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Top Mistakes to Avoid on NEET Exam Day: A Complete Checklist

What is NEET? 

Be we medical aspirants or involved in some other domain we have all heard about NEET. However, many of us are unaware of what it stands for. NEET is the acronym for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test which is one of the most competitive examinations in India. If you achieve high marks in NEET then you will be eligible for admission to undergraduate medical, dental, and AYUSH programs at the A grade medical and dental institutes in India. To be more precise, you need to qualify NEET to take the first step at the door of studying medicine. Every year, the National Testing Agency takes charge of organizing the exam. Having a vast syllabus, this exam requires you to start your preparation well in advance and stay focused during the entire preparation phase. Although factors like your preparation and the quality of NEET coaching received will majorly determine your performance, avoiding mistakes on the day of the exam makes a significant difference. Often, candidates falter not due to lack of knowledge but because of small, avoidable errors during the exam. 

Pay attention NEET aspirants, we have crafted this blog for you. We have taken every single action on the day of the exam into account, right from the time you wake up to the moment you submit your answer script. Based on our findings, we state the common mistakes that you as a NEET aspirant Mistakes to Avoid on NEET Exam  day. Our blog will help you plan the perfect day to maximize your chances of success.   

Top Mistakes to Avoid on NEET Exam Day

About NEET Exam Paper

Before you sit for NEET, it is very important for you to have an idea about important factors pertaining to the exam like the duration of the examination, the total questions you need to answer, the pattern of the exam, and more. Having prior knowledge of these will increase your confidence while taking the exam and set your expectations correctly. Also, the higher your familiarity with the exam paper pattern the less is the probability of errors due to misinformation. So, let us dive into the nitty-gritty of NEET exam.

Exam Duration 

In NEET examination you will get 200 minutes to mark the answers to all the questions. Note that you can divide the time among the different questions according to your convenience, there is no subject-wise sectional timing. 

Subjects 

The NEET question paper comprises questions from curriculums: Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Out of these three subjects, Biology receives the highest weightage; it is split into two branches: Botany and Zoology. 

Questions 

The questions are in multiple-choice question format. The paper contains 200 questions out of which you require to answer 180. The subjects Chemistry, Physics, Botany, and Zoology have 50 questions each. There will be two segments, sections A and B for each of the four different subjects. Section A and B comprises 35 and 15 questions respectively. You will be required to attempt 10 out of 15 questions from section B for each subject. 

Marks 

The total marks for the exam is 720. Of these Botany and Zoology combined carry 360 marks and Physics and Chemistry each carry 180 marks. Correctly answering each question will fetch you 4 marks. On the other hand, if you answer a question incorrectly you will lose 1 mark. You gain or lose no marks for unanswered questions. Finally, if you provide multiple answers to one question then it will be marked as incorrect and you will lose 1 mark.  

Top 12 Mistakes to Avoid on NEET Exam Day

Now that you have all the important information about the NEET exam pattern, let us come to the core topic of this blog. Yes, you guessed it right. We are finally going to look at the top 12 Mistakes to Avoid on NEET Exam

1. Postponing the Arrangement of Exam Essentials till the Last Moment 

Often students ignore the importance of being prepared in advance. They fail to prepare the logistics of the examination beforehand. The preparation includes aspects like organizing the essential documents like admit cards, reviewing the exam centre locations, and arranging basic supplies including pens, pencils, and erasers. Here is what you can do 

  • Prepare an Exam Checklist 

Allot some time in the night before the exam to ensure that you have all the necessary items such as your NEET admit card, a valid photo ID, passport-size photographs, and stationery items. Do not forget to ensure that your admit card is printed clearly. If you reach the exam hall without the relevant documents then you might face problems entering the exam hall. 

  • Check the Exam Centre Location  

You need to confirm where your exam centre is located beforehand and make arrangements to reach the venue in time. You can also consider visiting the centre some days before the exam so that you can avoid the mistake of reaching the wrong venue on the exam day. 

