Proven NEET Exam Preparation Strategies
NEET-UG or National Eligibility Entrance Test is a standard entrance examination for all Indian candidates dreaming of a career in medical science. This nationwide competitive examination is organized annually by NTA (National Testing Agency) to choose eligible students for undergraduate medical courses like BHMS/BUMS/BSMS/BAMS/BDS/MBBS in recognized/approved AYUSH/Dental/Medical and other Institutes (JIPMER & AIIMS)/Deemed Universities/Colleges in India. Additionally, the NEET score might be used by other state and central government organizations along with their specific rules/guidelines/applicable regulations/eligibility criteria. The exam score is taken into consideration for AH, BVSc and B.Sc. Nursing admissions. This is one of the most competitive all-India exams due to the increasing number of candidates appearing each year.
In the past, college and school studies alone were sufficient for cracking any competitive examinations, however, the current situation is completely different. Nowadays, NEET preparation and self-study go hand in hand. Learning with proper strategies and techniques is equally important to the students’ hard work. This fierce competition has heightened the need for coaching classes in order to prepare productively for NEET exams. NEET coaching is key to clearing the exam successfully as some of these preparation techniques are hard to understand.
NEET examination is the gateway to most leading medical colleges in India. Advance preparation is extremely important to conquer the NEET exam because of its fierce competition and difficulty level. Hence, the last few weeks prior to the exam is of utmost importance. These couple of days determines your dream college admission. Besides having a tough academic curriculum, the NEET exam also comprises a rigorous assessment of candidates’ passion, hard work, and diligence in the medical field. With cutthroat competition and restricted seat numbers, it becomes cardinal for NEET aspirants to come up with the best preparation strategy to ace the examination.
Perseverance and planning are vital elements for NEET exam preparation. Nonetheless, there are a few NEET exam tips that will help you to better recall and learn theories & concepts quickly. This article offers a crisp strategy to facilitate easy understanding and clear the country’s toughest exam. The NEET exam preparation strategies provided in this write-up are verified, concise, and clear.
NEET Exam Overview
The first and foremost NEET exam tip for any competitive exam preparation is understanding the fundamental aspects of the concerned exam. The table below gives a detailed yet succinct overview of the NEET examination.
NEET Exam | |
Organizing body | NTA |
Frequency of the exam | Twice a year |
Tentative months | May & February |
Mode of the exam | Pen & Paper Based |
Languages | Urdu, Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi, Odia, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, Bengali, Assamese, Hindi & English |
Duration of the exam | 3 hours |
Subjects of the exam | Biology- Botany & Zoology, Chemistry & Physics |
Type of question | MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) |
Questions per subject | 50 (45 need to be answered) |
Total questions | 200 (180 need to be answered) |
The pattern of the exam | 4 marks x 180 questions |
Negative marking | -1 for a wrong answer |
NEET Exam Preparation Strategies
The preparation for this national-level entrance examination has to be streamlined. Keep in mind the four mantras during preparation- Understand, Learn, Practise & Revise. Here are some effective NEET exam preparation strategies for making your preparation productive.
1. Understand NEET exam pattern and syllabusÂ
Prior to the NEET exam preparation, it is crucial to have a complete awareness of the weightage, exam pattern, and syllabus of the examination. The points below give a clear picture of the NEET exam basics.
- NEET exam syllabus comprises of three subjects-Physics, Chemistry & Biology with a total of 180 questions
- For the NEET exam, 45 questions are asked from Physics & Chemistry and 90 from Biology. The exam is scored out of 720 marks, in which 360 is accounted for Biology & 180 each for Physics & Chemistry
- Correct answers are awarded 4 marks and wrong answers are given a negative marking of 1
- After checking the syllabus, mark both your weak as well as strong areas. This can help in tracking your progress
- Additionally, divide the subject topics based on their weightage. This can help in easily covering the whole syllabus
Subjects | Important Topics |
Biology | Physiology of Plants & Animals, Basics of Biotechnology, Reproduction, Environment & Ecology, Morphology, Cell Biology, Genetics |
Chemistry | Chemical Bonding, Coordination Chemistry, General Organic Chemistry, Periodic Table, Mole Concept |
Physics | Nuclear Physics, Thermodynamics, Optics, Mechanics |
2. Make a realistic timetable for the NEET exam
The main thing to be maintained throughout the NEET exam preparation is remaining focused. Determination is a crucial motivation for students. Those who are determined to get admission to a particular medical college will work hard to achieve their goal. The next thing after setting your target is making an efficient and smart study plan. As Jayson Zabate states, besides working hard, the other significant thing is to efficiently manage your mind, resources & time for a better result. A realistic, smart & fixed plan will help students to remain focused on their studies to reach their target. Moreover, it will create a sense of discipline and seriousness in the students’ NEET exam preparation. It is crucial to make a realistic timetable as an unrealistic one will only exhaust the students and fail them. Rather than going for the impossible, concentrate on your weak and strong areas and set sufficient time for each topic. Follow the NEET exam tips given below to create an efficient timetable for the NEET exam preparation.
