NEET, or the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, is the most important exam for medical aspirants in India and abroad. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) every year for admission to undergraduate medical courses (MBBS/BDS) in government and private medical colleges across the country. NEET is also a prerequisite for pursuing medical education abroad.
NEET is a highly competitive and challenging exam, with more than 15 lakh candidates appearing for it every year. The exam tests the knowledge and aptitude of the candidates in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology based on the NCERT syllabus of classes 11th and 12th. The exam consists of 200 objective-type questions, with a total duration of 3 hours.
Cracking NEET in the first attempt is not an impossible task, but it requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and smart preparation. Many students aspire to crack NEET in the first attempt without coaching, but they often lack proper guidance and strategy. In this article, we will provide you with some practical and effective tips to crack NEET in the first attempt without coaching. These tips will help you to cover the syllabus, understand the exam pattern, develop a study plan, focus on the concepts, practice regularly, take care of your health, and stay calm and confident on the day of the exam.
Tip 1: Get familiar with the syllabus
The first and foremost step to crack NEET in the first attempt is to get familiar with the NEET syllabus well. The NEET syllabus is based on the NCERT textbooks for classes 11th and 12th, which cover all the important topics and concepts in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. You can download the NEET syllabus from the official website of NTA or from here.
The table below shows the chapters and topics covered in each subject for NEET exam.
| Subject | Chapters |
|---|---|
| Physics | Physical world and measurement, Kinematics, Laws of motion, Work, energy and power, Motion of system of particles and rigid body, Gravitation, Properties of bulk matter, Thermodynamics, Behaviour of perfect gas and kinetic theory, Oscillations and waves, Electrostatics, Current electricity, Magnetic effects of current and magnetism, Electromagnetic induction and alternating currents, Electromagnetic waves, Optics, Dual nature of matter and radiation, Atoms and nuclei, Electronic devices |
| Chemistry | Some basic concepts of chemistry, Structure of atom, Classification of elements and periodicity in properties, Chemical bonding and molecular structure, States of matter: gases and liquids, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Redox reactions, Hydrogen, s-Block element (alkali and alkaline earth metals), Some p-Block elements (Groups 13-16), Organic chemistry- some basic principles and techniques (Hydrocarbons), Environmental chemistry (Environmental pollution), Solid state (Classification of solids), Solutions (Types of solutions), Electrochemistry (Redox reactions), Chemical kinetics (Rate of a reaction), Surface chemistry (Adsorption), General principles and processes of isolation of elements (Principles & methods of extraction), p-Block elements (Groups 15-18), d-And f-block elements (Lanthanoids & actinoids), Coordination compounds (Werner’s theory), Haloalkanes & haloarenes (Nomenclature & classification), Alcohols & phenols & ethers (Nomenclature & classification), Aldehydes & ketones & carboxylic acids (Nomenclature & classification), Organic compounds containing nitrogen (Amines & diazonium salts), Biomolecules (Carbohydrates & proteins), Polymers (Classification & types), Chemistry in everyday life (Drugs & cosmetics) |
| Biology | Diversity in living world (Biological classification & plant kingdom), Structural organisation in animals & plants (Morphology & anatomy), Cell structure & function (Cell cycle & cell division), Plant physiology (Transport in plants & photosynthesis), Human physiology (Digestion & absorption & breathing & exchange of gases), Reproduction (Reproduction in organisms & human reproduction), Genetics & evolution (Principles of inheritance & variation & molecular basis of inheritance), Biology & human welfare (Human health & disease & biotechnology: principles & processes), Biotechnology & its applications (Biotechnology: applications & ecology: organisms & populations), Ecology & environment (Ecosystems & biodiversity & conservation) |
You should correlate the NEET syllabus with your board syllabus and focus on the important chapters that have more weightage in NEET exam. You can refer to this article for more details on NEET chapter-wise weightage.
