CBSE 10th Topper Komal Bairwa aims to crack JEE and get admission to IIT Bombay
In an exclusive interview with Shiksha.com, the student of Kendriya Vidyalaya NO 1AFS Hindon Ghaziabad, UP, talked about her CBSE 10th board exam preparation routine, her reaction to Class 10 CBSE results, tips for upcoming aspirants and more.
CBSE 10th Topper Komal Bairwa says prioritize NCERT if you want to excel in CBSE Board Exams! With a total score of 464 out of 500, i.e. 92.8%, Komal aims to take a non-medical stream and crack JEE. She aims to become an IITian by joining her dream engineering institute, IIT Bombay. In an exclusive interview with Shiksha.com, the student of Kendriya Vidyalaya NO 1AFS Hindon Ghaziabad, UP, talked about her CBSE 10th board exam preparation routine, her reaction to Class 10 CBSE results, tips for upcoming aspirants and more.
CBSE 10th Topper Marksheet
Q: Congratulations on your result! How was your reaction after seeing the results? Did you score what you expected?
A: Thank you very much for your warm wishes. I scored 92.8% on my 10th CBSE board. It was released on May 12, 2023, around 3 pm. After seeing my result, I was literally shocked as I got more than what I expected. My expectations were to score between 85 and 90. This made me to believe that one will always get for what one is achieving and giving their 100%. The important thing is to only give your best and the rest will be decided by the god. For this,
Q: What to do after JEE Main session 2 result?
Candidates preparing for IITs are only required to appear for the JEE Advanced entrance exam after qualifying JEE Main. Students who who secure above the 98th percentile in JEE Main 2024 Session 2 should start preparing for JEE Advanced 2025 immediately. Those who score between 95th and 98th percentile should focus on improving their JEE Main score by taking multiple mock tests and practicing previous year's question papers. By analysing their strengths and weaknesses, candidates can identify their areas of proficiency and topics where they need improvement. If they can achieve full marks in their practice sessions, they can start preparing for JEE Advanced. However, if they cannot score full marks, it is recommended that they appear for multiple mock test series for more practice.
Q: Can I get MTech in IIT Bombay with GATE?
Yes, GATE score is required to get admission to IIT Bombay course. However, aspirants who have not qualified GATE can also get admission based on written test conducted by the institute. The shortlisted candidates are further called for a personal interview round. In order to be eligible to apply for the course, an aspirant must have a BE/ BTech/ BSc/ Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Planning/ MSc/ MCA/ MBBS/ MPharm/ BPharm/ BDS/ degree recognised equivalent to BE/ BTech with a minimum of 60% aggregate (55% aggregate for SC/ ST/ PwD category) earned through Associate Membership Examinations conducted by recognised professional bodies to apply for MTech course.
Q: Is GATE required for PhD in IIT Bombay?
GATE is one of the entrance exams for PhD admission. However, aspirants can also get admission in PhD based on CSIR NET/ CEED/ UGC NET or written test conducted by the institute. The shortlisted candidates are called for a personal interview round for final selection. Along with GATE score, candidates also need to fulfil the eligibiltiy requirements. Aspirants must complete Bachelor or Masters or equivalent degree in Engineering/ Technology or master's or equivalent degree in Science or Arts/ Commerce with a minimum of 60% aggregate (55% aggregate for SC/ ST/ PwD category) for PhD admission.
Q: Did you take any online or offline coaching?
A: I didn’t go to any coaching or tuition, the reason being my parents always wanted to make me independent to study and a responsible child. From my point of view, a 10th-grade student can score above 90 or even 100 without any tuition.
Q: Please tell about the stream that you are targeting.
A: I will be choosing the PCM stream as my favorite subjects are maths and IT.
Q: What are your future plans? Which career path are you aiming for?
A: Currently, I am aiming to achieve IIT/JEE in 2025, it’s not my dream but my aim. My dream college is IIT Bombay Indian Institute of Technology and I will surely give my 100% to this. I already started my preparations for achieving my long-term goal
Q: Which exam score is accepted for IIT Bombay admissions for the M.Tech course?
