Acing NEET 2022 with smart strategies

Your eyes are set on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2022? And you aim to ace it too? The most important medical entrance exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) is a replacement for other medical programs and qualifying exams for AIIMS and JIPMER institutes. This makes it the biggest entrance test as well giving impetus to the NEET exam course as well. Here, we offer tips on how you can prepare yourself for this prestigious exam.

Know the syllabus and master it

Knowing and understanding the syllabus for NEET is the first step to not only cracking it but also scoring high marks. Consisting of four subjects i.e., Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology, the syllabus covers everything falling under these subjects taught in classes 11 to 12. Understanding and mastering this syllabus is crucial for topping NEET. The NEET exam course has 97 chapters in its syllabus and is put together by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The entire syllabus is a combination of curricula from different boards, i.e., the state boards, CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education), COBSE (Council Board of School Education), and the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT). Besides, it also includes recommendations by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

Know the exam’s format

An objective exam, NEET has a duration of 3 hours and 20 minutes, which gives you about 1 minute to answer each question. Hence, before chalking out a study plan, it is important to get acquainted with the pattern of the test:

• It has 200 questions for 720 marks
• It is in offline mode only
• You must attempt 180 questions
• The questions are objective in nature with four options and one correct answer
• Each subject is divided into Section A and B
• Section A will have 35 questions
• Section B will have 15 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
• You must attempt 10 out of the 15 questions in Section B
• Each correct answer gets 4 marks
• Each wrong answer gets a negative marking of 1 mark
• The exam is conducted in 13 languages

To score above 600, you must get a minimum of 150 questions correct. This means that you must set your target of at least getting 160-170 questions right as there is also negative marking. Enrolling in an online NEET crash course will aid in your preparations as well.

For more information visit NTA’s official website.

Set a time-table

When you make a timetable to study for your NEET exam course, ensure that you allocate time to each subject wisely. We give you some tips on our study planner:

• Focus on the weaker sections and allocate more time to these
• Allocate time to each subject keeping in mind the ones that take longer to master than others. For instance, numericals take longer, so give more time to Physics, whereas Chemistry takes lesser time
• Set limits and complete your studies within the set time frame
• Put short- and long-term strategies in place and stick to them
• Set daily, weekly and monthly deadlines with enough time for breaks

Prepare your own notes

Making notes while learning a topic is the best way to memorize any concept. Hence, scribble short notes in your diary in a clear and concise manner. Later, revise them over and over again, which will help you in remembering what you have learned. Remember, copying the exact same text from the book will not help. It is always prudent to first read, understand and then write down the content in your own words, which aids in remembering it.

Revise, revise, and revise

We cannot stress enough on this point as we all know revision is one of the most important and critical features of studying and scoring in exams. Focus on the section you are weak in, revise formulae, derivatives, mechanisms, and equations, over and over again. There will be topics, which you will detest. We suggest you revise them the most number of times. That is what toppers do…they revise and practice the topics they dislike the most, the maximum number of times.

Mock tests

Remember, you have to finish 180 questions in 180 minutes. This means you have 1 minute for each question. Here, your time-management skills come into play, and now is when you will realize how critical and important that study timetable was. While you may have revised well, applying your knowledge and answering questions succinctly in less than a minute needs excellent time management. This comes with a lot of practice and hence the mock tests.

Study smart and for long hours

Here is how most NEET toppers study:

• Study smart and put in at least 12-13 hours of study daily
• Devote time to learning, understanding concepts, and most importantly, applying these concepts
• Practice everything repeatedly to score high marks
• Proper self-discipline is the key to acing the exam

Use NCERT books and solve question papers

It’s well-known fact that NCERT books are the Holy Bible for NEET. Be thorough in them because about 70% of the questions are from these textbooks. Here we recommend going for an online NEET crash course to aid in your preparation. Besides, solving the previous years’ papers, taking mock tests, and solving sample papers, will ensure that you score high. We also advise you to go for test series schemes, which are topic-wise. Compare your answers and arrive at a score, matching it with the NEET cut-off afterward. When you follow this pattern, you will see your progress through time, eventually reaching the desired score.

Relax and play

‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’, maybe an old saying yet is relevant even today, no matter how important an exam is. Hence, do take some time off your studies and pursue your hobbies. And of course, follow a healthy diet and do get at least 6-7 hours of sleep daily.

Acing the NEET may not seem a cakewalk, but with determination, diligence, daily preparation, and an online NEET crash course, you can definitely garner a high rank.