Build These Habits to Score a Top Rank in NEET PG Exam

The National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) PG is one of the main entrance examinations in India, conducted in the medical field. The NEET PG is conducted for admission into different postgraduate medical courses across the country. Every year, many students appear for the NEET, vying for a seat in the top-ranked medical colleges, for the MD, DM and / or PG diploma courses.

It is a myth that clearing the NEET PG is extremely difficult. While it is a competitive exam, one requires hard work, consistency, and the right study routine to crack it. American soprano Beverly Sills rightly said: “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” This holds true for all medical students who aspire to be successful healthcare professionals. 

This article sums up the 11 most common habits of NEET top-rankers from across the country. Check out these tips to kickstart your journey for success in the NEET PG. 

Know the syllabus and the exam pattern

While starting your NEET PG preparation, it is better to first get familiar with the entire course syllabus. Thorough knowledge of the syllabus, focusing on critical topics and related subtopics is essential. It mentally prepares students beforehand. The syllabus for the NEET PG is vast, and hence, it is beneficial to know the exam pattern. The NEET exam is conducted for three hours and thirty minutes and comprises 300 questions. It is conducted in the English language. 

The exam follows a negative marking pattern, where a student gets four marks for a correct answer, and one mark is deducted for every incorrect answer. The syllabus of the NEET PG exam comprises sections from pre-clinical, para-clinical and clinical topics. The syllabus for the NEET PG is summarized as below: 

Subject	Summary of topics
Pre-clinical	AnatomyPhysiologyBiochemistry
Para-clinical	PharmacologyMicrobiologyPathologyForensic MedicineSocial and Preventive Medicine
Clinical	Medicine, Dermatology, and Venereology, Surgery, Orthopaedics, and Anaesthesia, Radio diagnosis, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, ENT

For NEET PG Dental Sciences, the syllabus includes the following topics – 

• General Anatomy
• General human physiology and Biochemistry. 
• Dental Anatomy, Embryology & Oral Histology.
• General Medicine.
• General Surgery.
• Oral Pathology and Oral Microbiology.
• Oral Medicine and Radiology.
• General Pathology and Microbiology.
• General and Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
• Dental Materials. 
• Prosthodontics and Preventive Dentistry.
• Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics.
• Periodontology.
• Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge.
• Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics.
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
• Public Health Dentistry.

Besides the marking scheme and syllabus, knowing the weightage of topics and relevant study material is also crucial. Knowing the syllabus well also helps to boost one’s confidence.

Read and write regularly

Many concepts for the NEET need to be appropriately understood, as opposed to being memorized. Subjects like anatomy need in-depth understanding and better memorizing skills. Although the NEET exam follows a multiple-choice question format, the questions framed require intense knowledge of the subject. 

One of the tips to achieve good marks in the NEET exam is to read a few topics daily. If you regularly read topics covered in your daily classes/coaching, you are bound to have a better understanding of these topics. Also, keeping in mind the vast syllabus, toppers highly recommend making notes of issues, for better learning. The sequence of repeated reading, understanding, recalling, and writing is essential while studying for the NEET.

Keep distractions away

After completing their undergraduate medical degree, students start their NEET PG preparation right away. Considering the vast syllabus for medical entrance tests, students are advised to keep away from distractions such as social media and video games. Applications like Instagram, Facebook, and Whatsapp have become an integral part of everyone’s lives. However vital these apps may seem, it is better to keep away from them during your NEET preparation journey. There is no harm in taking intermittent breaks, but excess social media usage or smartphone use may not produce good results. Extra social media presence may result in fatigue and restlessness. This further affects the ability to study for an extended period.

Prepare a timetable

Students pursuing a career in medicine are rigorous when it comes to their schedules and study plans. It is necessary to create a study plan that helps you devote equal time to all areas of the syllabus. As you know, the NEET PG syllabus consists of three main sections- Pre-clinical, Para-clinical, and Clinical, and a regular study plan is needed to accommodate all these. 

Preparing a study schedule well in advance keeps you ahead in the competition. You get a proper estimate of how much time is left for revision and relaxation. As the syllabus for the NEET PG is vast, time management may help in preparation. Stick to the schedule and keep track of your progress. This will help you allocate your time productively. It is wise to allot more time to weaker areas but never ignore any topic completely. Topics like Medicine, Dermatology And Venereology & Surgery, Ent, Orthopedics & Anaesthesia have more weightage in the NEET PG and should be given more preference.  

