Introduction
The waves of time have brought in a lot of transformations in our lives. However, even today myriads of children aspire to become successful doctors to save human lives. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the sole examination in India which is the gate pass to studying medical courses (MBBS), dental courses (BDS) and Ayush in government and private colleges. Hence medical aspirants put their heart and soul into qualifying NEET exam to get admission to medical programs. Data indicates that in 2023, around 17.64 lakh students attended the exam.
Cracking NEET feels like winning a jackpot. However, the process leading to it is full of challenges. To begin with, the NEET exam is highly competitive given the limited number of seats and most difficult to crack. Second, the time available for preparation is often inadequate for students to complete their preparation. Third, in the quest of cracking the NEET exam students often fall prey to stress and anxiety that can negatively impact their exam performance. Finally, in the segments below we will share vital tips about clearing the NEET exam in the first attempt.
Building a Strong Foundation
The NEET exam is known for questions of high difficulty level. Unfortunately, students often struggle to comprehend complex concepts in fields like Biology, Physics and Chemistry. To crack the NEET examination it is important to have a strong foundation in these subjects. Therefore, students should spend a lot of time learning and comprehending the basics of relevant curriculums.
For proper NEET preparations, appropriate NEET study materials are a must. It is important to start by familiarizing the NEET syllabus to understand what needs to be studied. It covers topics from Physics, Chemistry and Biology. We recommend that the aspirants study from NCERT textbooks, reference materials and abundant online resources. Here is a list of book names to help the aspirants.
Book name | Author |
NCERT Biology of Class XI and XII | NCERT |
MTG Objective NCERT at your FINGERTIPS – Biology | MTG Editorial Board |
GRB Object Biology (Vol I and II) | Bathla Group |
NCERT Physics Textbook Class 11 & 12 | NCERT |
Objective Physics | D.C. Panday |
NCERT Chemistry Class 11 & 12 | NCERT |
Organic Chemistry | Morrison and Boyd |
MTG NEET PYQ Book [Solved] | MTG Editorial Board |
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Effective Study Techniques
Following effective study techniques can improve the chances of qualifying NEET examination. Here are some of our suggestions.
Choosing the right materials: Finding the right study materials for NEET could feel like searching a needle in a haystack. With the guidance of tutors and online educators picking the right materials becomes easy.
Making a timetable: Maintaining a timetable helps allot sufficient time to study the different subjects. Aspirants should devote time for short breaks and self-care as these are keys to staying mentally and physically healthy.
Making notes: Retaining everything that is learned is difficult. Making notes involves jotting down important information. These help students to revise and remember better.
Giving mock exams: Aspirants should practice giving mock tests to master time management and be habituated with the exam format.
Regular revisions: There are no substitutes for regular revisions. Students should make it a habit to revise complex concepts, formulae and derivations regularly.
Furthermore, mind maps and concept maps are important tools that help to study complex subjects. They help prepare efficient study lessons, concise summaries, quick reviews and visual representations making these difficult concepts easier to comprehend.
Creating a Study Schedule
To complete the vast NEET syllabus, having a proper study schedule is essential. This helps aspirants to study in an organized manner.
First, Aspirants can begin by creating weekly and daily study plans. Here are some steps to create one.
- Creating a list of targets to be achieved along with the total time available.
- Studying the NEET syllabus and understanding what needs to be prepared.
- Blocking out a specific time during the week for studying
- Preparing a daily schedule listing the time allocated for studying specific topics within each subject
Second, to ensure that equal priority is given to all the subjects the aspirants must make a note of the different topics to be studied from each subject and divide their daily study time amongst them.
Finally, by avoiding multitasking, blocking out social media during studies and use of time management methods like the Pomodoro technique, aspirants can stay focused and productive while studying.
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Utilizing online resources
There are multitudes of NEET study materials present online. Some of the best online platforms for NEET preparation include Aakash Digital, Uncademy, NEETprep and Career orbits. BYJU’S Aakash App for JEE and NEET is one of the top apps for NEET preparation with a rating of 4.1 stars and around 10 million downloads. Donut and PrepLadder have high ratings and can be used for NEET preparation.
Aspirants can also enroll in the highly effective courses offered by Excel PU College. This college provides NEET long-term coaching that guides the candidates to crack the exam. Students can consult with the college assistance cell to enquire about the NEET course details. Being one of the best NEET coaching centers in Mangalore, the college offers its students the opportunity to take online mock exams.
Test Taking Strategies
NEET is a difficult examination. To clear it the candidates must master the art of answering MCQs, time management and handling critical questions.
Aceing MCQS involves the following steps.
- Reading the MCQs carefully
- Predicting the answer before looking at the options
- Scratching out the incorrect answers in the first go
- Using NEET test papers to practice a lot
- Attending the easy question first.
Most importantly, learning to manage time is crucial here. Aspirants should allocate time equally for every question. If a certain question seems to be time-consuming then the candidate should mark it and shift to the next one.
We end this segment with some suggestions on handling critical questions.
- It is important to be calm while attending to complex questions.
