Higher studies provide lots of opportunities and career prospects to students. Usually, the academic cost for these studies is slightly higher but this doesn’t come in the ways of students to study in their dream college. That’s where scholarship comes to rescue students so they can study without any obstacles. One such scholarship program is Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana, also known as KVPY.

What is KVPY?

KVPY is a national-level scholarship/fellowship exam for those students to opt for a research career in science. This exam is conducted and administered by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc) and funded by the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India. Students who qualify for the KVPY exam receive a monthly scholarship up to the pre Ph. D. level.

KVPY exam gets conducted in three streams – SA, SB, and SX. Following is the KVPY Scholarship/Fellowship amount given to the students up to Ph.D.

Basic Science Courses Monthly Fellowship Amount Annual Contingency Grant
SA/SX/SB – 1st to 3rd years of B.Sc./B.S./B.Stat./B.Math. /Integrated M.Sc./M.S. Rs 5000 Rs 20000
SA/SX/SB – during M. Sc./4th to 5th years of Integrated M.Sc./M.S./M.Math./M.Stat. Rs 7000 Rs 28000

KVPY Preparation Tips

To secure a seat for this fellowship, candidates should prepare smart, strategic, and simple when only a few months are left for the exam. KVPY 2021 is scheduled to be conducted on 7th November 2021, so there isn’t much time left for the exam preparation and revision. You must learn some tips and tricks to crack the exam. Here are 7 preparation tips for KVPY which would be helpful to crack the exam –  

1. Understanding Syllabus & Exam Pattern

To score better in any exam, you will need to have a better understanding of the syllabus, exam pattern, and which topics hold the maximum weightage. KVPY exam paper consists of four subjects i.e., Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. Each subject holds equal importance with the specific topics important for good performance in the exam.

Below are some important topics for the KVPY exam –

Physics

Electromagnetism, Waves, Mechanics, Ray Optics Light, Electricity, Motion, Heat, Rigid Body Dynamics, Magnetic Effect of Current, Nuclear Physics, System of Particles and Rotational Motion

Chemistry   

Carbon & compounds (General Organic Chemistry & Reaction Mechanism), Mole Concept, Chemical Energetics, Organic Chemistry, Stoichiometry, and Gaseous State, System of Particles and Rotational Motion

Mathematics   

Permutations and Combination, Basic Geometry, Algebra, Trigonometric Functions, Probability, Relations and Functions, Polynomials, Algebraic Expressions, Coordinate Geometry

Biology  

Biomolecules, Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Molecular Genetics, Control and Coordination in Animals and Plants, Heredity and Evolution, Reproduction, Life Processes, Our environment, Plant Physiology, Diversity of Living Organisms, Cell: Structure and Function, Human Physiology.  

2. Have a Revision Schedule

Revision helps you to clear your concepts and fundamentals of each subject. The last few weeks before the exam matter the most and that’s why you need to create a revision strategy. Create a study plan – allocate time for every subject and topic based on weaker to stronger subjects.

In your revision plan, start with topics in which you are weak and revise them 2-3 times so these topics can be your strong area. After that, you should move to topics, which is your strong forte. Special focus on the formulas, concepts, derivations, and equations, etc.  

3. Use Mind Mapping and Flashcards for Notes

These are one of the best methods for revising and memorizing the important topics for exams. Mind mapping and flashcards help students to understand large topics in a simpler way in less time.  When exams are nearby, these methods help students with better revision. You should write down formulas, important points of chapters, and equations in terms of flashcards or short notes so you can have a quick look at them while revising the relevant topics.  

mind mapping

4. Regular Performance Review

Studying and revising a lot is good but if you don’t test your knowledge practically then it doesn’t worth anything, and you will keep forgetting what you studied. You need to analyze your performance regularly by taking online or offline mock tests. Here I would advise taking an online mock test as it would improve your speed and accuracy while checking your preparation level at the same time.

With the mock tests, you would be able to do a thorough analysis of your preparation and you would be able to identify your weaknesses. Taking the regular mock tests will help you to overcome your weaknesses and turn them into your strong points.  

5. Solve Previous Years Papers

Every exam previous year’s paper has a critical value in study and preparation. Attempting KVPY past year papers help you to understand the exam pattern and help you to with the kind of speed you need to solve questions quickly. It provides you a better insight into the actual KVPY exam and helps you to analyze the difficulty level of the paper.

These factors have a big contribution to your exam. You can find the latest previous year’s papers for KVPY on myPAT which is one of the best educational platforms in India to find different courses for engineering entrance exams.  

6. Use Study Techniques

The reason I am suggesting using different study methods is so you can find what methods will suit best for your needs. In other words, you will find your learning style to help you will your preparation. There are many study methods which you can try, some of the important ones are –

  • Pomodoro Technique – Break your study time into 3-4 slots and put a small break in between those slots. And after all, slots, take a little longer break. Don’t use this break to use social media or watching tv. Use this break to relax your body and for a little walk around your room or balcony.
  • Eat the Frog – This method can be understood as face your worst fear. find out the subjects and topics you are weak in, prepare for it first and everything that comes after will feel easier.
  • Getting Things Done (GTD) – In this method, you prioritize tasks by listing them and work on those tasks which are actionable.

Once you will find which study method is better for you, studying and preparation for the exam will be much easier.  

7. Be Calm and Stay Positive

We know how hard exams preparations can be and how much stress they can bring upon students. To get through with the pressure of any exam, you need to be in a positive state of mind. Never let any thoughts of failure or not being able to do well in exams in your mind. There are many ways which can help you to avoid stress –

  • Take small breaks in between studies to relax your brain.
  • Ask for help when you feel stressed.
  • Stay connected with your Friends.
  • Indulge yourself in some creativity occasionally.
  • Give yourself a regular positive pep-talk.
  • Regular Meditation will help.

These last few months will be crucial as you might feel that there is a lot to cover in the syllabus. By following these tips, you will be able to complete your syllabus and find enough time for your revision. These tips will bring out the best in you and help you to get your scholarship if applied in the right way and if you stick to the strategies you made. All the best.