IIT Bombay accepts GATE score for admission to MTech course. Candidates must have a BE/ BTech/ BSc/ Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Planning/ MSc/ MCA/ MBBS/ MPharm/ BPharma/ BDS/ degree recognised equivalent to BE/ BTech with a minimum of 60% aggregate (55% aggregate for SC/ ST/ PwD category). For MTech General-All India, cut offs for GATE 2024 closed off at score 600 for MTech in Chemical Engineering and 750 for Computer Science and Engineering. Similarly, for MTech in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, the GATE score closed off on 650.
Q: Who is eligible for BDes in IIT Bombay?
A minimum of Class 12 is required to apply for BDes course at IIT Bombay. Below is the detailed eligibility:
- Candidates should have been born on or after Oct 1, 1999., if belonging to Open/ EWS/ OBC-NCL Category and on or after October 1, 1994, if belonging to SC, ST or PwD Category.
- Aspirants should have obtained a rank in UCEED. A candidate can attempt UCEED a maximum of two times, and that too in consecutive years. UCEED score is valid for one year and only for admissions in the same corresponding academic year.
- Candidates need to pass all five subjects in Class 12 or equivalent. Those who have appeared for the first time in the qualifying exam in 2022 or earlier are not eligible.
Q: Is there seat reservation for BDes at IIT Bombay?
Yes, IIT Bombay IDC reserves seats for various categories. Below is the category-wise reservation:
| Category | Reservation % |
|---|---|
| OBC-NCL | 27% |
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| Person with Disability | 5% |
Q: What rank is required to get admission in IIT Bombay?
Firstly, candidates need to secure a rank in nearly the top 2,00,000 (including all categories) students in JEE Main. Only these students get a chance to sit for JEE Advanced and become eligible for admission to IITs. In the JoSAA Counselling 2024, BTech CSE closing rank was 68, followed by Electrical Engineering at 496 and was the lowest for BTech Metallurgical Engineering and Material Sciences at 4193. For more BTech specialisations cutoff and closing rank details, click here.
Q: How many seats are there in IIT Bombay for BDes?
There a total of 37 seats available in BDes course at IIT Bombay. The seats are filled based on UCEED score. As there are only a few seats, candidates must obtain a good rank in UCEED for admission. Below is category-wise intake for BDes:
| Category | Intake |
|---|---|
| Open | 15 |
| SC | 5 |
| ST | 3 |
| EWS | 4 |
| OBC-NCL | 10 |
Note: PwD reservation at 5% will be horizontal.
Q: Please tell us something about your family background.
A: I am presently living in, UP, Ghaziabad with my parents and siblings. I have a younger brother and an elder sister. In this small achievement of mine, my parents helped me a lot, whenever I was stressed due to exams they kept motivating me to have faith in myself. They always make sure to give me a positive and silent environment to study. My elder sister who is presently doing her MBBS continuously motivated and helped me during my preparation. Of course, the environment around you affects you the most, your friends and family members can help you to keep your mental state good and give you positive vibes, therefore, we need to have good friends also..
Q: Who encouraged you the most in this journey?
A: Surely, only a positive and good environment can’t help one to score well, one’s efforts also matter to prepare for any exam. It’s not that easy to score above 90 but not difficult too. During my preparations, I was neither a bookworm nor that freaking cool person who only studies at the time of exams. Consistency is what matters the most. When I entered 10th I was a little nervous and stressed but with time I understood that I just have to stick to ncert and cover the syllabus as we do in 9th or any class.
Q: Please share some tips for students prepping to appear in CBSE Board Exams 2024
A: I always preferred to study at night as I am most productive at midnight but this doesn’t mean that one should become a night owl to get a good percentage. One should always study in the slot which suits one. Make proper notes of all subjects, especially science, and SST. I scored 91 in English as I focused on my writing skills and remembering story outlines more. The grammar portion is not much tuff but does focus on that too. The most important thing to focus on.is never to ignore SST. This subject can make your percentage very low as it contains most chapters. Hence, do not neglect it. Keep your revision game strong. It’s just about balancing al the subjects. I will also recommend always revising and practicing more and more. The bonus tip is, one should always prioritize Ncert first.
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