AIPMT 2014 exam syllabus and prep strategy similar to NEET

By Aakash Chaudhry

With the Government’s decision to scrap NEET, we are back to AIPMT. However, the students should not be bothered regarding their preparation, as the syllabus and pattern for AIPMT is a replica of NEET 2013.

AIPMT 2014 exam pattern & preparation strategy

The syllabus will be the same as that of NEET. Another similarity with NEET is that there will be just a single paper, as opposed to two papers in the older AIPMT. There will be 180 objective type questions from physics, chemistry, botany and zoology (45 questions from each subject). There is no official clarity regarding negative marking in AIPMT-2014.

Difference between NEET and AIPMT-2014

The only difference between NEET and AIPMT-2014 is that AIPMT will be conducted only for the 15% national quota in government medical/dental colleges all over India, except in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. State directorate of medical education and research (DMER) will be conducting its own test. NEET was the only gateway to all seats in medical colleges.

Another difference is that in case of NEET aspirants had to give only one paper for all colleges, but is case of AIPMT, they will have to go through multiple exams for multiple colleges.

Subject Wise Advice for a confident preparation

Biology:

1. Students should give special emphasis to the diagrams, in as many times the questions come related to the diagrams.
2. For competition, the student must be aware about the weightage of each portion of the syllabus and should revise accordingly especially, the XI portion needs to be taken care well. After completing any topic, the objective questions should be solved and one must go through the questions asked in previous year exams from the same topic as it will give insight to the depth of the topic to be covered.
3. Adapt a learning style that suits you- whether visual, auditory or tactile. Visual devices include drawing, pictures, charts, maps, graphs etc to supplement your learning. Use bright markers and symbols to point out important notes. This helps during revision. Students are known to retain knowledge gained better when they can associate an image or demonstration referring to it. Auditory techniques include reading aloud in a silent place, making tutors or friends a sounding board to your understanding of concepts, use of mnemonics or music, verbal discussion of ideas etc. to support revision.
4. One should prepare the summary list of important facts of every chapter and should keep on revising the list regularly. As the exam is objective type so it will be helpful.
5. Reading is important but most important thing is revision, so you should have fortnightly revision program. Revision tests can be helpful.
6. Try to give few tests in the exam like environment with focus on time management.

Chemistry

Chemistry is said to be most scoring subject as a good percentage is devoted to Organic and Inorganic portions where no calculations are required and paper can be covered fast providing sufficient time to physical portion. However, expertise on these portions is attained only by solving a large number of standard problems and marking of those where difficulties are encountered. These must be done frequently to see if difficulties are still encountered. Repeat the exercise every week till you know the answer as soon as you see the question. Name reactions in Organic chemistry are extremely important and must be done very thoroughly with sufficient examples. Find quicker methods for chapters like Stoichiometry which may be outwitting your competitors. Coordination compounds have become increasingly important while qualitative testing of inorganic and organic compounds has never lost its importance in these competitions. So, how so ever difficult it may appear, the attitude of never giving up pays at the end.

Physics

Generally, the students are found to be having the phobia of Physics but it is a very fundamental subject and if you are good enough in this subject then definitely it will give you an edge over the others. It’s an advice to concentrate on following points which will be really helpful:

1. In medical entrance examinations most of the questions are found to be direct formula based so revise all the important expressions regularly by making their list & solve maximum no. of questions based on them.  You can solve last 10 years papers within proper time limit in the same manner as you are solving in an entrance examination. It will increase your speed.
2. Mechanics & Electrodynamics are the backbone of Physics in any of the entrance examination. So give maximum time to these two units.
3. Optics, Modern Physics, Heat & thermodynamics oscillation and waves are relatively easier topics and question already asked from these topics are more formula or direct theory based with little bit concept.  So, moderate efforts in these topics will give you a better output.

Let’s get the right formula set for it to ensure that your long cherished dream and the efforts that you have put in to become a doctor should not go unfulfilled. So here are a few ways to help you out towards last minute preparations:

1. As the exam is being conducted by CBSE therefore, thorough reading of NCERT is a must. The content of NCERT books should be read completely and figures given should be understood minutely. Students must solve the exercises given in the NCERT.You should be able to create questions on your own from the NECRT books. That will judge the level of understanding you have about the topic. Try to read between the lines.

2. AIPMT 2014 will have 180 questions with 3 hours time, so accordingly time management practice should be done by writing mock tests. A student would be required to solve each question in a minute’s time, so regular practice of at least 15-20 full length tests before taking the actual exam would prove to be most beneficial.

Make your own summary chits of important facts; it will help you in remembering them. And do read them often so that you create a picture of it in your mind.

3. There are some differences in the CBSE syllabus for class XI and XII compared to AIPMT. A close comparison of syllabi must be done. 
4. Going through the previous year NEET exam papers will help as AIPMT 2014 is expected to be of the same level.
5. Always say to yourself that I CAN and I WILL, even in the examination hall. It will relieve the pressure.
6. Give sometime of the day on Yoga or any physical activity, which will rejuvenate you for the entire day.
7. Fill the OMR sheets correctly; do not fill the entire OMR sheet in the end of examination. Solve the paper in minimum two readings. Do not stick over the questions which you don’t know, keep on moving through questions.
8. Try to underline the theme of the questions, it will keep you focused. Sometime we do not read properly words like, which of them is not correct or which of them is correct etc.
9. Discussion with quality friends is a good technique to revise the things quickly.
10. You should plan minimum two revisions of the entire syllabus before entering the examination hall. It will boost your confidence.  

So, get set go on the right track and prove that changes, when taken with a positive and a determined attitude, always bring out good results.

About the author:

Aakash Chaudhry is the director of Aakash Educational Services Ltd. An alumnus of Harvard Business School in Boston, USA, Aakash is an engineer with a bachelor's degree in Computer Sciences and an MBA from Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad.