Last-Minute Preparation Strategy for NEET PG Exam 2022

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, commonly known as the NEET, is a competitive exam for medical students in India. Qualifying this exam entitles students to take admission in the top PG medical colleges of India, including government and private institutes. If you’re already familiar with the concept of the NEET PG, you’ll know that this is the only exam that entitles you to pursue your specialization in medicine in India after receiving an MBBS degree. This exam enables students to select their specialization. 

Prerequisites to taking the NEET Exam

If you are interested in taking the NEET exam, you should have a Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine (MBBS) as a prerequisite. The NEET PG is conducted once every year in India. Candidates are also expected to have experience of 1 year as a medical intern before applying for this exam. For foreign students, qualifying for the Foreign Medical Graduate Exam (FMGE) is a prerequisite to taking the NEET PG. To get into a PG medical college of your choice, one needs to score 360 marks or above in the NEET examination.  

If you are a NEET PG aspirant or know someone who is one, you are bound to be aware of how difficult it can get before the D-Day. With increasing levels of stress and anxiety associated with performing well in the exam, aspirants often end up getting confused and frustrated, before their last-minute revision. For an exam that spans over 3.5 hours, it is quite normal to feel the jitters before the big day. However, one should be well-prepared to cope up with stress and turn the stress into something productive, so they can achieve excellent results in the NEET exam.

Here is a list of tips and tricks that candidates must keep in mind while preparing for the NEET, especially at the nth or last minute: 

Last-Minute Revision 

Revision is the most important aspect before appearing for any exam. The NEET PG is no different. If you have about 20-25 days in hand before the exam day, you should start revising all the topics that you’ve covered. Remember, it is not the time to dive into a new topic and explore it. You should be thorough with whatever you’ve learned so far, and have in-depth knowledge of the same. 

Due to the pandemic, the test will be held as a single set Computer Based Test. Hence, students should be familiar with the workings of a computer before appearing for the NEET exam. Focus on diagrams, labels, and other visuals that may be important to the test. Revising these will be a key feature of your preparation, as you could expect visual questions.

Time Management

Candidates should ideally make a timetable before they start their last-minute preparation. Every date on the timetable should be assigned with topics that you wish to cover. Since there is negative marking in the NEET PG exam, try not to spend too much time on a topic that you are not thorough with, since timelines for revision could be tight. Instead, focus your time and attention on making strong areas of studies, even stronger. 

You should also plan out the division of time while taking the exam. The NEET exam is divided into 200 questions for 800 marks. 4 marks are awarded for every correct answer. Hence, the candidate should be familiar with the sections that are time-consuming and prepare accordingly. 

Familiarity with the Exam Pattern 

The NEET PG has been subject to a lot of changes due to the pandemic. Previously, negative marking wasn’t in the picture, but now candidates need to be even more careful with the onset of negative marking. Candidates should be familiar with the latest developments, updates, and exam patterns including the syllabus of the NEET PG exam, to ensure they score well. 

Be familiar with subjects that have maximum weightage in the exam. It is essential to focus on these subjects daily, during the course of your revision. Invest 1-2 hours on a regular basis to make these subjects your strong points. 

Importance of Clinical Subjects 

The NEET PG examination comprises three sections: Pre-Clinical, Para Clinical, and Clinical. These sections are further divided into Pathology, Anatomy, and Psychiatry. According to sources, most of the questions are typically asked from the clinical subjects section. Thus, candidates should pay extra attention to this section.  

If you prepare well, nothing can stop you from scoring full marks in this section. Some of the most important subjects (essential for scoring good marks in this section) are Surgery, Pediatrics, Medicine, ENT, Dermatology, PSM, Radiology, Psychiatry, OBG, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology. These should form your primary focus when you begin your revision, prior to the final exam. 

Practice Mock Tests

To be familiar with the exam pattern, as well as the long duration of the NEET PG exam, you should appear for several mock tests before you appear for the final one. This will give you a good idea about where your strengths and weaknesses in respect of the exam lie. Practising mock tests also has the potential to help you boost your confidence before the examination day.

Practicing mock tests will give you a real picture of the examination, and how you can improve yourself. It will allow you to devote time in a managed way, to each section of the NEET PG exam. Since it can be challenging to sit for an exam for more than 5 hours, mock tests are great ways of familiarising a student with the final exam.  

You may have already appeared for mock tests to examine your capabilities. Continue to take mock tests even a day or two before your actual exam. This will help you work on your weak areas and pain points.  

Avoid New Topics 

The syllabus of the NEET PG examination is very diverse and vast. Anything can be asked as a question, from any part of the syllabus. It can get quite overwhelming at times. Due to the pressure of completing the syllabus, candidates often fall prey to studying new topics, days before the final examination is about to be conducted. 

This can backfire; instead of investing time in strengthening an area of study you are familiar with, focusing on a new topic can result in forgetting the previously learned topics. Your concentration and determination are divided between the old and the new, and this can result in distress and chaos. 

Hence, it is highly advised to not touch any new topics that you’re not equipped or familiar with, weeks (or even days) before the exam day. It is better to revise and learn the topics that you have already previously studied, and those that are fresh in your mind. Jumping to a new topic could instead do you more harm than good. 

Importance of Physical and Mental Health

It is common to develop cold feet before your exam. The stress levels may rise significantly, and cause a lot of anxiety and distress among NEET PG exam aspirants. However, it is important to calm yourself down at such a time, and be confident about what you’ve studied, so that the stress doesn’t mess up and cause you further nervousness during the final exam.

You should eat well, and not skip any meals before your exam. You may feel sleepless at night due to severe stress, but try to get 7-8 hours of sleep as this will be necessary for your body to function well. A well-rested mind keeps anxiety and stress at bay, and helps you focus better. 

In cases of extreme restlessness, it is advised to meditate or take a walk, to calm your mind down. Please remember that your physical and mental health is extremely important, and an exam should not take that away from you. You can’t afford any ailments before the examination. 

Last Minute Preparation Strategy for NEET PG Exam: Final Thoughts

With the NEET PG exam around the corner, it is important to prepare well to score maximum marks in the exam and secure a good college for yourself. The key to doing so lies in the 3C’s of life: be calm, composed, and confident. 

These were a few strategies to help you in last-minute NEET exam preparation; in the end, it is only a matter of giving your best shot and being confident about your approach. You should focus on the positives rather than the negatives if you wish to score well in the examination. 

Preparing for such a difficult exam can take a huge toll on your mental and physical well-being. It is advised to not lose your sleep or compromise on your diet, over the exam. Please make sure to not exhaust your mind and body completely before D-day. Take some time out for relaxing every day as you prepare for the exam. Do something that calms you down. Talk to a friend, play with your pet, or simply listen to music. 

Breaks between long hours of studying are extremely important and you should always prioritize them over everything. Lastly, do not stop believing in yourself. You’ve done your part of studying for months before the exam and that shouldn’t affect your confidence on the main day. Face the exam with courage and determination and don’t focus on anything else. 

With almost four and a half months left, it is time to make sure that your preparation plan guarantees to take you in the right direction and your revision strategies are effective enough to help you climb the pillar of success. So, crank things up a notch and make the most of the remaining time by not just working hard but working hard the right way.

Trust DBMCI eGurukul to be your companion through this journey as it promises to help you achieve your dreams, being a mentor and a friend throughout your journey.

If you have any doubts regarding any subject or need extra attention, pay a visit at https://www.egurukulapp.com/ to learn with us! All the very best to all the NEET PG aspirants!