2. Arriving Late to the Exam Centre 

Make sure you reach your NEET examination hall on time. This might sound like an obvious point but often last-minute preparations consume a substantial chunk of your time and cause you to be late even before you understand. To add to this there can be unforeseen circumstances like traffic jams, transportation delays, or last-minute document confusions which can cause you to be late. Arriving late can cause anxiety which in turn affects your performance in the examination hall. Also, you might fall short of time to complete your paper. Here is what you can do 
  • Always plan out the exam day in a way that you reach the centre at least one hour before the reporting time. While making a plan do not forget to include factors like traffic, unexpected issues with transportation, and others.

3. Ignoring Instructions

If you are taking a NEET coaching or studying in a PUC college that trains for NEET then chances are that you will be acquainted with essential instructions given by invigilators in the exam hall. However, even then you should always pay attention to what the invigilators are instructing inside the exam hall. Sometimes students are nervous or are busy in their last-minute preparation and they might miss out on this instruction. This in turn might lead to errors in filling out the answer sheet, time management and any other aspects. One of the major Mistakes to Avoid on NEET Exam. It will be better if you:

  • Listen carefully

You must pay attention to every instruction provided by the invigilators regarding filling out the OMR sheets, any last-minute rule changes, and time management instructions. 

  • Clarify Doubts  

In case you have doubts regarding the instructions you must ask for clarifications immediately.  It is important to remember that if you violate the directives or fill out the OMR sheet incorrectly then your answer paper might get disqualified.

4. Panicking Due to Difficult Questions 

When the competitive exam is NEET then you should be prepared to answer critical questions. However, most students panic when they come across a difficult question. This typical mistake disrupts your concentration and wastes limited exam time. Thus, panicking due to difficult questions can negatively impact your performance. We would ask you to 

  • Stay Calm 

In case if you encounter a difficult question then you should not panic. You can flag it and attempt the other remaining questions. You can return to it later once you have answered the easier questions. 

  • Use Time Wisely 

For each question, you should not exceed a certain pre-specified  time limit.  If you find yourself stuck at one question then you should move ahead to the next one. 

5. Mismanaging Time During the Exam 

You cannot ignore the importance of time management during the exam. We have mentioned in the previous segments that you need to answer 180 questions and the total time duration of the exam is 200 minutes. So on average, it is safe for you to  spend one minute on one question. If you lose track of time then you will be forced to hurry while answering the rest of the paper which might cause you to miss some questions. Here is how you can act

  • Divide Your Time 

You must plan your time according to each subject. For example, you can allocate 80 minutes for Physics and Chemistry, and the rest 120 minutes for Biology. 

  • Monitor the Clock 

While you should be careful of the time, avoid obsessively checking it. 

6. Filling the OMR Street Incorrectly 

If you have taken mock tests at NEET coaching then you must know that the examination happens on OMR sheets; here you need to darken the circles corresponding to your answers. Making careless mistakes while filling the OMR sheets including marking the wrong bubble, using incorrect methods to erase the wrong answer, or filling the circles incompletely. Although these types of mistakes seem unlikely, they are more common than you think. This common Mistakes to Avoid on NEET Exam So, here are some remedies that you can apply 

  • Be Precise 

Fill in the OMR Sheet carefully and make sure to darken the bubbles properly without smudging. You can first use an HB pencil to lock the answers and then finalize them in pen once you are confident about your choice. Remember unclear markings can lead your answers to be recorded incorrectly by the OMR Sheet scanner. 

  • Fill the OMR Sheet Simultaneously 

Do not leave all answers to be marked towards the end of the exam. It is better to mark them along as you proceed. 

7. Neglecting to Read the Written Instructions 

Each NEET question paper comes with instructions that guide the students about how to approach the exam. There is information about the marking scheme, the pattern of the exam, and other factors. If you ignore these instructions then you might incur mistakes while answering due to misunderstanding. You should carefully scan through the instructions on the question paper in the first few minutes. Carefully understand the marking scheme and any special guidelines provided. Missing out on key information or misinterpreting it can cost you valuable marks. 

8. Overconfidence with Easy Questions 

Often students become overconfident about easy questions and underestimate them. You might skip double-checking the answers to these questions. This in turn can cause you to make some silly mistakes. Moreover, overconfidence may also cause you to rush through the exam causing you to misread the questions or skip important details. Here are some remedies that we can suggest. 

