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Journalism of Courage
Belonging to the city of temples, Nashik, Atharva Kulkarni cracked the JEE Main session 1 exam 2025 on his first attempt. He achieved a percentile of 99.71 in the session one exam that was conducted between January 22 and 30. Since school days, Kulkarni had an interest in mathematics and physics, which encouraged him to appear for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) so that he could pursue a bachelor’s in computer engineering, aerospace, or mechanical engineering.
Despite cracking JEE Main, Atharva plans to appear for the session 2 exams that will be conducted between April 1 and 8.
Sharing his strategy, 17-year-old Atharva said, “My approach was to first master the basics, ensuring a solid grasp of key concepts. I divided my study time into manageable blocks, focusing on one subject at a time to maintain concentration. Regular mock tests and solving previous years’ papers helped me improve my speed and accuracy.”
Mathematics was his strongest subject, but he dedicated extra effort to weaker areas like Electromagnetic Induction and Optics.
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“To tackle difficult subjects, I focused on consistent practice and used mock exams to identify weak areas. I broke down complex topics, reviewed my mistakes, and worked on improving them. This method helped me build confidence and enhance my performance,” said Atharva, who completed his schooling at G D Goenka Public School, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi.
For him, success came through rigorous practice and mock exams, which allowed him to pinpoint weaknesses and stay consistent in building confidence.
For JEE Advanced 2025, Atharva is focusing on refining his core concepts and deepening his understanding of key topics.
“The transition from JEE Main to Advanced requires a solid grasp of theory, so I’m revisiting fundamentals to ensure clarity. I’m also solving advanced-level questions regularly to familiarize myself with the higher difficulty and problem-solving techniques needed,” said the boy who watches documentaries in his free time.
For Atharva Kulkarni, a three-step approach helped in attempting the exam. His exam-taking strategy was focused on time management and maximising accuracy.
“I started by solving the simpler questions first to build momentum. After completing the easier questions, I moved on to the more challenging ones in physics and chemistry, leaving mathematics for last, as I felt most confident in it,” said the boy who deactivated his accounts from social media and used YouTube for educational purposes.
His approach was to ensure that he didn’t get stuck on tough questions and waste time, so he saved the most difficult questions for the end and approached them with a clearer mind.
For Atharva, focusing on revision rather than taking new mock tests is the ideal way for the last day strategy. “Go over key concepts, formulas, and important notes. Prioritise understanding over memorisation. Take short breaks to avoid burnout and ensure you’re well-rested,” he said.
