u/PrathamPrasad

Hey everyone!

If you're joining ISI Kolkata this year, come join r/ISIKolkata2026Batch.

I made this subreddit so we can all connect before college starts—ask doubts, discuss hostels, stipends, academics, campus life, or just get to know our future batchmates.

Whether you're confused about admissions or just looking to make friends before orientation, everyone's welcome.

Hoping we can build a helpful community together. See you there!

r/ISIKolkata2026Batch 🎓

​

Hey guys,

I’m Pratham Prasad from Cooch Behar, West Bengal. I recently got *All India Rank 11* in the ISI B.Stat entrance exam.

I am writing this post to talk to you guys like a brother. I see so many students stressing out online, thinking that if you do not spend lakhs on big coaching institutes, live in a major city, or prepare for Olympiads since class 8, you cannot crack ISI.

Listen to me: *That is completely wrong.*

I had none of those things. No formal coaching, no big Olympiad background, and a very low family income. I could not afford expensive education. I had standard PW access, but honestly, I barely used it for my actual ISI prep. A huge part of my advanced math knowledge literally came from reading *Wikipedia articles* and fighting with hard concepts entirely on my own.

If you come from a small town, a humble background, or feel left behind because you cannot afford elite coaching—this post is for you. Sit down, relax, and let’s talk about how you can actually do this.

How I Used Wikipedia to Learn Math

When you do not have a teacher to explain tough theorems, you have to teach yourself.

* *The Wikipedia Rabbit Hole:* Whenever I found a topic or theorem I did not understand, I did not look for short tricks. I went straight to Wikipedia. Reading the formal definitions, the history, and the full proofs helped me understand the *why* behind pure math. Standard textbooks usually just give you formulas, but Wikipedia gives you the deep concept.

* *Active Learning:* Instead of watching long video lectures passively, I spent my time actually solving problems. If you cannot afford expensive test series, just download past year papers. Give yourself hours, or even days, to crack a single subjective problem. Do not rush to the solution.

My Zero-Budget Prep Strategy

Because I did not have a structured coaching timetable, I kept my preparation very simple:

1. *Clear the Basics:* Make sure your basic concepts are unbreakable. You do not need expensive modules for this. You just need to deeply understand how math works.

2. *The Subjective (UGB) Paper:* Since I did not have a mentor to check my answers, I would write down my proofs, leave them for a day, and then check them myself line-by-line. I would ask myself: *Does this step make logical sense? Did I prove it correctly?*

3. *Focus on Quality, Not Quantity:* Do not worry about buying 20 different books that people recommend online. Just master the past year papers and standard free resources like TOMATO. Pure math rewards deep thinking, not how much money you spend on books.

To Anyone Who Feels Left Behind

Living in a place like Cooch Behar, far away from big coaching hubs, it is easy to feel like you cannot compete. But the best thing about the ISI exam is that you cannot hack it by memorizing things or using expensive tricks. The examiners only care about how your brain thinks. If you love math and are ready to face the frustration of getting stuck, your background does not matter at all.

💬 Ask Me Anything (AMA)!

I want to use this post to build a real community for self-taught students, math lovers, and anyone preparing on a budget.

Feel free to ask your questions below about:

* How to study advanced math completely on your own

* How to use Wikipedia and free resources without getting confused

* My daily routine and how I managed my time

* How to write proofs for the subjective paper without a teacher

Upvote this so it reaches the brothers and sisters who need to see this the most. Drop your questions below, and I will answer every single one of them!

​

Hey guys,

I’m Pratham Prasad from Cooch Behar, West Bengal. I recently got **All India Rank 11** in the ISI B.Stat entrance exam.

Before we start, if you love solving tough, beautiful math problems or want to stay connected, you can follow me on my Instagram here: **\[My Instagram (@integral\_killer\_)\](https://www.instagram.com/integral\\\_killer\\\_?igsh=MXh3dHhqM2Z1MjBpbw==).\*\*

I am writing this post to talk to you guys like a brother. I see so many students stressing out online, thinking that if you do not spend lakhs on big coaching institutes, live in a major city, or prepare for Olympiads since class 8, you cannot crack ISI.

Listen to me: **That is completely wrong.**

I had none of those things. No formal coaching, no big Olympiad background, and a very low family income. I could not afford expensive education. I had standard PW access, but honestly, I barely used it for my actual ISI prep. A huge part of my advanced math knowledge literally came from reading **Wikipedia articles** and fighting with hard concepts entirely on my own.

**(If you want to see my story, I actually did an interview with PW about how I did this: \[https://youtu.be/HVqRA7qwFsk?si=0IgHaOD8\\\_cgxH8iK\\\](https://www.google.com/search?q=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FHVqRA7qwFsk%3Fsi%3D0IgHaOD8\\\_cgxH8iK) )**

If you come from a small town, a humble background, or feel left behind because you cannot afford elite coaching—this post is for you. Sit down, relax, and let’s talk about how you can actually do this.

How I Used Wikipedia to Learn Math

When you do not have a teacher to explain tough theorems, you have to teach yourself.

**The Wikipedia Rabbit Hole:** Whenever I found a topic or theorem I did not understand, I did not look for short tricks. I went straight to Wikipedia. Reading the formal definitions, the history, and the full proofs helped me understand the **why** behind pure math. Standard textbooks usually just give you formulas, but Wikipedia gives you the deep concept.

**Active Learning**: Instead of watching long video lectures passively, I spent my time actually solving problems. If you cannot afford expensive test series, just download past year papers. Give yourself hours, or even days, to crack a single subjective problem. Do not rush to the solution.

My Zero-Budget Prep Strategy

Because I did not have a structured coaching timetable, I kept my preparation very simple:

1. **Clear the Basics**: Make sure your basic concepts are unbreakable. You do not need expensive modules for this. You just need to deeply understand how math works.

2. **The Subjective (UGB) Paper:** Since I did not have a mentor to check my answers, I would write down my proofs, leave them for a day, and then check them myself line-by-line. I would ask myself: **Does this step make logical sense? Did I prove it correctly?**

3. **Focus on Quality, Not Quantity**: Do not worry about buying 20 different books that people recommend online. Just master the past year papers and standard free resources like TOMATO. Pure math rewards deep thinking, not how much money you spend on books.

To Anyone Who Feels Left Behind

Living in a place like Cooch Behar, far away from big coaching hubs, it is easy to feel like you cannot compete. But the best thing about the ISI exam is that you cannot hack it by memorizing things or using expensive tricks. The examiners only care about how your brain thinks. If you love math and are ready to face the frustration of getting stuck, your background does not matter at all.

💬 Ask Me Anything (AMA)!

I want to use this post to build a real community for self-taught students, math lovers, and anyone preparing on a budget.

Feel free to ask your questions below about:

\* How to study advanced math completely on your own

\* How to use Wikipedia and free resources without getting confused

\* My daily routine and how I managed my time

\* How to write proofs for the subjective paper without a teacher

Upvote this so it reaches the brothers and sisters who need to see this the most. Drop your questions below, and I will answer every single one of them!