Avenues :Essential tips for NEET PG preparation

NEET-PG is an annual examination for medical students pursuing a Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Surgery (MS), Diploma programmes, and other specialities at public and private universities. Given the difficulty of the exam, the best time for aspirants to begin preparing is now. Beginning preparations in advance will help reduce the burden of the syllabus and boost aspirants’ confidence.

According to the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBE), the 2023 exam is scheduled for 5th March. 2023. The exam will be computer-based, with aspirants having three hours and thirty minutes to complete 200 multiple-choice questions. According to the NEET PG 2023 marking scheme, aspirants will receive four marks for each correct answer and one mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer.

The following are some expert-recommended tips that will help aspirants make their preparation process more effective:

• Weightage: Aspirants must ensure that they are aware of the weightage each subject carries. As the number of questions in the NEET PG examination is predetermined, aspirants need to prioritize topics basis their weightage and dedicate their time accordingly

•  Time allocation: To make their preparation more streamlined, aspirants can allocate a fixed time to individually prepare for major and minor subjects. For any major subject, aspirants must allocate 7-10 days for the first reading, which must be strong and not too extensive. Similarly, 3-4 days can be allocated for minor subjects. However, aspirants must note that they should not spend more than two weeks for the first reading of any subject, be it major or minor

• Make notes: In the era where everything is at the aspirant’s disposal, it is critical for them to make their own notes during both online and offline classes. Even if aspirants possess a copy of printed notes for a particular topic or subject, they must ensure that they write down the concepts in simplified language to make it easier for them to understand and retain concepts during revision

• Daily study routine: Oftentimes, aspirants are advised to study for 13-14 hours a day to score well in the NEET PG examination. However, aspirants must note that consistency is vital as compared to intensity. Studying for 5-6 hours a day and solving MCQs on a regular basis is essential and more efficient as compared to studying for longer hours each day.

Aspirants must devote one hour every day to solving MCQs so that they are able to strengthen their foundational concepts and be prepared for the different patterns of questions that can be expected in the exam.

• Revision: Aspirants must remember to revise each topic with a special focus on PYQs. The focus of their revision process should be to cover repeated topics in all subjects and to rewire those concepts mentally. Aspirants should focus on high-yielding and difficult topics more, as compared to studying the entirety of the material during revision.

Lastly, aspirants must remember that there is no definitive recipe for success. They must use the resources available to them and personalise their preparation strategy per their own strengths and weaknesses in order to prepare well for any examination.

(The writer, Dr. Ranjith AR, is a top NEET PG Educator at Unacademy and holds a gold medal in UG and PG Pathology)