The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) is a National Level Entrance examination that aids candidates to avail admission for Medical (MBBS/BDS/BAMS/BSMS/BUMS/BHMS) and other undergraduate medical courses in Medical / Dental /AYUSH and other Colleges/ Deemed Universities /Institutes (AIIMS & JIPMER) in India.

The exact NEET exam date and registration process details for 2022 are expected to be announced soon by NTA on the official website - nta.ac.in.

Last year NEET (UG) – 2021 was conducted on Sunday, 12th September 2021 in pen-paper mode. The time duration of the exam was 3 hours and the paper comprised three subjects viz. Physics, Chemistry, and Biology with a total of 200 multiple choice questions divided into 50, 50 and 100 questions respectively, out of which 180 questions were mandatory. Every correct question was given 4 marks and 1 Mark was deducted for each wrong answer. Note that, for the first time in the 2021 examination, an internal choice of 20 MCQs was given and a negative marking scheme for an incorrect answer was introduced.

The same pattern is likely to follow this year for the admissions of around 1.3 lakh MBBS and BDS seats under 15% All India Quota and 85% State quota.

To crack such a crucial competitive exam, one needs the best study material for neet. The syllabus of the NEET (UG) examination largely banks upon the NCERT curriculum. Hence, NCERT textbooks of class XIth and XIIth, along with NCERT exemplars should be thoroughly studied. As NEET (UG) is completely MCQ-based, an aspirant needs to refer to various resource books catering to the blueprint of the examination, such as the ‘Absolute series’ offered by Target publications. The absolute series is a one-stop solution for revising theory and solving MCQs while developing lateral thinking skills. The series is specifically designed for national-level examination and contains multiple study techniques that impart holistic learning and emphasize on better time management.

Students also are required to go through past years' papers to get the hang of the examination. This can be swiftly achieved by using ‘35 years PSP (Past years solved papers)’ created by Target which consists of the last 35 years papers segregated chapter-wise for every subject. To access the previous year’s papers as a whole, students can shuffle through Target’s ‘Previous 10 years NEET solved papers with solutions’.

Once a student is confident of his preparation, he assesses himself by giving mock tests. Understanding this need for self-evaluation by an aspirant, Target has also come up with 10 Full Syllabus Mock tests for NEET (UG).

An aspirant, other than print material, can utilize a wide range of databases available online. He, for example, can download the Quill App, which makes learning fascinating or take online mock tests such as Target’s online test series to have the habit of finishing tests in the stipulated time.

Nothing describes excelling in NEET (UG) examination better than the quote by Dr Abdul Kalam, ‘Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident.

Plan your schedule well doing justice to all subjects and follow it meticulously. Take the right breaks to replenish. Have a balanced diet and proper sleep. Stay focused and work dedicatedly and in due time success shall be yours!