JRF AIR 48 Shoaib Ahmed Interview | CSIR NET Life Science June 2026 Strategy & Success Story

Summary

The video features an interview with Shoaib Ahmed, who qualified for CSIR NET Life Science with a strong rank. He discusses how he adjusted his preparation after an earlier attempt and shares practical advice on revision, question practice, time management, and identifying weaknesses.

Preparation journey

Shoaib completed a BSc in Biotechnology at Down University and an MSc in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at Tezpur University. During the second year of his MSc, he began familiarizing himself with the NET syllabus and unit weightage, although coursework and practicals limited his preparation time.

After completing his MSc, he prepared full-time. He had qualified for NET in an earlier attempt but missed the relevant fellowship cutoffs by a small margin. In his later preparation, he focused on more frequent revision, more question practice, and deliberately addressing weak areas.

What changed in his strategy

In an earlier attempt, Shoaib made notes but did not revise them enough. As a result, topics that seemed familiar did not connect well during revision. Since he had already covered the syllabus, he used his later preparation period mainly to revise and practise rather than starting from scratch.

He also changed his approach to some topics, including Genetics and Methods in Biology. He found that solving questions helped him connect concepts better than studying theory alone. He practised previous-year questions (PYQs) and additional questions, along with topic- or unit-wise tests and mock tests.

Coverage and study routine

Shoaib studied 10 units in depth, skipped Animal Physiology and Diversity, and covered selected important Applied Biology topics at a basic level. Instead of spending time recreating notes, he revised from short-note-style course PDFs.

He often studied two units at a time to keep his routine varied:

• Morning: Watch lessons or review material.
• Evening and night: Focus more heavily on questions and practice.

He emphasized that the exact schedule matters less than making steady progress and revisiting material regularly.

Part A, exam practice, and accuracy

Shoaib prepared selected Part A topics, including probability and permutations and combinations, and relied partly on experience from earlier attempts. He noted that some logical or puzzle-style Part A questions may be manageable with preparation and may not require extensive formulas or calculations.

He used mock tests to practise time management and become familiar with handling Parts B and C. He reported attempting 8 questions in Part A, 28 in Part B, and initially 25 in Part C, though he said the final summary appeared to register only 24 in Part C. After checking the answer key, he recalled getting 7 of 8 in Part A, 24 of 28 in Part B, and 21 of the 24 registered in Part C.

He described losing marks through a reasoning error and other human mistakes. His takeaway was to check reasoning carefully and avoid unnecessary attempts, particularly because of negative marking. Having more time in the exam also helped him reconsider questions and attempt more than before.

Advice for other aspirants

• Revise consistently: Do not spend all your time learning new material or making notes; revisit what you have already studied.
• Practise questions regularly: Question-solving helped Shoaib strengthen his understanding and retention.
• Identify weaknesses honestly: Assess what you genuinely understand, then work on gaps before they become a larger problem.
• Set realistic daily goals: Plan what to cover each day and follow the plan. Shoaib felt that around eight productive hours could be sufficient if used well.
• Prioritize effective work over appearances: Long study hours are not useful unless they lead to learning, recall, and improvement.
• Use tests to assess readiness: Unit tests and mock exams can reveal weak areas and help with timing.
• Take responsibility for the choice to prepare: Shoaib said he accepted the effort and trade-offs as his own decision rather than blaming others.

Role of the platform and future plans

Shoaib said he had used Apna Sapna JRF’s free videos, study materials, and test series. He found the mock tests particularly useful for time management and exam practice. He intends to pursue research and explore PhD opportunities.

Speakers

• Komal: Interviewer and host from Apna Sapna JRF.
• Shoaib Ahmed: Interviewee and CSIR NET Life Science qualifier.