Preparing for NSEJS can feel intimidating, especially if you are starting without any Olympiad experience. That was exactly how Arnav Khandelwal felt when he first discovered the exam. As a Class 9 student, he knew that school-level science alone would not be enough. Instead of getting discouraged, he started preparing from the basics with a clear plan and consistent practice.
With support from Physics Wallah NSEJS PDC Camp, regular practice tests, and exposure to Olympiad-level questions, Arnav gradually developed the logical thinking and confidence required for competitive exams. His journey shows that even beginners can prepare effectively with the right strategy and guidance.
Like many students, Arnav's first reaction to Olympiads was that they were far beyond his level. However, curiosity soon replaced fear, and he decided to begin his preparation.
"To main abhi currently Class 9 mein padh raha hoon aur Olympiad ko jab maine pehli baar dekha tha tab mujhe laga ki ye kitna tough hai. Lekin uske baad jab maine start kiya tab mujhe pata laga ki jo Science hai wo kitni deep hai."
As he explored the syllabus, he realised Olympiads go much deeper than regular school textbooks. This motivated him to start preparing at the end of Class 8 so he could build a stronger foundation before attempting NSEJS.
"Maine Olympiad ki preparation 8th class ke end mein start kar di thi... Best suggestion hai ki 8th se hi NSEJS ki preparation start kar deni chahiye."
Starting early gave Arnav enough time to strengthen his concepts and approach challenging questions without rushing.
Managing school studies alongside Olympiad preparation is one of the biggest challenges for students. Arnav solved this by prioritising his time wisely instead of trying to study everything equally.
"Maine balance kiya... SST mein bas one hour, two hour study karta tha exam se one month pehle... Hindi bhi exam se kuch din pehle. Maths aur Science to automatically ho gaye Olympiad preparation ke baad."
Instead of spending long hours on every subject, he focused mainly on Olympiad preparation because it also strengthened his Mathematics and Science fundamentals for school.
Another challenge was reducing distractions.
"Olympiad se pehle hum daily bahut saare hours TV mein waste kar dete the ya phir phone chalane mein. Jab se Olympiad start kiya, difficulty hoti thi distractions kam karne mein aur long study hours bana paaye."
Learning to manage screen time helped him stay consistent and gradually increase his daily study hours.
As his preparation progressed, Arnav joined Physics Wallah's NSEJS PDC Camp, where he received exposure to challenging questions and exam-like situations.
"NSEJS PDC Camp actually mein bahut achha hai kyunki yahan pe hum seekh paaye ki hard situations mein fight kaise karein. Kabhi paper tough hota hai, kabhi easy, to exam mein kya karna hai ye samajh aata hai."
The practice sessions helped him understand how to stay calm during difficult papers instead of getting nervous.
He also appreciated the advanced exposure provided through the test series.
"Ab hum NSEJS PDC Camp ke through IJSO tak ke questions ka exposure le rahe hain."
Practising questions beyond the expected level made him more comfortable solving unfamiliar problems and improved his confidence before the actual exam.
As Arnav continued preparing, he realised Olympiads were about much more than securing a rank.
"Maine jitni research kari thi usse mujhe pata laga ki Olympiad mein rank se zyada important hai hum jo logical thinking develop kar rahe hain."
This changed his entire perspective. Instead of focusing only on results, he began enjoying the process of learning and developing analytical thinking.
He also noticed the biggest difference between school learning and Olympiad preparation.
"Olympiad ke andar hume ye nahi pata hona chahiye ki kya hume aata hai. Hume dikhana hai ki jo nahi aata wo bhi hum kaise kar sakte hain apni past understanding se."
According to Arnav, Olympiads train students to solve completely new problems using logical reasoning instead of relying only on memorised concepts.
Arnav Khandelwal's journey proves that you do not need an Olympiad background to prepare for NSEJS. Starting early, reducing distractions, balancing school studies, and practising consistently can make a significant difference over time.
With Physics Wallah focused guidance, NSEJS PDC Camp, and regular practice, Arnav transformed his preparation from zero-level understanding to confidently solving Olympiad-level questions. His story reminds every aspirant that success in Olympiads is built through consistency, logical thinking, and continuous learning rather than simply memorising concepts.
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