When the results to the JK CET 2010 were declared, there could not have been a happier person than Ifra Abid. She had secured a phenomenal 210 marks out of 225. In doing so she also broke an age old notion that girls can not top entrance exams.
“It had always been my aim to become a doctor. I wanted to serve the society,” she says. Most of her cousins and uncles are also doctors. “It runs in our blood,” says Ifra. Her father though is a businessman.
A resident of Madin sahib, Hawal, Ifra did her schooling from Presentation Convent upto the 10th class and then completed higher secondary from Mallinson School in 2008.
This was her second attempt at the exam. Ifra was not able to qualify on the first attempt, when she secured only 98 marks. But this did not serve as a letdown for her.
“I am an optimistic person. This infact served as a very big push for me,” she says. She undertook it upon herself to work harder, and succeeded. “So those who have not qualified the exam should not be depressed but realise that someone somewhere has faced a similar situation and come out on the top,” she adds.
Ifra feels that there is no big secret to qualifying any exam. “It is all about how much hard work you put in.” Another important thing which goes hand in hand with hard work is conceptual clarity, “understanding the concepts fully is essential,” she emphasises.
She also advises continuous revisions. “Revisions form a very important part. I myself revised the objective books two times over.”
Ifra who went to tuitions on her first attempt feels that the role of coaching is overplayed. “Tuitions just brush you up. They come in only after you have done the primary work yourself,” she says. “Without self study tuitions don’t have much value,” she adds.
According to Ifra, NCERT textbooks which are often ignored form an important part of study. “Reference books like OP Agarwal for Chemistry, Sanjeev Gupta for Physics etc are also important,” she says. Besides this, she feels that competitive magazines also come in handy.
A number of students go for entrance exams only due to parental compulsions. Ifra feels that whosoever gives the exam under compulsion is completely wasting time. “Why waste your two precious days with the exam when you have no interest in becoming a doctor or an engineer?” she questions. “Even if you qualify the exam by chance, you will not be able to become a good doctor,” she adds.
Ifra says that her parents have played an important part in her success. “They have always stood beside me and supported me at all times,” she says. She also has a special mention for all her teachers right from the kindergarten level. “If my pre-nursery teacher had not taught me to read and write, how would have I reached this stage.”
Ifra is not just good at studies. “At school I have regularly participated in basketball games with good result,” she says. In addition to this, she counts reading books as a hobby, her favourite being the Harry Potter series.
Commenting on the ongoing situation where students are not able to go to school, she says, “You can not use hartals or curfews as an excuse.” She feels that during this time, the students should go in for self study, “and if you have any doubts then clarify them with your friends, siblings or parents”. She says, “So what you are not able to go to school or tuitions. You already have the books you need. Just put them to use.”