Choose the best available resources

In today’s era, many quality resources are available to prepare for the NEET PG. As the syllabus for NEET has been mentioned above, separate reference books are available for all subjects. Books related to pathology, microbiology, anatomy, pediatrics, medicine, etc. are readily available in the market. Some of the famous reference books for the NEET PG include:

Name of the book	Name of the author(s)
Atlas of Human Anatomy E-Book	Frank H. Netter
Essentials of Medical Pharmacology	K. D. Tripathi
Textbook Of Biochemistry For Medical Students	Vasudevan DM
Review of forensic medicine	Sumit Seth
Review of Pathology and Genetics (PGMEE)	Gobind Rai Garg, Sparsh Gupta
Self-Assessment and Review Microbiology and Immunology	Chaurasia Rachna
Self Assessment and Review of Paediatrics	Arvind Arora
Complete review of medicine for NBE	Deepak Marwah
SRB’s Clinical Methods in Surgery	Sriram Bhat M.
Community medicine (PSM)	Vivek Jain
Essentials of Medical Physiology	A.B.S. Mahapatra
Self-assessment and review of obstetrics & Gynecology	Sakshi Arora
ENT for the entrance exam	Manisha Sinha and Sachin Budhiraja
Review of Ophthalmology 6th Edition	Ruchi Rai
Fundamentals of Orthopedics	Mukul Mohindra, Jitesh Kumar Jain
Review of Radiology	Rajat Jain
Review of Dermatology	Saurabh Jindal
PROAFS Anesthesia for NBE	Vivek Jain

In addition to textbooks and reference books, e-resources, including videos and animated lectures in your study routine can also be helpful. Choose a limited number of resources and stick to those only. More resources create confusion and anxiety. Many students nowadays prefer to take online coaching. Some students choose to take regular coaching, while some opt for a 3 month preparation course. Both can be helpful.

Take quizzes

Quizzes provided by coaching centers, colleges, or even online classes are beneficial in preparing for the NEET. Examinations may be for all three subjects or only for individual subjects. The final few months of preparation are crucial for a good performance. Hence, taking quizzes and going through worksheets is a good strategy for the final months once you have finished your entire syllabus. Examinations are divided into two parts. The first part involves a video based on a particular topic and the second part consists of a questionnaire related to the video. These last-minute revision tips can make a big difference.

Solve time-based question papers

NEET PG follows a multiple-choice question pattern on an optical mark recognition or OMR sheet. Many books and online sites provide free access to previous years’ NEET question papers. Once you are confident about your syllabus, it is time to assess how much you have learned. A common practice among NEET PG aspirants and toppers is to set a timer before attempting the paper. This helps to build the required speed during the final exam. Solving previous years’ questions related to the topics that have a higher weightage, can improve the probability of cracking the NEET PG. Some coaching centers provide mock-test series, 2-3 months before the final exam. 

Prepare concise notes for revision

Revision is key in to any exam preparation. Once you are done with your entire course syllabus, it is always better to allot a specific time for revision. Try to prepare notes during lectures. Writing strengthens your memory and makes it easier to recall the topics. Also, clearing clutter helps make better and concise notes for revision. It is nearly impossible to read so many topics one week before the exams. This is where self-prepared notes come in handy. Some books mentioned above can help prepare concise notes for the NEET PG exam.

Aim to solve a pre-decided number of questions per day after revision. This will help you identify your weak areas so that you can focus more on memorizing and revision. Writing down complex definitions, functions, and formulas in the form of a glossary is also helpful during last-minute revisions.

Self-discipline and punctuality

Now that you have decided to appear for the NEET PG, it is vital to understand all the preparation needs. Previous toppers have mentioned how they kept themselves focused throughout the two-year preparation period. Values like self-discipline and punctuality increase the probability of good results. These two years may seem monotonous, but the results will be worth the effort. Hence, stick to your routine and abide by the rules set by you for your good. Follow the concept of understanding and practice. Do not procrastinate, as it will only pile up your work.

Try to understand things rather than adopt the rote-learning method. Mind mapping is a beautiful way to imagine things and keep them in your memory for extended periods.

Make your health a priority

A healthy routine for a NEET student involves exercise, studying, eating, and resting. Once you have a fixed study schedule, you tend to know the amount of time left for other activities. Exercising improves your emotional state and well-being. Exercise reduces stress and anxiety and enhances the brain’s functioning. For concentration, the body must maintain its energy levels. 

Take time out for workouts, and try to be consistent. A healthy body and mind promote learning, memorizing, and recalling skills. Take breaks when needed. Follow a 2 hour-15 minute pattern that includes 2 hours of study and 15 minutes of recess. Do not overburden yourself though. Furthermore, your sleep pattern should not be disturbed, as proper sleep and rest both promote better learning. Stay fit and fresh.

Eat well

A timely diet is a prerequisite for the body’s energy requirements. Do not skip your meals. Breakfast is the main meal of the day and provides energy for the day ahead. Skipping your first meal of the day can make you feel tired. Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. NEET aspirants may need to study for extended hours, and hence drinking plenty of water helps maintain focus. Have a balanced diet that provides the body with all it needs to concentrate on your NEET preparation.

Conclusion

Cracking the NEET PG requires a proper schedule, discipline, and punctuality. The habits mentioned above have worked for many NEET PG toppers and aspirants who have prepared for the NEET exam, or other competitive exams, in the past. Following these tips and habits can surely build confidence and improve your probability of achieving a good rank in the NEET exam. 

Study regularly, clear your doubts, practice, and keep yourself fit and healthy. Lastly, do not panic or stress yourself. 

At e-Gurukul, we wish you all the best for your NEET exam!