- Set the time according to your weak & strong areas
- Make sure you are covering the entire syllabus with this timetable
- Include 8 to 9 hours of study
- At a stretch, one can study for a minimum of 3 hours
- Remember to take enough breaks in between. Ten-minute breaks are ideal for boosting your concentration
- Ensure you have time for revision as well
- Set time for exercise to maintain your health
- Students should sleep for at least 6 to 8 hours daily
- Keep monthly, weekly, and daily targets with a fixed time
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3. Choose the right material for the NEET examÂ
NEET exam preparation without relevant books is a waste of time. Candidates need to follow the books suggested by their tutors or the websites. Here are a few indispensable NEET exam preparation materials.
- NCERTs: NCERT books are one of the best preparation materials for the NEET exam. These books provide the basic concepts & theories. So, it is imperative to thoroughly study the contents of these books.
- Any relevant NEET coaching material: This gives a chance for students to practice based on the actual NEET exam pattern.
- Previous year question papers: This is a must-have material for all NEET aspirants. Solving previous year’s papers gives an idea of the pattern and helps in boosting confidence.
Other important subject-wise reference books for the NEET exam are listed in the table below.
4. Create a subject-wise planÂ
NEET exam has three distinct subjects. Hence, it is vital to make separate strategies for each subject for exam preparation.
- Physics: Physics is considered one of the difficult subjects for all. However, this is primarily due to insufficient practice. For Physics, follow NCERT books and later focus on other reference materials. Here, practice is a significant key. Apart from regular practicing, students can make chapter-wise formula sheets with all laws & formulas.
- Chemistry:Â This is relatively easy and very scoring compared to the other two. NCERT is enough for scoring well in chemistry. Students need to learn chemical equations and diagrams in chemistry. Similar to the case of Physics, here also students can make separate sheets for each chapter with formulas and equations.
- Biology:Â Biology is the most studied subject among the three. Many a time, students get poor scores in other subjects. Hence, a proper balance is essential. Begin with NCERTs and then shift to other reference books. Diagrams are crucial in acing biology and can help you recall information concerned with the diagram.
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5. Prepare notes & use unique study codes
Preparing notes alongside studies is the ideal method for improving memory skills. Students must note down all the significant data gathered which can be quite handy during revision time. Bear in mind to clearly write down the points so as to avoid confusion afterward.
Analogies are an important tool to remember some significant concepts. This can help in retaining information by connecting new information with old information. Mnemonics are another means to recall important topics like the periodic table. Each student learns in their own distinct way. Few like to associate concepts with real-life situations while others like to use graphics. Employ whichever method you like or work the best.
6. Begin from the scratch
It is important for NEET aspirants to stick to the given syllabus. After completing the syllabus, candidates can focus on other relevant concepts and chapters of the NEET exam. Furthermore, good reference material for NEET exam preparation is vital. Stick to these NEET exam tips for effective NEET exam preparation.
- Begin by studying NCERT books
- Make sure to cover the entire syllabus
- Mark the important chapters
- Note down important formulas and notes
- Slowly transition to NEET study material
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7. Practice regularly
Daily practice is indispensable for NEET exam preparation. Candidates can track their progress with practice papers. Practice papers generally are framed with previous year’s questions. This helps students to better understand the kind of questions asked for the NEET exam. Students need to finish 180 questions in 3 hours. This implies that they can spend only 1 minute on each question. Regular practice can definitely improve your speed and time management skill. Rather than practicing vaguely, answer a set of questions within a limited time. Additionally, create a test log to record all the wrongly answered questions. This will enable students to identify their weak points. Follow the NEET exam tips given below for practicing.
