Preparing for IIT JAM Mathematics can require a significant shift in approach, especially for students coming from an engineering background. Shreyash Vishwas Tekale faced a similar transition when he decided to pursue an MSc in Mathematics through IIT JAM after studying Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering.
Rather than collecting multiple books and study resources, Shreyash chose to keep his preparation focused. He followed his teachers, practised through DPPs and tests, made notes, and gave special importance to analysing his performance. This approach helped him secure AIR 24 with 52.33 marks in IIT JAM 2026 Mathematics.
Shreyash belongs to Maharashtra and was pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from Pune Institute of Computer Technology. He decided to prepare for IIT JAM Mathematics around June-July and had a clear idea about how he wanted to approach the examination.
Instead of using numerous resources, he wanted to keep his preparation limited to selected material and follow the guidance given by his teachers.
“Meri strategy bahut hi clear thi ki apne resources ko limited rakhna hai. Teachers bolenge use follow karna hai.”
This approach allowed him to focus more on learning and practising rather than continuously searching for new preparation material.
One of the challenges for Shreyash was moving from engineering-oriented mathematics towards the pure mathematics topics required for IIT JAM. He explained that subjects such as Group Theory had limited presence in engineering, while IIT JAM required a different approach to solving questions.
The transition was not completely comfortable at the beginning, particularly when he encountered topics such as Real Analysis. However, he gradually developed confidence as his concepts became clearer.
“Ghabrahat hui thi sir, lekin jab teacher padhane lagta hai, wo ek process ke saath hum dheere-dheere aage badhte hain na sir, basic clear karte hue to jo final result hai wo dheere-dheere visible hone lagta hai.”
For Shreyash, understanding the basics first made difficult questions more approachable. As his conceptual clarity improved, he began to see the path towards the answer more clearly.
Shreyash’s preparation did not involve following multiple books. Instead, he relied on lectures and the practice resources available through PW. He specifically mentioned using DPPs, assessments, and tests, along with analysing his performance after each test.
“PW ki jo DPPs thi, lectures ke baad sahi se DPP lagana aur assessment sahi se dena. Apne jo test hain, wo sahi se dena. Bas sir, maine wahi follow kiya hai.”
He also joined the Sakaar batch and followed the teachers and course content throughout his preparation.
His experience also highlights the importance of making useful notes. Shreyash initially prepared detailed notes from his lectures. As the examination approached and the volume of notes increased, he shifted towards making concise notes that were easier to revise.
For Shreyash, taking a test was only one part of preparation. Analysing the test afterwards helped him identify where he was making mistakes and which topics required more attention.
“Aur apna jo test ke baad hum analysis karte hain, analysis pe maine bahut zor diya tha. Usi ki wajah se sir rank achhi aa payi.”
He attempted around 12–13 full-length tests before the examination. During the initial stage, he took the tests with a gap so that he could dedicate sufficient time to analysis and revision.
After completing around six or seven tests, he started taking a full-length test every day in the 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM slot, aligning his practice with the examination timing.
This allowed him to combine timed practice with revision and performance analysis rather than simply increasing the number of tests.
Shreyash’s focused preparation translated into a strong IIT JAM result. He secured 52.33 marks and AIR 24 in IIT JAM 2026 Mathematics.
His result also changed the way he looked at the examination. Earlier, he had wondered whether cracking IIT JAM required some extraordinary strategy. After experiencing the preparation process and seeing his result, he realised that consistent execution of basic practices could make a difference.
“Mujhe feel ho raha hai ki koi aise khaas ya phir extraordinary cheez karke koi result nahi aata. Sir, wahi basic cheez karke sahi se dedication se karenge agar wahi cheez saal bhar karenge, to bilkul result aayega. ”
For Shreyash, discipline and consistency mattered more than searching for a complicated formula for success.
During the interview, Shreyash also reflected on his experience with multiple sources. He had previously used different sources while studying in Classes 11 and 12 but realised that doing so could make preparation less focused.
“Ek hi source se padhna hai, kyunki sab jagah pe ek hi cheez likhi hai. Apni understanding sahi karna, yahi wo source ka utilisation hai. To koi bhi ek source pakadna hai bas aur wahi follow karna hai.”
He also considered note-making important because repeatedly revising self-made notes helped him recall concepts when attempting new questions.
His method evolved with time. He began with detailed notes and later condensed them to make revision faster and more manageable.
Towards the end of the interview, Shreyash shared the main lesson he took from his preparation journey. His advice was to avoid constantly looking for an extraordinary strategy and instead execute the fundamentals with consistency.
“Extraordinary cheez karne ki mat socho. Basic cheez ko extra ordinarily karo. Wahi matlab selection dilayegi.”
He further recommended choosing one reliable source, teacher, and strategy rather than constantly switching between different options.
“Ek teacher par rely karo. Ek source pe rely karo. Ek strategy pe rely karo. Ek abhi se do hafte laga do strategy banane mein. Lekin wahi strategy end tak follow karo.”
For him, minor changes could be made when required, but the fundamentals of the preparation should remain consistent.
Shreyash Vishwas Tekale’s journey from an engineering background to AIR 24 in IIT JAM 2026 Mathematics reflects a preparation process built around focused resources, concept clarity, regular practice, note-making, and test analysis.
His journey shows that preparation does not need to be complicated. He focused on the basics, followed his teachers and selected resources, analysed his mistakes, and stayed consistent with his strategy. His message to future aspirants is simple and clear. Focus on the basics and follow them consistently.