Advice for planning your day while studying for the NEET PG exam

The NEET PG examination is the door to getting an opportunity to study in India’s top medical institutes. Since this is one of the most competitive exams in this field, students prepare for years in advance to crack this exam. This is why the final 2 months’ stretch leading up to the NEET PG examination is a highly important and stressful period. A student’s daily preparation schedule can either make or break, their admission into their top preferred medical college in India. 

Preparing for the exam requires daily planning and perseverance. In this article, we will be sharing effective tips and tricks that have proven to help students navigate their daily study schedules in a better way, and assisting them in instant recall of various theories and concepts in the course of their study preparation, mock tests, and final examination. 

NEET PG Examination Pattern 2022

According to the current exam pattern of the NEET PG, NTA conducts the entrance test via a pen and paper-based mode. The exam duration is typically 3 hours, and the candidates answer 200 MCQs from sections including Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, etc. Based on the official marking scheme of the NEET PG, four marks are awarded for each correct answer, and one mark is deducted for each wrong answer. 

Since it is the only PG level test conducted for admission into nursing, medical, and mastering courses, hence cracking this exam becomes imperative for students to undertake further studies in India’s top:

• Central universities and deemed universities;
• Private medical colleges; and 
• Private aided non-minority, unaided, aided minority medical colleges.

Moreover, cracking the exam is a compulsory prerequisite for graduates who desire to pursue any master’s degree, from any national, as well as foreign medical institute. 

Basic NEET PG related trivia

Level of examination	National Level
Conducting authority	National Board of Examinations
Purpose of the examination	Admission in Master’s courses
Category of examination	Post-graduate
Frequency of conduction	Once in a year
Application mode	Online
Mode of Exam	Online
Mode of payment	Online
Maximum marks	800
Duration	3 hours 30 minutes
Official website	nbe.edu.in
Total number of applicants	Around 13-15 lakhs

In the following table, you will find more information regarding the exam pattern, marking scheme, number of questions, and various other NEET related data – 

Different factors in the NEET Examination, 2021 pattern	Details
Examination Date	Once a year, in the month of September
Mode of conducting the examination	Computer-based mode. The candidates are provided an online exam module in which they need to mark the correct answers on the online portal.
Medium/Language	English, Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Urdu, and Oriya
Duration	3 hours 30 minutes
Question Type	Multiple Choice Questions
Total number of questions	200
Total marks	800 marks
Marking scheme	For each right answer – 4 marks for each wrong answer – Negative 1 mark for unanswered questions – 0 marks

Study Plan & Syllabus while preparing for NEET PG examination  

The syllabus of the NEET-PG exam is vast. To complete this, it is necessary for students to divide their study time to go through the syllabus properly. There are different methods of dividing the NEET PG syllabus, as follows – 

1st Prof Subjects (Theoretical)

• Anatomy – The study of the structure of the organisms and their parts
• Physiology- The scientific study of functions and mechanisms in a living system. It focuses on how organisms, organ systems, individual organs, cells, and biomolecules carry out the chemical and physical functions in a living system.
• Biochemistry- It is the study of chemical processes relating to living organisms. It is divided into three categories-structural biologies, enzymology, and metabolism.

2nd Prof Subjects (Theoretical)

• Pathology- It is the examination of tissues, organs, bodily fluids, and autopsies in order to study and diagnose disease.
• Microbiology- It is the study of micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, etc.
• Pharmacology-Study of drugs, and their actions on living things.

3rd Prof Subjects (Clinical-Based)

• Opthalmology- It is a branch of medicine and surgery that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the eye and visual system.
• PSM (Preventive and Social Medicine)- This subject deals with the measures taken to prevent diseases and promote health. Preventive and social medicine is also known as community medicine.
• ENT- It is the study and diagnosis of the ear, nose, and throat. It is also called an otolaryngologist.
• FMT-FMT stands for Forensic, Medicine, and Toxicology. It is the scientific method to investigate crimes.

4th Prof Subjects (Clinical-Based)

In 4th Prof, the subjects are divided into two categories- Major and Minor.

Major Subjects

• Medicine
• Surgery
• Pediatrics- It is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents.
• OBS and Gynae- It is the study and diagnosis of diseases of the female reproductive organs.

Minor Subjects

• Radiology- It is a study with involves medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases within the bodies of animals and humans
• Dermatology – Branch of medicine that deals with skin issues.
• Anesthesia-
• Psychiatry-It is the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders
• Orthopedics- It is the study and treatment of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine, joints, and muscles.

Going through the entire syllabus will allow students to –

• Divide topics based on how easy and quickly they can be grasped and learned, as well as understand how time-consuming they are. 
• Have a brief idea as to how interconnected, conceptual, and application-based the topics are.

