Every year, lakhs of students lose confidence after receiving disappointing board exam results. Some begin to believe that one poor score has permanently closed the doors to their dream college.Jainendrajeet’s journey tells a very different story.Today, he is pursuing B.Tech in Computer Science at IIT Bombay, one of India’s most sought-after engineering programmes. But only a few years ago, he had scored 54% in his Class 10 board examinations, including 41 out of 100 in Mathematics and 48 out of 100 in Science. Friends had scored above 90%, he faced criticism over his performance, and for a brief moment, even he questioned his own abilities.In 2023, however, the same student stunned everyone by securing 99.98 percentile in JEE Main and AIR 349 in JEE Advanced (Open category) along with OBC Rank 54.His story is a reminder that one examination never defines a student’s future.
“I thought the result wasn’t mine”
In a YouTube video recounting his journey, Jainendrajeet says he had not been eagerly waiting for his Class 10 results.He had spent nearly 40 to 50 days on bed rest before the examinations, missed several classes and knew his preparation had suffered.While studying with a friend over Zoom, someone sent him a message saying the results had been declared.“I opened the website, looked at my score and froze. My first thought was, ‘This can’t be my result.’ I refreshed the page, checked my roll number again, but it was true. I had scored 54%.”He recalls staring silently at the screen.There were no tears.No anger.Just one question running through his mind.“How did I get such low marks?”
The toughest part wasn’t the marks
As friends began sharing their scores, reality became even harder to accept.Some had scored 80%.Others had crossed 90%.A few had even secured 98%.“I had the lowest marks in my entire friend circle,” he recalls.More than the marks, however, what worried him was how people would react.“I was terrified about what my parents would say.”He says he barely spoke that night.But somewhere amid the disappointment, another voice emerged.“This isn’t who you are. You’re better than this.”That thought changed everything.
The decision that transformed his life
Instead of blaming circumstances or accepting defeat, Jainendrajeet decided to rebuild himself.Not for society.Not to silence critics.But for himself.“If I wanted to achieve something meaningful in life, excuses would no longer work.”He began planning every single day.He fixed study hours, reduced distractions, limited social media, used YouTube only for learning and gradually made studying for nearly 10 hours a day part of his routine.The transformation, however, was far from easy.
There were days he doubted himself
He openly admits that Mathematics felt impossible in the beginning.Physics intimidated him.Chemistry reactions refused to stay in memory.Some days, despite studying from morning to night, he felt he had achieved nothing.“There were many moments when I genuinely believed JEE was beyond my capability.”Whenever frustration took over, he turned to his friends.One lesson stayed with him throughout the journey.“Your best teachers are often your friends.”
From 41 in Maths to AIR 349 in JEE Advanced
Perhaps the most remarkable part of Jainendrajeet’s journey is his transformation in Mathematics.The student who had scored just 41 marks out of 100 in Class 10 Mathematics went on to excel in one of the country’s toughest entrance examinations.His hard work paid off spectacularly.In JEE Main 2023, he secured 99.98 percentile.Soon afterwards, he achieved AIR 349 in JEE Advanced (Open category) along with OBC Rank 54, earning admission to Computer Science at IIT Bombay.For someone who once believed his academic future was over, it was an extraordinary turnaround.
The three habits that changed everything
Looking back, Jainendrajeet credits three simple practices for his improvement.The first was studying every topic before attending class by watching educational YouTube videos, making classroom lectures easier to understand.The second was setting clear daily study targets instead of relying on motivation alone.Finally, he solved Previous Year Questions (PYQs) immediately after completing every chapter because they helped him understand how concepts are actually tested in JEE.According to him, these habits mattered far more than complicated study plans or expensive coaching material.
More than an IIT story
Stories about IIT often begin with school toppers who consistently scored above 95%.Jainendrajeet’s journey stands out because it began with disappointment.A student who scored 54% in Class 10, including 41 marks in Mathematics and 48 marks in Science, eventually secured a place in one of India’s most prestigious engineering institutes through persistence, discipline and consistent effort.For lakhs of students preparing for JEE, NEET and other competitive examinations, his journey carries a reassuring message.Your current marks reflect one moment in time.They do not determine the rest of your life.Sometimes, the result that hurts the most becomes the beginning of the greatest comeback.Disclaimer: This article is based on Jainendrajeet’s personal account shared in a publicly available YouTube video and other information available in the public domain. His academic journey, study methods and experiences are his own. Examination outcomes vary from student to student, and there is no guaranteed formula for success.
