NEET 2018: The examination comprises of subjects such as zoology and botany under biology, physics and chemistry. Check out dos and don'ts, tips and tricks and things to keep in mind while appearing for the exam.
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test
(NEET) 2018 will be held by the Central Board of Secondary on May 6 and
by now most candidates must be either practising mock tests or brushing
up on their weak chapters. Here are some strategies to help you avoid
errors and help you score maximum. NEET exam is conducted by CBSE with
11 and 12 standard syllabus. Class 11 is most crucial so, first revise
the NCERT properly. Most negative marking is developed from Class 11
syllabus as students have taken 11th lightly followed by 1 year gap
thereby forgetting the basics. Class 12 syllabus should not be a problem
for most students.
The NEET cut-off of 2016 for Open Category
was 145 marks out of 720 (20 per cent) and in 2017, 131 marks out of
720 (18.2 per cent). So NEET qualification is an easy task. Even if
a student gets 0 marks in Physics and Chemistry, only Biology with 360
marks can get you qualify if you have studied properly. In 2017, the
student with 131 marks in NEET also could secure admission in India
purely on merit.
You must ask yourself these basic questions before you go for the exam.
1. Do you need to solve every question in the Paper?
2. What is the right subject-sequence to solve the paper?
3. How do we plan time-management during exam?
4. What is my target score?
5. Is NEET qualification difficult?
6. Is NEET a lengthy exam? How can I
complete NEET paper 15 minutes before the time? Time Management is key
for exam as many students despite good studies unable to complete the
paper.
7. How can I reduce negative marking? One of the major reason why cut-offs are too low.
8. How do I plan to solve the paper? This is the most neglected area?
Let’s address each point in detail starting from entering the examination hall:
1) Answer sheet: Ensure
that you fill all details in the OMR answer sheet properly without any
over-writing. These are computer readable so any over-writing may lead
to rejection. This is basic but most commonly made mistakes that many
students in a hurry could end up a mismatch of question number with
answer number. Never leave the transfer of answer to answer sheet at the
end of the paper. Those are most stressful moments and chances of
errors are high. As you solve, you must transfer answer to questions to
which you are confident. Only doubtful questions which you have planned
to revisit must be held back. Use question paper as rules to align.
2) Time management: Our
objective in the NEET exam is to maximise the marks based on the level
of studies done in two years. In view, it is not necessary for students
to solve all the questions, make mistakes and get trapped in negative
marking. Many students do not understand this basic part and waste time
in questions which they could have left.
Students often overspend time attempting a
question and finally leave it which needs to be addressed. The planning
is completely missing during the exams. Time management requires deep
understanding of the paper pattern, the sequence to solve but basic
question which I always tell the students is very simple: If you are not
solving all questions then you must have additional time available by
saving time for un-solved questions, that is, if I solve 150 questions
out of 180, I left 30 questions which also mean I have 30 more minutes
to solve the paper.
3) Subject sequence: When
I ask this question, most students say that they would like to start
with Biology being strongest and then follow with Chemistry or Physics.
The student feels they can score good marks in Biology. This is biggest
mistake student make. Every subject will have some easy, mid-level and
difficult question and this applies to Biology also. If this was not so,
why cut-off in 2017 was just 131 marks for Biology paper of 360 marks.
So students must realise that they are failing to solve Biology also.
Let’s take two more situations during the exam:
a) You start solving the paper in sequence
and the first question of your paper was most difficult. You try, leave
and then move to the second question and that too was very difficult.
What will be your mental stage? You start feeling that the paper is too
tough this year and you start getting negative thoughts and depression
may crop in. You feel depressed and that is a bad sign as good start is
very important.
b) Another student sitting next to you
will have same paper but the sequence of questions will be different.
He/she gets the first question which was the easiest question of the
paper. He/she solves easily and moves to next question to find that it
was also easy. Think of mindset of the student. He/she has a positive
frame of mind, motivated, gain mental strength, happy, cool and thereby
get confidence.
Both students got the same paper but just
the sequences of questions make both feel completely different. You gain
confidence when you solve easy questions.
Can we simulate this simple concept?
So the key to the success in the NEET exam
is to solve “Easy Questions” first across all three sections and never
attempt subject sequence-wise. Our analysis shows that student with an
average profile can also score up to 400-450 marks easily with just
solving easy questions first. A number of easy questions will vary based
upon your preparation but qualifying NEET is never in question.
4) Psychology and negative marketing:
Psychology and negative marking are always related. Most negative
marking arises due to psychological aspects. Let’s analyse some common
factor leading to negative marking trap which should be avoided at any
cost.
a) Keeping target:
Student often check the last year cut-off and then set target in the
exam. According to our research thinking about target in exam hall will
reduce marks drastically.
Students must realise that the strategy in
the examination to maximise the marks. Just by thinking does not help
anybody. e.g. If student feels that he/she needs to get 550 marks in
NEET in order to get into particular Government colleges and feel that
he/she can only solve 500 marks questions in exam hall, the student
becomes panic and sometimes depression comes.
In order to meet the 550 marks target,
student solves 650 marks questions, trap into negative marking and comes
as low as 350 marks. He could have scored 500 is he/she was confident
of solving those questions. Your ability to answer question or not
depends upon your preparedness and not based on your desire.
In 2016, NEET was conducted twice and
large number of students got lower marks in second paper than first test
due to setting higher targets in the second exam.
b) Planning:
Planning how to solve the questions with the proper sequence is the
most important factor for success. The objective is to solve easy
questions across 3 subjects first followed by mid-level and difficult
questions. Let us define:
1. Easy Questions: Student is 100 per cent sure of answers.
2. Mid -Level: Students with some efforts can solve. May eliminate 2 answers.
3. Difficult Questions: The students have no clue and are unable to solve.
Every subject will have all these three
types of questions. The first planning phase will require students to
identify easy and mid-level questions across all three subjects. There
is no need to start solving the paper as soon as you get but first 10-15
minutes to be given for planning. After identification, solve easy
questions from each of 3 subjects. This will boost your confidence as
well as most students with decent study can cross 350-400 marks with
ease.
After easy questions, mid-level questions
to be attempted. In case, you have time, you can revisit the difficult
questions at the end or just leave the difficult question.
The objective is not to get negative
marking in easy questions as these are sure questions. The chances of
negative marking are high in Mid-level and difficult questions at the
same time these questions take more time to solve. Students can solve
easy question in 30-45 seconds thereby saving time for mid-level
question and also spare time for planning easily.
Finding 15 minutes for the Planning is
very easy for students who leave more than 15 questions or brilliant
students who solve an easy question in lesser time. This will ensure
major curb into negative marks leakages.
5. Rough work:
Student’s most neglected area. They do rough work in shabby un-readable
manner and then waste time. Rough work must be neat and clean with the
identification of question number with rough work. If you start working
on question and then leave mid-way, you should be able to start solving
from that point and not from start again once you revisit. This will
avoid wastage of time by duplication. At the end of paper, with limited
time such partially solved answers will surely help.
6. Practice: You
must take multiple Mock tests to master these strategies. Just knowing
strategies does not help. Once you start taking mock tests, you will
realise you are able to complete NEET paper 15 minutes before time even
after sparing 15 minutes for Planning. NEET official website has 2016
& 2017 actual papers. Please take those tests. Do not depend upon
the Coaching class tests as it depends upon the teacher’s capability to
design.
The author is Chairman & Managing Director, Astute Career Counselling Academy
Source : http://indianexpress.com/