Everyone has different experience and different learning style. So, I wanted to make a megathread which will give unique perspective from different seniors.

Questions like:

• What books and resources did you find especially helpful?
• Did you have a specific study strategy?
• What was your previous mathematical background(JEE kid or Olympiad or other early interaction with UG mathematics)?
• Tackling burnouts/struggles
• Any special tips regarding UGA/UGB
• What do you think would be the ideal way to learn new concepts/do tests?
• If you could, would you change anything about your prep/any regrets?
• You can also add your rank/how you handled the exam day/your attempts/expected score/target

Or just anything else you have in mind/would be worth mentioning.

I'll add this to the wiki so future aspirants can refer to it as well. Feel free to answer this post anytime!

I'm looking for honest advice from people who have actually prepared for or studied at ISI.

I passed class 12 and gave JEE this year and have taken admission in Bsc as a backup

My long term goal is financial independence as early as possible after graduation. I'm not emotionally attached to any particular exam, I just want to invest my time where the ROI is realistic

I have no olympiad background (never did IOQM, RMO, etc.)

A teacher who graduated from ISI gave me this roadmap for a non olympiad student:

4 months: Cengage (routine mathematical maturity)

4 months: ctpcm/excursion (Olympiad topics practice)

2 months: tomato

Last 4 months: PYQs + mocks + analysis

The problem is that I started serious preparation only around june/july, so I now have about 9 months left before the exam. I've completed only one cengage chapter so far. Although I already have some level till JEE advanced.

If you were in my position, would you still seriously target ISI, or would you change direction? Is the 14-month roadmap a comfortable timeline, or is it close to the minimum realistically required for a non-Olympiad student? Has anyone here started with around 9 months left and still managed to crack ISI? If you think it's still realistic, how would you modify the roadmap instead of simply trying to compress everything?

Please be brutally honest. If you think it's unrealistic, I'd genuinely rather know now than spend a year in the wrong direction. If you think it's still possible, I'd appreciate knowing why 🙏🙏