Pranav Kulkarni
Industrial Design, IDC IIT-Mumbai
Balancing Boards and Design Exams
Sarath, a 12th-grade science student, scored an impressive 95.6% in boards and achieved AIR 22 in NID. Balancing science subjects and creative design preparation was not easy, especially with a 3-hour daily commute. But Sarath made the most of every moment. He solved past year papers during bus rides, sketched observations in a personal sketchbook, and cleared doubts in class to save time at home. His biggest learning was to not only focus on time-bound mock tests, but to improve quality first. He built the habit of completing his sketches properly, even if it took longer. Once the quality improved, he worked on speed.
Mindset, Strategy and the Power of Curiosity
Timetables did not work for Sarath, so he followed a flexible plan. For board exams, he focused on understanding theory instead of just solving expected questions. For design preparation, he stayed curious. He used small time pockets during travel or free time to observe and sketch. He enjoyed both science and design, which kept stress away. Many students wait to start design prep after boards, but Sarath believes it is better to give a full attempt in the same year. Even if it is not perfect, you learn faster. His advice is to start early, enjoy the journey and grow step by step.
One Game-Changing Advice
Sarath had been sketching since school days, but design exams needed a different approach. He had to complete clear and clean drawings within a short time. So he trained himself to draw faster-. He also started noting down real-life design ideas. He observed things like how paper cups are designed or how auto drivers talk about their electric vehicles. His sketchbook was full of such ideas and personal notes. His final advice is very powerful, focus only on your effort, not the outcome. Do not overthink results or compare yourself with others. Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward. This mindset helped him stay focused through all the exams.
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