The NEET exam opens doors into MBBS and BDS courses in many government medical colleges across the country. It is one of India’s most competitive exams that has seen a constant rise in the number of applicants, from 11.5 lakh last year to 15 lakh this year.
The exam has a total of 180 questions, distributed equally between physics, chemistry, botany, and zoology. Each correct answer gets you four marks. Every incorrect answer will cost you a negative mark.
The exam syllabus is vast, and the negative marking makes it difficult.
As you get ready for NEET 2019, which is to be held on May 5, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Take mock tests daily, and solve previous years’ papers:
Now that your board exams are over, spend at least three hours on taking mock tests, daily. This helps train your mind to concentrate for a longer period of time.
- Take the mock test at the same time as your NEET exam.
- Answer all tests in a time-bound, exam-like setting. Fill in your answers on an OMR sheet so that you are habituated to the format.
- Focus on higher accuracy instead of attempting a higher number of questions carelessly.
- Once you have completed the test for the day, analyse the answers that you got wrong and figure out why you made a mistake.
- Revise topics where you make mistakes repeatedly to avoid them in the next test. Some learning apps like Toppr and Khan Academy let you access their online classes for free. You can learn better with their bite-sized videos, or chapter-wise notes of important concepts and definitions.
Get your doubts resolved as soon as they occur:
If you have any doubts, get them resolved instantly. Use better learning apps like Toppr that let you ask your doubts on a chat, 24x7. You just have to click a picture of your doubt and upload it. You can then instantly chat with an expert tutor until it is cleared, even if it is in the middle of the night.
Key topics under NEET
Remember, NEET gives a lot of weightage to some topics over the last few years. Here’s a list:
- Physics: Mechanics, electrodynamics, and optics
- Chemistry: Chemical bonding and co-ordination compounds, general organic chemistry and carbonyl compounds, and chemical kinetics and thermochemistry
- Biology: Human physiology, genetics and evolution, and ecology
Revising weak topics
- Go back to your short notes and flashcards to read up all major concepts.
- Many YouTube channels also conduct free live classes every day and cover important topics, test-taking tips. Here, not only can you revise a concept, but also interact with tutors in real time.
On the day of the exam
- Be well rested with a good night’s sleep
- Find out about the dress code for the exam in advance and follow it.
- Keep your admit card and any other documents ready.
- Reach the exam centre well in advance to avoid any last minute delays.
- Keep your mind calm, stay confident, and do not engage in last-minute discussions with your peers. In case you do not know a topic, finding out about it minutes before the exam will only add to your nervousness.
When you start taking tests, you might not score very high, initially. Do not be disheartened. Use various apps that help you learn better with free online classes and personalised practice questions. This will save time, and help you improve faster.
The writer is the VP and Educational Content Head of Toppr.