- Focus on your weak areas
- Mark hard to solve questions
- Attempt practice questions for all chapters
- Practices as many as possible
8. Attempt full-length mock tests
Regular mock tests with actual NEET exam patterns can help boost confidence levels in aspirants. Moreover, by taking these mock tests, one can improve their test-taking strategy. Here are some major NEET exam tips for NEET candidates to follow.
- Keep on practicing
- Focus on your weak areas and difficult topics
- Evaluate your performance
- Make sure to take mock tests regularly
9. Monitor your progress
It is crucial for students to measure how far they have achieved. Record the time taken to solve questions. By gradually reducing the time taken, students can excel in time management. Try to improvise daily. When candidates see their improving progress record, their confidence level will increase tremendously. This could be an important motivation for students appearing for the NEET exam.
10. Make sure to revise regularly
Even though you are thorough with a specific subject, chapter, concept, or topic, you should revise on a regular basis. Revision is a significant element of your NEET exam preparation. Apart from the recollection of information, you can understand & find new things which were previously unnoticed. It would be impossible for candidates to cover the entire syllabus during the final week. Regular practice and revision will help solve this problem. Remember these key NEET exam tips while you revise for the NEET exam.
- Go through the relevant mechanisms, equations, and reactions
- Revise the derivations and formulas
- Focus on your weak areas and important topics
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11. Include sufficient breaksÂ
Bear in mind that you are human and not a robot. As humans, it is vital for all to have a good rest in order to work productively. Therefore, candidates’ efforts would be in vain if they work continuously without any breaks. Kit-kat breaks are of significant value when working on a challenging topic. These small breaks can help students to clearly understand the difficult topic. This is because, during the break time, students’ brain is still focused on the topic even though they are not consciously studying. NEET aspirants must prepare a timetable with sufficient breaks in between the study sessions for a better result.
12. Maintain your health
A sound sleep is an ideal meditation for NEET students. Besides re-energizing the student, a night of good sleep helps in boosting their concentration. Students must ensure that they take sufficient breaks in between and sleep for at least 6 to 8 hours daily. As aspirants are working long hours during the day, they must give enough time for their brains to recover. A sound mind is closely associated with a healthy body. So a good amount of rest can give a positive feeling and motivate students. The moment one begins thinking positively, their brain will show enhanced creativity. Also, a sound mindset will make you more open to new ideas and less anxious.
Moreover, due to the competition & difficulty of this all-India examination, students are facing immense pressure. Therefore, rests and breaks are crucial for them to cope with the stress and relax their minds. Read books, listen to music, play your favorite spot, or go for walks- whatever activity relaxes and suits you, just do it. If you need a push, check out inspirational stories. More significantly, don’t give up and believe in yourself.
NEET Exam Preparation Strategies From Toppers
After comprehensive research on NEET exam preparation strategies by experts, here are a few crucial NEET exam tips to be taken into consideration.
- Self-made notes are the best: While preparing for the NEET exam, students need to initially read the concept and understand it well. Afterward, they can frame the concept in their own words.
- Use maps/tables/charts:Â Instead of mugging up the formulas information, it is crucial that you make diagrams like maps, tables, or charts to inculcate and understand data conceptually.
- Clarify all your doubts:Â It is advised to resolve all the doubts and queries as quickly as possible. Any delays in these processes can affect your NEET exam.
- Concentrate on the concepts:Â Medical students must concentrate on understanding the basic concepts rather than simply learning formulas by heart. If candidates are well-versed with the concepts in every chapter, they can easily score good marks.
Common Mistakes During NEET Exam Preparation
- Not covering the whole syllabus: Competitive examinations like NEET has a broad syllabus and it is necessary to cover all the subjects and topics.
- Excessive referring:Â This is the main cause of confusion among NEET aspirants. They must stick to a few relevant books.
- Ignoring NCERT: For the NEET examination, nearly 70% of questions are framed from NCERT textbooks. Therefore, students should never ignore NCERT books.
- Hectic timetable: Students must not study for long hours in one stretch or follow a hectic schedule as it exhausts them and affect their retention.
- Not following the schedule: If aspirants are aiming for a good NEET score, they must stick to the scheduled timing.
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NEET Exam Preparation FAQs
Summing up three strategies is not enough for an entrance exam especially for one like NEET-UG, nonetheless, the top three are- 1. Plan, execute & maintain consistency, 2. Try solving as many practice papers as possible, 3. Go through the entire NEET exam syllabus.
NEET Exam Preparation Strategy, NEET Exam Tips
Author – Geema George