The most challenging step in studying for NEET is to start itself. The time when you're towing your study plans to days after days. You're losing your time itself. So for those who think it is too late? There is no wrong time to do the right thing. With the help of my batchmates and their experience while preparing for NEET, here are a few tips on studying for NEET.
1. Early start: A very well-known and the oldest fact that most of us know but never practice. Starting early to study is always going to be beneficial. Starting your preparations at least 12-14 months before the exam date will be the best option.
2. When you start your prep, your first goal should be to finish as much portion as you can out of the 19 subjects as quickly as possible. Always keep your smaller targets instead of running behind the bigger goals. It is the process that matters; eventually, it will lead you to your final goal. Your first reading should take about 5-6 months. Focus on clearing your concepts and fundamentals during this period.
3. Avoid going for clinical practice along with your preparation after you have completed your internship.
4. The time given for each subject can vary on the number of topics to be covered, but on average, 10 – 15 days per subject though it is not necessary to give equal time to each subject. Depending upon how difficult you find the subject, you can also provide more time to volatile subjects. This way, your first reading will be complete as per your goal.
5. Books to refer – Dental Pulse for MCQs plus synopsis, Dentest for MCQs plus synopsis.
Reference books will be the ones you studied for four years of BDS.
Apps you can use – MDS Prep Marathon, Prep-Ladder, Dental Pulse.
6. Strategies –
Pictorial questions and Image-based question: Equal importance should be given to such questions.
For Anatomy, always use the reference books for the pictures as this will provide a better understanding.
For Pharmacology, refer to the classification of drugs from the textbooks.
For Biochemistry, refer to the cycles from the textbook, and you can also see YouTube videos.
A few interesting YouTube links: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=qQr7ZyTzAgg&list=PLapbsNcPEPX8TF_HZf_SV5jkJUT9ndVp&index=3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXA9pqr41Bs
Always refer to pictures while you're studying, as it will help you retain the topic with better understanding.
Extensive textbook reading is not necessary; only selective reading for specific topics may be needed.
Making notes of any particular topic that you have never heard of or came across studying from books will be helpful during revision.
Make stick notes of numerical data, pharmacological classifications, and the topics that find challenging to remember as these are volatile to retain in memory with each passing day.
Using mnemonics will prove useful for certain subjects like Pharmacology and General Medicine.
Revising topics before going to sleep daily will help you retain the topic for a longer time.
At least one day should be given for an overall revision of what you studied during the week.
7. As you start your second reading, you need to pace your speed at solving the MCQ's. The reading should focus more on the synopsis as you did during the first reading. Set a target to finish at least 400 - 500 MCQs each day.
8. 2-3 months before the exams, try to merge two subjects and study them at the same time. This method will save time for more revision and help you understand the jumbled pattern of the questions in the NEET exam. For example:
Oral Pathology + Oral Medicine and Radiology
Oral Surgery + General Surgery + Anatomy
Dental Material + Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
Dental Material + Prosthodontics
General Medicine + Pharmacology + Physiology
Dental Anatomy and Dental Histology + General Pathology
Pedodontics, you can study with any of the clinical subjects.
9. Revision and consistency are required to achieve your goal. Try to finish your second reading in 2 – 3 months, at least.
10. As you start with your third revision, try to adapt yourself to the computer-based test series. It will be beneficial for the adaptation of the exam scenario.
11. Practice more MCQs based on time. Try not to avoid or skip the pictorial questions, image-based questions, or clinical questions during the last revision.
12. Try to solve the previous year's question papers for more practice and time management. Practicing past year question papers will help you avoid the negative marking and give you a better understanding of the exam pattern.
13. Lastly, be confident with your marking strategy during the exam as your performance will depend upon 3 hours of the exam.
Good luck with your preparations!
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