Below, you will find various sections of the NEET PG exam, along with a break up of the marks allotted for each section –  

Section	Subject	Total no. of questions
Part A	Anatomy	17
Part A	Physiology	17
Part A	Biochemistry	16
Part B	Pathology	25
Part B	Pharmacology	20
Part B	Microbiology	20
Part B	Forensic Medicine	10
Part B	Social and Preventive Medicine	25
Part C	General Medicine Including Dermatology & Venereology & Psychiatry	45
Part C	General Surgery Including Orthopedics, Anaesthesia, and Radiodiagnosis	45
Part C	Obstetrics and Gynaecology	30
Part C	Pediatrics	10
Part C	ENT	10
Part C	Ophthalmology	10
	Total	300

Planning your day while studying for the NBE NEET PG Examination

As per the NEET syllabus, biology comprises the highest number of marks. Therefore an adequate amount of time must be given to thoroughly prepare this topic. Below, you can find tips on how to better understand the different topics and prepare the syllabus more thoroughly –  

• Early morning/afternoon studies are scientifically proven to be more beneficial.
• Begin your day early. Start with going through the syllabus and your study plan for the day. 
• Make a division of each day into three parts – learning, revising, practicing. 
• Begin with tough topics of Anatomy, Physiology, or topics that you haven’t touched on. 
• Start by solving questions, and keeping a track of the time spent on solving these questions. 
• Take a 10-15 break after every few hours of study, and move on to the next study sessions. 
• Fix some time in your overall schedule for lunch/ short nap breaks.  
• Concentrate on concepts of the topics you are learning, and also solve questionnaires.
• Go for a walk or relax to rejuvenate your energy. 
• Solve time question papers in a timely manner. 
• Take an adequate amount of rest and plan the successive day’s subjects. 

The following NEET-PG 2021 preparation strategy assists aspirants, to begin with their preparation in a more fruitful manner – 

Creation of a unique learning style 

Every student studies in their own preferred way. While some students like to study using graphic representation, some opt to relate to the theoretical concepts with real-life experiences. Therefore, utilize whichever method works most efficiently for you to conquer the NEET examination. 

Create a proper mind map of the chapters you have already learned, and include as much detailed information as possible. This will assist you to create a proper structure for your studies. Use strategies like mnemonics to recall concepts and topics such as scientific names of animals and plants, or the classification of different organisms. 

Thorough comprehension of the NEET PG examination syllabus 

This is one of the most preliminary steps that students must undergo, do well. They should compulsorily prepare a separate list of the most important topics, based on the weightage of these topics in the exam syllabus.

Be aware of the question paper’s pattern, and mark the proper weightage of each chapter and ensure that you have covered all the important concepts and topics, as part of your preparation. 

The study, based on the weightage of chapters from the syllabus

As the syllabus is vast, aspirants should make a proper study plan as per the weight given to topics of various chapters. 

You must remember that studying only these selected chapters will not necessarily lead to a better result – however, it is important to concentrate more on the following topics during the early stages of the examination, as they have a higher allocation of questions. 

These subjects include –

• General Medicine including Dermatology & Venereology & Psychiatry
• General Surgery including Orthopedics, Anaesthesia, and Radiodiagnosis
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Choosing the best books for NEET-PG 

Selecting the best books can be confusing. Choosing the right book from a huge number of available study materials can be time-taking – something that aspirants may not be able to afford time-wise, since there are limited days for the preparation of NEET PG. Therefore, the best time to choose books and reference material is at least 6 months prior to the day of the NEET-PG examination, or at the time of creating the time schedule or study plan. 

Following a definite pattern 

Comprehending the exam pattern, syllabus and selecting the right books will only be beneficial if the aspirants have a proper timetable. Good timetables are more focused on achieving practical goals rather than far-fetched goals. The most beneficial study pattern for a student would be to select a particular topic and learn it in a detailed manner. This should be followed by analysis, and revision, of the selected topic.

Appropriately setting priorities 

When it comes to cracking the NBE NEET PG examination, it is absolutely important to appropriately set priorities. Students should devise an appropriate schedule so that they can keep track of their daily activities. On top of one’s priority list, there should be an adequate amount of time for the preparation of a wide variety of topics. Priorities should also be given to eating and sleeping, which are equally important to develop a focused mind. In addition, while preparing for the NEET PG, students must prioritize subjects based on the importance given to them in the final exam and accordingly allocate time for their preparation.  

Thoroughly learn Difficult Topics

During your preparation, mark the difficult concepts for each subject or topic. Give more time, including adequate revision time, to solving questions that are related to these topics. Note down complex formulae, and continuously revise them multiple times, in the days leading up to the exam.  

