Common Mistakes Students Make While Preparing for NSEC—and How to Avoid Them

The National Standard Examination in Chemistry (NSEC) is exciting yet daunting. There is fierce competition, a huge syllabus and pressure to perform well. Thousands of gifted students answer NSEC each year, aiming to qualify for the Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO), and potentially to gain qualification into the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO). Ultimately, despite their intellect and effort, many talented students fall short, not due to lack of intelligence or work ethic alone, but due to unnecessary mistakes that fail their preparation.

In this extensive blog, we will highlight some common mistakes students make when preparing for NSEC, as well as provide suggestions to avoid making the same mistakes based on expert advice. NSEC preparation can be confusing whether you are in Class 11, Class 12 or wanting to be a serious Olympiad candidate. Use this blog as a reference point for better preparation. Thank you to Origin Educare for providing structured resources and expert mentorship to thousands of Olympiad aspirants who have every chance to achieve their goals successfully!

Understanding the NSEC Exam First

Before understanding mistakes we can make, let’s take an overview of the exam:

• Organized By: Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT)
• Eligibility: Class 11 and 12 students
• Question Format: 60 multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
• Duration: 2 hours
• Marking Scheme: +3 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect answer
• Syllabus: Class 11/12 CBSE Chemistry .

Numerous students often make a hasty move into prep mode whilst not knowing the depth and pattern of the exam, that is the first mistake.

Mistake 1: Ignoring Class 11 Concepts

One of the major blunders students make is downplaying the weightage attached to Class 11 topics. The NSEC does not only test the knowledge of a final year, it can often dive beyond that into foundational chemistry.

What to Do Instead:

• Do not rush into preparation from Class 12, start slowly with Class 11 chapters like Mole Concept, Atomic Structure, Thermodynamics, and Chemical Bonding.
• Make use of a resource like Origin Educare’s Foundation Chemistry Course in order to go back and prepare these chapters, you will understand these concepts even better this time around.

Tip:

“Chemistry is a vertical subject, your Class 12 chapters are built out of Class 11 matter, so basically don’t rush, prep base first.”

Mistake 2: Studying Only from NCERT

Yes, I agree NCERT is like the Bible, but for your Olympiad, like NSEC, just following NCERT will not suffice. Often times the questions at NSEC are beyond the written text.

What to Do Instead:

• Use standard books like O.P. Tandon, Morrison & Boyd, or Peter Atkins, to expand your knowledge base.
• Find Origin Educare’s specialized Olympiad notes and Olympiad video’s to supplement your Class 11 preparation with advanced worthiness, whilst not becoming overwhelming.

Tip:

“NCERT will give you your base, Olympiad level material will build the structure.”

Mistake 3: Poor Time Management

Many enthusiasts start strong but burnout in the first few months due to lack of a plan. Others spend too long in certain chapters while ignoring other chapters.

What to Do Instead:

• Have a weekly study planner that blocks out time for theory, problem-solving, revision and mock tests.
• Use Origin Educare’s timetable uploads for all inclusive NSEC preparations.

Tip:

“Consistency is better than intensity. A well-balanced 2-hour study session every day will get you further than cramming on the weekend.” 

Mistake 4: Avoiding Mock Tests

Lots of students put off added mock tests till the last month. This is a big mistake. NSEC exam is timed and mentally taxing. 

What to Do Instead:

• Start off with 1 mock test every second week and then transition to 1-2 a week in the last 2 months.
• Evaluate performance – look at weakened subject areas, accuracy and time spent on each question.
• Join Origin Educare – NSEC Test Series – this is renowned for simulating NSEC exam conditions.

Tip:

“Mock tests ARE NOT practice – they are simulations. They also train your mind to think when under pressure.” 

Mistake 5: Ignoring Organic Chemistry Mechanisms

Many students will try to memorise organic chemistry reactions without first understanding the mechanism. This isn’t going to pay dividends at Olympiad level. 

What to Do Instead:

• Dedicate time to learning the reaction mechanisms, where the electrons are moving and the rationale of how each step works.
• Use mind maps, reaction charts and Origin Educare’s Organic Chemistry study books.

Tip:

“If you understand the mechanism you can solve any question, even a new one you’ve never seen before.”

Mistake 6: Not Maintaining a Formula & Concept Journal

There are too many equations, principles and exceptions to it is easy to forget important things in chemistry!

What to Do Instead:

• Start a personal revision notebook with important formula, shortcuts and exceptions in it!
• Keep it up to date weekly and spend some time daily revising it in the final month.
• Use Origin Educare’s packaged cheat sheets for last-minue revision purposes.

Tip:

“Your notebook is your revision lifeline. Make it clean, organised, and easy to find things!”

Mistake 7: Over-Reliance on Coaching Without Self-Study

Coaching can help you with the direction, but you truly learn the material when you are self studying. So many students go to class and don’t revisit this on their own.

What to Do Instead:

• Review the topic, on your own, within 24 hours of the class.
• Then complete questions that test your knowledge.
• Utilise active recall and spaced repetition as advised by Origin Educare.

Tip:

“When you go to class, you know where you to go. But self study gets you there.”

Mistake 8: Skipping Numerical Practice in Physical Chemistry

Almost all questions that feature physical chemistry material in NSEC involve multi-level calculations. The latter frightens students and many skip these questions altogether. 

What to Do Instead:

• Set a goal of practicing at least one numerical each day. 
• Use Origin Educare’s Daily Practice Papers that focus mainly on Physical Chemistry. 
• Start a formula bank, and practice dimensional can immediately bolster your overall capability to tackle these types of questions. 

Tip:

“Physical Chemistry is huge. If you can get over your fears with regard to calculations, scoring becomes easy, and you are one step closer to achieving your goals.” 

Mistake 9: Ignoring Mental & Physical Health

A healthy mind is in a healthy body. Burnout is real. If your preparation is full of stress, irregular sleep, poor diet, for example. All of these factors inhibit retention. 

What to Do Instead:

• Get at least 6–8 hours of sleep. 
• Incorporate mindfulness or light exercise in your day. 
• Eat light but nutritious meals. 
• Participate in Origin Educare’s motivational and Introduction to Mental Wellness webinars; if you haven’t, group check-ins for emotionally supportive experiences. 

Tip:

“A healthy mind learns faster and retains longer.” 

Mistake 10: Not Reviewing Errors from Tests

Attempting to record answers to the test is only half of the test attempt. How many times are students making remediation through multiple assessments in the same fashion? 

Mistake 10: Not Reviewing Errors from Tests

What to Do Instead:

• After each mock test, update your ‘Error Log’—write down what went wrong and why.
• Categorize errors into conceptual errors, silly errors, or time management errors.
• Use Origin Educare’s post-test analytics dashboard to inform your next steps.

Tip:

“Mistakes are your greatest teacher—but only if you learn from them.”

Conclusion: Learn Smart, Not Just Hard

Cracking NSEC is a long-distance race, not a speed race. Every student can do it—it is how you go about the prep, and your mentality towards it, that separates you. By avoiding the common mistakes outlined, and adopting a variety of strategies based on experts’ views, you will not only notch up your score, but you will also develop a deeper appreciation for chemistry.

With help and resources from platforms like Origin Educare, a structured learning program, and a focus on conceptual understanding, you can change your prep experience completely.

So, are you ready to smash the NSEC?

Join Origin Educare’s NSEC Mastery Program. The program has everything you need—daily practice sets, doubt-clearing sessions, real exam mocks and structured lessons with a video.

Begin you prepartion journey towards the Chemistry Olympiad in the smart way!