  • Maintain a Steady Pace 

Even if you find a question easy you need to take some time to read it carefully and ensure that you have correctly interpreted it. Once you have answered these questions do not forget to double-check the answers in case you have time. 

  • Stay Humble 

You should not rush through any section. You should treat every question with the same level of focus irrespective of their difficulty level. Remember, careless mistakes can cost you the marks that you could have otherwise bagged with a little more attention. 

9. Second-Guessing Answers 

Sometimes it is often seen that if you have some extra time left after answering the questions you resort to second-guessing. It can be counterproductive as often you might end up changing the right answer to the wrong one. This can affect your scores. The remedy here is to

  • Trust your instincts 

Go with your first choice. Unless you are absolutely sure that you have chosen the wrong answer, avoid changing it. 

  • Move on 

Once you have answered a question, move on to the next without dwelling on it. If you constantly keep reviewing past questions it can result in a waste of time and unnecessary confusion. 

10. Forgetting to Carry Snacks and Water 

We understand that examinations like NEET can be immensely mentally exhausting. So, sitting for three hours without any breaks can directly affect your energy levels.  Given this situation, a big mistake would be to overlook the importance of staying hydrated and energized during the exam. Lack of hydration can directly impact your concentration and overall energy level during the exam. This is one of the op Mistakes to Avoid on NEET Exam So, you can:

  • Carrying Light Snacks 

If the rules allow, you should bring a bottle of water and a light snack to maintain your energy level during breaks or before the start of the exam. 

  • Stay Hydrated 

You must drink water before the exam and during the breaks to stay hydrated and prevent fatigue. 

11. Over-relying On Last Minute Revisions 

Aspirants taking NEET coaching or the ones who self-study fine-tune their preparation by giving frequent mock examinations. The perk of giving these examinations is to prepare students well in advance so that last-minute stress can be avoided. Spending the last few hours before the exam in panic mode, trying to memorize new concepts and last-minute details can lead to stress and confusion. It can impact your ability to recall information. So we advise you to

  • Relax before the exam

You must avoid spending time learning new topics on your exam day. You can use the last few hours to calmly review important formulae, concepts, and diagrams. 

  • Breath and Focus 

Do not cram. You need to focus on calming your mind through relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation. 

12. Ignoring Negative Marking 

As we mentioned earlier, incorrect answers in NEET will cost you 1 mark each. When they are not definite about the answer to a question many students make a choice based on guesswork. However, they do not consider the risk of losing marks. This is a serious mistake which you should carefully avoid. So, what can you do? 

  • Avoid Random Guessing 

Stop yourself from blindly guessing answers if you are unsure about them. What you can do instead is to use the process of elimination to narrow down your choices. 

  • Skip When Necessary 

If you come across a question that you have no idea about and cannot eliminate the given options then skip the question; it will save you marks. 

Also know

How to Stay Motivated During NEET and JEE, CET exam Preparation

Tips to crack the NEET exam in the first attempt

Conclusion

Are you a NEET aspirant? 

Then you must have a long checklist to tick to equip you for the exam and keep you one step ahead of your competition. Some of the most obvious  Mistakes to Avoid on NEET Exam take while preparing include enrolling for NEET coaching or studying in a PUC college that offers integrated coaching for NEET, buying the most recommended books, constantly practicing for the exam, and more. However, amidst all these shenanigans an important factor skips the mind, that is mistakes. We often get so busy preparing that we often forget the mistakes that we can make at the main moment, that is on the day of the NEET exam. This blog is for all NEET aspirants. We have studied the behavioural patterns of NEET aspirants as well as previous experiences and listed the top 12 mistakes that students make on the day of the NEET exam. In addition to this, we have also stated some steps that you can take to prevent these mistakes from happening. Carefully avoiding these mistakes can improve your performance in the NEET exam and increase your chances of success.  

If you are looking to enroll in a good PUC college then Excel PU College can be the right option for you. The best part of this college is that it offers long-term NEET coaching that equips NEET aspirants to excel in NEET exams. 

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