preparation in Class 11 and scored 99.15 percentile with Class 12. eSaral’s two-year programme helps students build concepts, practise questions and attempt regular tests from the beginning.
Which NIT did Kartikey finally join?
The transcript does not confirm his final institute or branch because counselling was still underway. He was considering NIT Allahabad, Rourkela, Jamshedpur and Bhopal according to branch availability.
Is social media harmful during JEE preparation?
Social media becomes harmful when it repeatedly interrupts classes, practice, and sleep. Kartikey stayed away from major platforms during preparation, which helped him protect his focus.