- Reading the question multiple times helps in understanding it.
- Breaking down the question into smaller segments and proceeding with one part at a time makes the question solvable.
Stay healthy and motivated
Staying physically and mentally healthy is a must when it comes to preparing for and attending critical examinations like NEET. Yoga, deep breathing, meditation and proper sleep are keys to stress management. According to Melissa Eckman, doing Yoga every day helped her stay healthy mentally and physically.
It is easy to lose motivation while preparing for NEET exams. Adhering to a strict timetable, daily exercise, healthy eating and sufficient sleep keeps candidates focused
Overcoming common challenges
Deadly factors procrastination, anxiety and peer pressure can prevent a candidate from qualifying for NEET. Setting small attainable goals, organizing tasks and removing distractions help fight procrastination. Also, seeking assistance from teachers, discussing problems with family, focusing on revisions and maintaining a healthy lifestyle help to tackle anxiety. Finally, a person needs to be strong and self-confident in the face of peer and family pressure. Experts suggest that knowing and validating oneself and being assertive equips people to fight pressure from peers and family.
Mock tests and Self-assessments
Real-world data indicate the higher the scores in the mock tests the greater the chances of clearing a competitive exam. Mock tests and self-assessments educate NEET aspirants about the status of their preparation. Besides helping to identify their strengths and weaknesses mock tests also give them a chance to learn from their mistakes. Moreover, such experiences acquaint NEET aspirants with the exam pattern and help ease their anxiety. Some self-assessment tools include Quizizz, Flippity.net, Kahoot and Quizlet.
“Learn from your mistakes”, we are often told. Here are five steps to effectively follow the advice.
- Accepting the mistake and understanding it.
- Understanding the cause for the mistake, the intention behind it, the locus of its incidence and its impact to analyze the mistake.
- Implementing the lessons learnt from the errors
- Tracking the progress continuously.
Seeking help and guidance
NEET examination is the gateway to the birth of successful doctors. Thus, it is a no-brainer that the examination will not be easy. In fact, an attendee of NEET 2023 found the exam of moderate difficulty. With the proper guidance of the right mentor or coach, NEET aspirants can get one step closer to medical education. We understand that students can come across complex concepts while studying for NEET. Should students face such situations they must reach out to their mentors without hesitations. Besides resolving the query mentors can also help explain the logic behind the solution and share tips to solve similar critical problems
Joining exam groups exposes the students to a pool of knowledge and allows them to learn from each other thereby improving their notes. Moreover, group study makes NEET preparation more interesting and keeps aspirants motivated and confident.
Exam Day Strategies
The exam day is often marked with tension. The pressure on students to prove themselves is the most on this day. We are sharing some tips to help NEET aspirants prepare for the day along with the Dos and Don’ts for the exam.
Tips:
- Preparing all the necessary materials the night before the exam
- Getting an uninterrupted sleep
- Understanding the route to the examination hall well in advance
- Preparing the clothes to wear for the exam. It is advised to choose a comfortable dress.
- Staying hydrated and eating a healthy breakfast
- Staying calm throughout the day.
Dos | Don’ts |
Arriving at the exam hall well in advance | Carrying gadgets like cell phones, calculators, study materials, and notes into the examination hall |
Carrying relevant documents like NEET admit card, ID proof, stationeries and photograph | Forgetting to submit the answer script to the invigilators |
Reading the exam instructions carefully | Wearing improper clothes or footwear like boots, or stilettos. |
Staying relaxed during the exam | Practising unfair means in the exam |
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Click HereFrequently Asked Questions
- What is the best time to start NEET preparation?
NEET preparation involves studying a vast syllabus. It is therefore recommended to begin NEET preparations from the 11th grade.
2.How do I manage time effectively while preparing for NEET?
Some time management tips to prepare for NEET include preparing checklists, prioritizing tasks, preparing a monthly study schedule, setting achievable goals, staying focused and motivated and maintaining good mental and physical health.
3.How can I deal with the pressure of performing well in the first attempt?
Self-confidence and good knowledge of the relevant subjects is the key to combat performance pressure. Moreover, it is important to refrain from over- pressurising oneself and medicate regularly to stay calm.
4.How do I stay motivated during long hours of study?
It is easy to lose motivation while preparing for NEET exams. Adhering to a strict timetable, daily exercise, healthy eating and sufficient sleep keeps candidates focused.
5.How do I balance extracurricular activities and NEET preparation?
Blocking out a specific chunk of time for co-curricular activities each day can help candidates strike a balance between NEET preparation and extracurricular activities.
6.How can I stay calm and focused during the NEET exam?
Giving a tough exam like NEET demands 100% focus from candidates. Here are some tips to remain calm during the exam.
a. Taking deep breaths when feeling anxious
b. Answering easy questions first
c. Drinking water helps reduce nervousness.
7.How can I overcome distractions and maintain focus during daily sessions?
Avoiding distractions during study sessions is crucial. Creating a study schedule, taking breaks after certain time intervals, avoiding multitasking and blocking social media apps while studying help aspirants focus.