Recheck mistakes and solve the questions 

For cracking the NEET PG exam, attempting only the mock test is simply not enough. You will be required to go back to the study material and your notes to check where mistakes have been made, so that you can immediately clarify those topics with the help of teachers, or from the reference books. This will assist you to improve, and will also prevent you from making further similar mistakes. 

Try to attempt the mock tests and solve the previous years’ questions

The examiners who set the questionnaire of the NEET PG examination have been known to maintain a standard level of difficulty, throughout the years of the NEET PG examination. Therefore, attempting to solve the previous years’ questionnaires, will offer you a thorough idea of the questions that may be present in this year’s NEET PG exam. This will give you an idea of how thoroughly you will be able to solve them. Since the mock test questionnaires are slightly higher in their difficulty level, utilize these tests to hone your time management skills for the final examination. 

Without proper evaluation, your daily preparation for the NEET-PG exam will remain incomplete. Therefore, practicing mock tests and going through sample papers on a daily basis, can be your savior. Don’t be afraid to seek guidance from your seniors and mentors, as this can help you immensely. Overall, self-evaluation will allow you to –  

• Find out particular areas where you need to put in more focus.
• Examine your knowledge of major concepts.
• Examine your overall preparation.
• Taking Scheduled Breaks 

It has been seen often that candidates who are preparing for medical entrances have a habit of practicing continuous learning sessions. If you are practicing this kind of study pattern, it may do you more harm than good. 

To study in a much better way, you should plan mandatory, timely breaks in between long tiring study sessions. Gradually this practice will help you to: 

• Handle time management. 
• Give you a breather in between study sessions. 
• Allow you to rejuvenate. 
• Improve your level of concentration. 
• Help you to focus better.

Eat healthily and get adequate sleep. 

Falling ill on the day of the NEET PG exam, or a few days prior to the exam, can hamper all the effort you have put into your study preparation. Hence, make sure that you stick to healthy and home-cooked food, and get adequate sleep in between your study sessions. 

Sleep is extremely important as it offers your brain adequate time for relaxation. Moreover, after a sound night’s sleep, you will feel more refreshed and will be in a better position to concentrate, focus, and recall information.  

Eliminate unnecessary tasks from your daily schedule 

Time management is extremely important, especially during the last few days before the NEET-PG examination. Hence, try to select a single hobby that helps you de-stress, and stick to the same hobby in a routine manner, such as taking a walk or listening to music. This will help you avoid pointless interactions, or indulging in distracting forms of entertainment such as social media, TV shows, movies, etc. 

Following are some basic guidelines on how to prepare topics of general surgery, for the NEET PG examination – 

• To crack general surgery, ensure that you thoroughly read and revise topics, even multiple times, as may be necessary.
• You must pay close attention to learning diagrams, as a great majority of the questions asked in the NEET PG examination are based on specific diagrams.
• Read various books to cover more information on a particular topic.
• To judge how clear your concepts in a particular topic or area are, practice sample questionnaires.
• Mark the important portions of a topic, and quickly revise them before each test.
• See educational surgery videos as a visual aid, to attain some practical knowledge.

According to toppers and experts, some of the most necessary prerequisites of appearing for the NEET pg examination, include the following tips –  

• Begin your study preparation with topics such as General Medicine, including Dermatology & Venereology & Psychiatry, and General Surgery, including Orthopedics, Anaesthesia, and Radiodiagnosis, along with one of the other two subjects, parallelly. Firstly, give more focus to the strongest of topics. By following this method you will be able to cover more topics in less time. 

• For anatomy, learn diagrams thoroughly to comprehend the topic. The diagrams will help you to more effectively retain the information. 

• Study the textbook thoroughly, and mark the most important facts, along with preparing your own notes. Also, refer to additional study materials, widely available in the form of preparation websites and books. You can also make notes from the important portion that you would find in these references. 

• For biochemistry, concentrate thoroughly on chemical reactions, equations, and diagrams. After completion of each chapter, try to create a sheet containing all the chemical formulas and equations that you can utilize to solve various unique questions. 

• For forensic medicines, don’t forget to create a clear medicine sheet, comprising all the medicines and their formulas.

Making a timetable or study plan is simple, but for the appropriate execution of the study plan, one needs continuous effort and dedication. Try to figure out the most effective hours, and begin your preparation in those hours. You can start your day by studying medicine, preventive methods, and diagrams of anatomy and biochemistry. 

Divide chapters based on your timetable, and make daily notes of important portions that you have covered. After that, you can study theories of general surgery and general medicine, and then proceed to solve the problems. 

During the rest hours, you can solve the questionnaire related to the portions that you have already learned. This kind of early planning and preparation would be of utmost importance to crack the exam. If you are currently practicing as an MBBS and aspiring to appear on NEET-PG 2021, you must begin the preparation to get the best result. You can find excellent preparation material on eGurukul. Browse around, and find information to strengthen your weak areas.