Why JEE & NEET Students Struggle with Chemistry — A Simpler Way to Master It By Priyank Joshi (PJ Sir)

 

Chemistry is one of those subjects where two students can spend the same amount of time studying and still get very different results.

In more than 18 years of teaching and mentoring JEE and NEET aspirants, I have heard students say many times:

“Sir, Chemistry samajh to aati hai, lekin questions nahi bante.”

For some students, Physical Chemistry is difficult because of numericals. For others, Organic Chemistry feels like an endless list of reactions. And many students understand Inorganic Chemistry while reading it but struggle to recall the details during a test.

The problem is often not Chemistry itself. The problem is trying to study every part of Chemistry in the same way.

Physical, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry require different approaches.

First Find Out What Is Actually Weak

Saying “My Chemistry is weak” does not identify the real problem.

Instead, divide your preparation into three parts:

Physical Chemistry | Organic Chemistry | Inorganic Chemistry

Now classify your chapters as strong, average and weak.

You may discover that Chemistry as a whole is not weak at all. Perhaps Ionic Equilibrium is causing difficulty. Maybe reaction mechanisms are unclear. Or perhaps Inorganic Chemistry is being forgotten because revision is irregular.

Once the problem becomes specific, improving it becomes much easier.

Physical Chemistry: Understand Before You Calculate

Many students begin Physical Chemistry by memorising formulas.

That approach works only until the question changes.

Instead, follow:

Concept → Formula → Application → Practice → Analysis

Before using a formula, understand what each quantity represents and when that relationship can be applied.

Then start with basic questions and gradually move towards more challenging ones.

Most importantly, analyse wrong answers.

Was the concept incorrect?
Did you select the wrong formula?
Was there a unit or calculation mistake?
Or did you misunderstand the question?

Correcting the reason behind a mistake is more useful than simply checking the correct answer.

Organic Chemistry: Look for Logic, Not Just Reactions

Organic Chemistry becomes overwhelming when students try to memorise every reaction separately.

Instead of only asking:

“Which reagent gives which product?”

start asking:

“Why is this product being formed?”

Understand electron movement, nucleophiles, electrophiles, electronic effects, stability of intermediates, acidity-basicity and reaction mechanisms.

Once these foundations become strong, many reactions begin to connect with each other.

You will still need to revise reagents, named reactions and exceptions, but understanding the mechanism significantly reduces the burden of memorisation.

Inorganic Chemistry: Revision Is the Real Key

A student may understand an Inorganic Chemistry chapter today and forget many details after a few weeks.

That is normal.

Inorganic Chemistry usually needs short and repeated revision, rather than one very long reading.

For JEE and NEET preparation, pay close attention to NCERT wherever it is relevant to the current syllabus.

Mark important trends, exceptions and comparisons.

After reading a section, close the book and try to recall the important points without looking.

This small habit converts passive reading into active learning.

Stop Measuring Preparation Only in Hours

“I studied Chemistry for four hours.”

That does not necessarily mean four productive hours.

A better question is:

What improved during those four hours?

Did you understand a concept that was previously unclear? Did you solve questions independently? Did you revise an old chapter? Did you identify and correct a repeated mistake?

For competitive examinations, progress should be measured through:

Concept Clarity + Quality Practice + Revision + Mistake Correction

Twenty carefully analysed questions can sometimes teach you more than one hundred questions solved hurriedly.

Use PYQs Throughout Your Preparation

Previous-year questions should not be kept only for the final weeks.

After completing a chapter, solve relevant JEE or NEET PYQs.

Don't use them merely to check whether you can get the answer.

Observe how the examination uses the concept.

Which concepts appear repeatedly? Which questions combine multiple ideas? Which type of question consumes more time?

PYQs help students understand the language and application of the examination.

Maintain a Small Chemistry Error Notebook

One of the simplest habits I recommend is maintaining an error notebook.

Don't rewrite theory in it. Record only useful mistakes:

Wrong concept used
Reaction condition forgotten
NCERT exception missed
Calculation mistake
Mechanism confused
Question misread

Review this notebook regularly.

When the same mistake appears repeatedly, you have identified exactly where your preparation needs attention.

Don't Wait for the Syllabus to Finish Before Revising

One dangerous strategy is:

“First syllabus complete karunga, phir revision start karunga.”

By the time the syllabus finishes, earlier chapters may already have become weak.

Revision should run alongside new learning.

Continue moving forward with new chapters, but keep returning to older ones through short revision sessions, questions and tests.

Tests Are Part of Preparation

Students sometimes avoid tests until they feel fully prepared.

But you don't need to be perfectly prepared before taking a test.

Tests help identify whether the problem is related to concept, memory, application, calculation or carelessness.

After every test, don't only look at the score.

Ask:

Why did I lose these marks?

That question is often more valuable than the marks themselves.

Avoid the Resource Trap

Students today have access to unlimited books, videos, PDFs, notes and online courses.

More resources do not automatically produce better preparation.

Choose a limited number of reliable resources and complete them properly.

A resource becomes useful only when you study it, practise from it and revise it.

Constantly changing books, teachers or notes can create the feeling of studying without producing real mastery.

Chemistry Can Become Your Strength

Over the years, I have seen students move from fearing Chemistry to depending on it for their scores.

Usually, their intelligence did not suddenly change.

Their preparation method changed.

They started understanding Physical Chemistry instead of only memorising formulas.

They started connecting Organic Chemistry reactions through mechanisms.

They accepted that Inorganic Chemistry requires repeated revision.

They solved PYQs, analysed tests and maintained awareness of their mistakes.

So instead of repeatedly telling yourself:

“Chemistry is difficult.”

Ask:

“Exactly what is difficult, and what should I do to improve it?”

That small change in thinking can transform your preparation.

Chemistry does not become easier through shortcuts. It becomes easier through a repeatable process:

Understand → Practise → Analyse → Correct → Revise → Test

Follow that process consistently, and a subject that once seemed difficult can gradually become one of your strongest areas.

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About the Author

Priyank Joshi (PJ Sir) is a JEE & NEET Chemistry educator and mentor based in Kota, Rajasthan, with more than 18 years of teaching experience. He specialises in Physical, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry and writes about conceptual learning, competitive-exam preparation and effective study strategies.