How to study for sem 2...and tips to score 9+!!!

Well, i hope your first sem is going well... and many of you are scoring quite enough to stay above 8.2 to 8.5.
   Note that you should not get disappointed even  if you get a bit lower cpi in first sem, because second sem can make a hell lot f difference!!!
 Also this post is not only for branch changers but also for those students who want to score better in 2nd sem.

     If you ask any of your senior, then they will say that second sem is very tough. But believe me, its really not that tough. at first, it may seem a bit hard to pull through it because unlike first sem, most of the things in 2nd sem will be new to you. But they are interesting, typical but interesting !!!

 Now talks apart. In second sem, you will be having 5 subjects and 3 labs, totaling to a credit of 43. Firstly look at you course structure from here - 

 - syllabus for ME110 , CS101 , CS110, MA102, ME101 - http://www.iitg.ac.in/mech/ME_UG_Curriculum.pdf

 - For PH102

- For EE102 lab -

 (I cannot find the link for BT101!! :P . However i got detailed syllabus -
 BT 101  Modern Biology (3-1-0-8)                                                                        

 Diversity in biological systems; cell biology and cell structure; biological membranes; bioenergetics;  genetics: DNA as genetic material; structure of DNA; DNA replication; transcription; translation; genes to proteins and to protein function; gene expression and regulation; recombinant DNA technology. Human physiology: biological axons and neurons, neuromuscular and synaptic junctions; sensory systems - hearing, taste, smell and visual receptors.

Textbooks:

[1] J. L. Tymoczko, J. M. Berg and L. Stryer, Biochemistry, 5th Ed, W. H. Freeman & Co, 2002.
[2] D. L. Nelson and M. M. Cox, Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, Macmillan Worth, 2000. 

References:

[1] N. Hopkins, J. W. Roberts, J. A. Steitz, J. Watson and A. M. Weiner, Molecular Biology of the Gene, 4th Ed, Benjamin Cummings, 1987.
[2] C. R. Cantor and P. R. Schimmel, Biophysical Chemistry (Parts I, II and III), W.H. Freeman & Co., 1980.
[3] C. C. Chatterjee, Human Physiology, Vol 1 & 2, 11th Ed, Medical Allied Agency, 1987)

Although all subjects are equally important, the game changers will be CS101, CS110, BT201 and PH102!!

Now how to study "efficiently" for them ??

As i have done in my previous posts, i will be giving subject wise tops for each of them -

1. CS101 and CS110 - I am putting these two together simply because they cannot be separated!! In theory course , you will be learning basic and advanced C programming.
       Lab will be a three hour session in CC where you will be given a problem to solve using C language. Your final code for problem will be analyzed and marks will be given out of 100 for each lab.each student can carry a book of c programming with him in the lab.  However first two labs will be for basic linux commands.
  Now this looks pretty simple,right ? i mean learn C in theory class and apply in lab. But everything is not that simple. Usually they will teach very elementary in class and will give probs in lab which will be quite advanced!!
  These two courses are nightmares for most of the students during 2nd sem and can create a hell lot of difference. Now how to efficiently cope them??
  For that two cases arise -
   1. You know C or equivalent computer language already. This maybe because you might have learned it in +2 or somewhere else. If this is the case, then believe me you will have a very good advantage over others.
 2 . Now problem arise when you DO NOT know C beforehand. For that you need to provide some input from your side in winter holidays, i.e, read the book "Let Us C - By Yashwant Kanetkar". You can buy it from here - (its latest edition) Complete this book and do all its problems and i promise you that 9 or 10 in both CS110 and CS101 is sure. Another book is "Mastering C by E balaguruswamy". But i prefer let us c.

Some portion of this course is not provided in any book. so you need to understand them by researching on google.
 Note that it would be good if you can install CodeBlocks (software to run C programme) or Ubuntu (Linux) before going to home so that you can practice C at home.

2.PH102 -  Just like previous sem, in this sem you need to follow "Griffiths - Intro to electrodynamics". This book will be more than enough. Note that PH102 will be completely new topic to you. Apart from basic electrodynamics that you read in +2 (which is infact a very little part), there are many other thing and horrifying equations( atleast on first look), which are not that hard if you follow them regularly. Attend all tutorials and solve them wisely. And yes, do all the relevant back questions, chapter questions and examples of the book at least 3 times!!

3. ME101 - This is mostly mechanics that you read in 11th class. So no hard deal for you. Things are simple and easy. You can follow NPTEL (CLICK HERE) course modules or yhe slide give by your prof. Also i preferred "Merriam and Kreige' book as its theory and examples were pretty good. Do solve them.
  There will be a tutorial which will be graded ,i.e, you will be given 10 questions, 5 to solve in class and 5  as home assignment. Please do go in the first tutorial, as it will be held BEFOR  the first class, so do not skip it.

4. MA102 - Course is divided in two - ordinary differential equations (ODE) and multivarable calculus. For former, go for Ross and for latter , i prefer Fitzpatrick (this book is not referred but i found it really useful ). For MA102 , lecture slide would be more than enough, plus tutorials ar sufficient. Avoid silly mistakes in as compared to MA101, this is easier so cutoff will go high!!

5. BT201 - Now i am t sure whether you all are having this course or not because prof told that they will be removing the course from next sem or either diluting it. This course is divided in three parts - genetics, heredity and evolution, and biochemistry.
  For heredity part, slides will be given but hang on!! Here is the catch. Many of the slides will only have pictures in them and their description will be give to you in class by prof. So DO NOT FORGET TO WRITE THAT in your copy. Similarly for genetics part. If you write every explanation what the prof says, then you will have a great advantage at the time of exams.
  There will be no quiz!! Just endsem and midsem.
 Reference book to be used is "Lehringer (confirm the spelling) ". Only some portion of this book is useful to you. I referred it only for genetics part and it proved very useful.

6.EE102 -This is electricals lab where yo would be making simple basic circuits like HWR, FWR, etc.Its pretty easy. Group of three will be formed. You will also be having viva for each experiment (or maybe not, it depends on TA). The important part part this lab is the midsem. It will be kind of objective paper where you will be asked basics of experiments that you have done. So if you score 18 or 19 out of 20 in it, then 10 is sure in this lab.

I think this will be all for second semester!!
Suggestions and edits are always welcome!! :)