Every year, thousands of students attempt the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), and the majority of the students (60-70%) clear the entrance exam on the first try. Even though it may seem daunting, with proper practice and some helpful tips to keep in mind, students can crack NEET in one go.
- Manage your time well
Dividing your time efficiently is of foremost importance if your goal is to crack NEET in the first attempt. It is very crucial as to how well scheduled your timetable is and how much time it provides you for practice, revision and rest. It should be flexible and allow time for covering topics that may have been missed. Set deadlines for yourself and achieve them. It ensures that students finish their course in time since NEET comprises a fairly large amount syllabus covering both 11th and 12th grade.
- Study smart and regularly
Make notes as and when you learn a certain topic. Self-written notes not only make it easier to study a topic later but also makes revisions very effortless. Monthly and weekly targets help devise a very systematic and achievable study planner. It is also advised that the study sessions be regular to stay motivated and not slack off.
- Compile your notes for revision
All notes from both the years of studying should be kept for the last minute revision, a week or two before the final examination. As and when you finish a topic, make notes, and later when you revisit them, try to compress your revision notes into an even smaller version. Your final notes, therefore, will be very precise and will contain only the most important of the information that you can quickly flip through before D-day.
- Engage in multiple revision and self-evaluation
Revising once, just before the exam, is not enough for an exam with such an extensive course and syllabus. Regular and multiple revisions every few months are very crucial, especially for biology topics and organic chemistry, which are more fact-based. Also to be done every now and then is self-evaluation. Mock tests and blind revisions can help you identify how much of what you have already studied do you remember and what topics you need to work on more.
- Do not neglect topics that seem less important
A very common mistake that NEET aspirants make is that they tend to neglect topics that are deemed “easy”. Even though these topics are easier, they may present themselves as valuable marks earning questions. There are also certain topics which should be given more importance but minor topics should also be studied, albeit not as extensively.
- Solve doubts as soon as possible
Another very crucial mistake to avoid is not getting your doubts solved as soon as they come to you. Later, such concepts which were not understood properly the first time or questions which were unsolvable can pile up and it might become too tiresome to get them solved before the exam. Some of these may be very important towards getting a good score. Teachers, even parents, and coaching institutes are readily available to resolve such doubts. Explanation and answers to many questions along with similar problems can even be found on the internet these days.
- NCERT is a necessity
Students neglect the importance of the CBSE-issued standard NCERT textbooks while preparing for this entrance exam. However, in reality, the majority of the questions in theoretical concepts like organic chemistry and a large chunk of biology are asked from the NCERT textbooks directly. It is, therefore, very crucial to read through all of your NCERT textbooks at least three to four times before appearing for NEET. The following topics in the Biology NCERT textbook should be given extra attention:
- Human Physiology
- Plant Physiology
- Genetics and Evolution
- Cell: Its Structure and Function
- Structural Organisation in Plants & Animals
- Diversity of Living Organisms
- Take as many mock tests as you can
The key to accessing a good score in entrance exams like NEET and JEE is to grind all your energy into solving mock tests and practice papers. These prove to be the most helpful as they help you manage your time well between the different sections and also point out the areas where more revision or clarification of doubts may be needed. Check out the NEET 2020 F1 Question Paper to get an idea about the types of questions asked in the exam and to analyze the paper pattern.
- Familiarize yourself with the paper pattern
Solving old question papers can help you give an idea of the level of difficulty of the questions asked. But it can also help get familiarized with the paper pattern. One thing that is constant with NEET is its unchanging paper pattern. Getting accustomed to the type of questions and the sections can help you identify which parts to attempt first and which ones require more time to be solved.
- Rest and destress enough
NEET is a very stressful examination to go through, with the massive competition and the prize at the end of the race, which is, entry to a good medical college. It is therefore very necessary to destress and take regular breaks in between study sessions. Extensively tiring schedules can take a toll on the body and can be deteriorating for overall health in the long run. Taking breaks and avoiding cramming for a few hours in between can also help reduce anxiety.
This article highlights some of the most important tips to keep in mind if your goal is to clear NEET in the first attempt. Following them, all can guarantee a good score for NEET aspirants, with or without the help of coaching institutes. In addition to these, ask and follow the guidance of people who have already attempted and cleared the examination. This will give you some valuable points to additionally keep in mind while attempting the exam. Staying positive and believing in your hard work are the last efforts you can make for your endeavor.