Tip 2: Understand the exam pattern
The next step to crack NEET in the first attempt is to understand the NEET exam pattern well. The exam pattern will help you to plan your study strategy and time management for NEET exam. The NEET exam pattern is as follows:
- Mode of exam: Offline (pen and paper-based)
- Duration of exam: 3 hours
- Number of questions: 200
- Sections: Physics (45 questions), Chemistry (45 questions), Biology (90 questions)
- Type of questions: Objective (multiple choice)
- Marking scheme: +4 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect answer, 0 for unattempted answer
- Maximum marks: 720
You should familiarize yourself with the NEET exam pattern and practice accordingly. You should also be aware of the negative marking and avoid guesswork in the exam.
Tip 3: Develop a study plan and stick to it
One of the most crucial tips to crack NEET in the first attempt is to develop a study plan and stick to it. A study plan will help you to cover the syllabus, revise, practice, and improve your performance. You should make a realistic and effective study plan that suits your learning style and pace. Some tips on how to make a study plan are:
- Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals for each subject and topic
- Allocate time for each subject and topic according to your strength and weakness
- Follow a routine that balances your study, rest, and recreation
- Review your progress regularly and make necessary changes in your plan
- Follow your study plan diligently and avoid distractions and procrastination
You can also refer to this article for some sample study plans for NEET exam.
Tip 4: Focus on the concepts and practice regularly
Another important tip to crack NEET in the first attempt is to focus on the concepts and practice regularly. NEET is not a memory-based exam, but a concept-based exam. You should understand the concepts rather than memorizing them for NEET exam. You should study from NCERT textbooks, coaching modules, reference books, etc. and make revision notes for each topic. You should also practice as much as possible from previous years’ question papers, mock tests, online quizzes, etc. and solve them in a time-bound manner. Some tips on how to focus on the concepts and practice regularly are:
- Read the NCERT textbooks thoroughly and highlight the important points
- Solve the NCERT exercises and exemplar problems at the end of each chapter
- Refer to some standard reference books for additional concepts and problems
- Make short notes or flashcards for quick revision
- Solve at least one previous year’s question paper or mock test every week
- Analyze your performance after each practice session and identify your strengths and weaknesses, errors and doubts, and work on them accordingly
- Revise the important topics and formulas regularly
You can also refer to [this] article for some useful resources for NEET preparation.
Tip 5: Take care of your health and well-being
Health is wealth, and it can affect your preparation and performance for NEET exam. You should take care of your health and well-being while preparing for NEET exam. You should maintain a healthy diet, sleep well, exercise regularly, meditate, etc. to keep your body and mind fit and relaxed. Some tips on how to take care of your health and well-being are:
- Eat a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, dairy products, etc.
- Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated
- Avoid junk food, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, etc.
- Sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours every night
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day
- Meditate or do yoga or breathing exercises to calm your nerves
- Take breaks in between your study sessions and do something you enjoy
- Avoid stress, anxiety, depression, etc. and cope with them positively
You can also refer to [this] article for some more tips on how to take care of your health and well-being.
Tip 6: Stay calm and confident on the day of the exam
The last but not the least tip to crack NEET in the first attempt is to stay calm and confident on the day of the exam. You should be confident and optimistic about cracking NEET in the first attempt. You should also prepare well for the exam day and follow some dos and don’ts. Some tips on how to stay calm and confident on the day of the exam are:
- Revise the important topics and formulas before the exam
- Avoid studying any new topic or concept on the day of the exam
- Carry all the necessary documents and items such as admit card, ID proof, pen, etc.
- Reach the exam center at least an hour before the exam time
- Read the instructions carefully before starting the exam
- Attempt the easy questions first and leave the difficult ones
- Avoid guesswork and negative marking in the exam
- Manage your time wisely and do not spend too much time on any question
- Keep your calm and confidence throughout the exam
These are some of the tips and tricks that can help you to crack NEET in the first attempt without coaching. If you follow these tips diligently and sincerely, you will be able to achieve your dream of becoming a doctor. We hope you found this article useful and informative. We wish you all the best for your NEET exam.
