Sreetama Datta
Sreetama Datta Roy
Manager Content
Updated on Oct 14, 2025 12:21 IST

How to prepare for the NEET exam - Aspirants aiming to appear for the NEET exam must plan to start the preparation. According to experts and toppers, students should prepare for at least a year to crack NEET. Know how to start preparation for NEET exam along with important topics and books.

How to Prepare for NEET 2022

How to Prepare for NEET 

As per experts and toppers, students should do their NEET preparation at least one or two years before the exam.  If you have still not started preparing for the exam, you must not wait any further and begin your NEET 2026 study plan right away. 

NEET is the biggest medical entrance exam in India. More than 20 lakh candidates are expected to appear for the exam next year in 13 languages, including English and Hindi, in over 500 cities across India and abroad. Apart from MBBS and BDS, the other courses that are offered through NEET include Ayurvedic Medicine, Unani Medicine, Siddha Medicine, Veterinary Sciences, and Animal Husbandry, among others. The NEET score will also be utilised for BSc Nursing admission from 2021 onwards. Needless to say, NEET is a highly competitive exam and requires advanced planning and a well-thought-out preparation strategy.

Here we bring to our readers the strategy to prepare for the NEET exam, along with the important topics and best books to refer to. Let us check the step-by-step guidelines below.

How to Start Preparing for NEET 2026

For NEET 2026 preparation, you must know about the following pointers.
NEET exam pattern This offline test takes place for 3 years. According to this pattern, NEET question paper has 180 questions from three sections including Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Candidates must attempt 10 out of 15 questions in Section B. Every correct answer gives you four marks, and every wrong answer will result in -1 mark. Both Physics and Chemistry carry 45 questions, Biology section is further divided into Botany and Zoology, which will have 90-questions.

Before starting the preparation, students should know the pertinent points and factors of NEET 2026 preparation.

Also Read: NEET 2026 chapter-wise weightage

The following table brings the NEET 2026 exam structure.

Subject

Number of Questions

Marks

Physics

45

180

Chemistry

45

180

Botany

45

180

Zoology

45

180

Total

180

720

Also Read: NEET Exam Pattern Changed; Optional Questions Removed; Duration Reduced

work energy and power class 11 notes

Go through NEET syllabus: The NEET 2026 syllabus will be the same as for Class 11 and Class 12. Some of the important topics from each section are listed in the table below.

Physics

Chemistry

Biology

Gravitation

Basic Concepts of Chemistry

Diversity in the Living World

Kinematics

States of Matter

Genetics and Evolution

Laws of Motion

Thermodynamics

Cell structure and function

Optics

Equilibrium

Classification of Plants and Animals

Thermodynamics

Redox Reactions

Human Physiology

Physical World and Measurement

Periodic table

Reproduction

Work, Energy and Power

Electrochemistry

Plant physiology

Waves and Oscillations

Chemical Kinetics

Biotechnology

Electrostatics

Surface Chemistry

Environment

Current Electricity

Biomolecules

Biology and Human Welfare

Atoms and Nuclei

Polymers

Ecology

Also Read:

Select the Right Books and Study Materials: It is important to select the right NEET study material. Select the books based on its content, edition, language, practice materials, and price. Apart from the NCERT books, some of the top NEET preparation books to prepare for NEET 2026 are as follows:

  • Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday, Resnick, and Walker

  • ABC of Chemistry for Classes 11 and 12 by Modern

  • Trueman’s Objective Biology for NEET by M.P. Tyagi

  • 40 Days Physics for NEET by S.B. Tripathi

  • 40 Days Chemistry for NEET by Sudhanshu Thakur

  • 40 Days Biology for NEET by S. Chakravarty

Also Read:

Start Early: NEET preparation should be started as early as possible. The ideal time is after Class 10 Board exam. For complete preparation, you need to dedicate two years apart your Class 11 and Class 12 lessons. In these two years, you will get sufficient time to study the chapters and topics properly to build concepts, practice, and revise till the exam.

Also Read: How to Prepare for NEET Along with Class 12 Board Exams

Decide on Coaching and Other Preparation Channels: Upon deciding to appear for NEET, you should also make another decision, whether you would take coaching guidance or opt for self-study. While it is not impossible to crack NEET without coaching, it gives constant guidance and exposure to the level of competition that is required to crack a highly competitive entrance exam like NEET. You may also decide to self-study in the first year and then opt for coaching in the second year. Apart from joining a coaching institute, you may also join or refer to virtual modes of preparation available across multiple social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Telegram, etc.

Make a Timetable: Preparing for NEET should be done systematically. Since you would also be attending schools and have several other class tests, boards, and other competitive entrances to prepare and attend, you should make the most of your NEET preparation by making a timetable and sticking to it so that you do not miss out or lag while preparing for this exam. Hence, prepare a timetable to balance all the aspects to ensure that you do not lose focus on NEET 2026 preparation.

Also Read: How to crack NEET in the first attempt

Refer to Previous Year’s Question Papers: Referring to previous years’ NEET question papers gives students much-needed exposure to the types of questions they can expect in the exam, as well as the important topics and chapters along with their weightages. Referring to previous years’ NEET question papers serves two purposes. Firstly, it is a great source of practice; secondly, you will get an idea of the question types, topics, and weightage. NTA, or the exam conducting body, releases the set-wise NEET question papers, and you can also download the question papers on Shiksha.

Also Read: 5 Advantages of Solving Previous Years' Question Papers\

Know Strengths and Weaknesses: After going through the NEET exam pattern and syllabus, you will get an idea of its strengths and weaknesses. In case you are unable to identify it on your own, you can take a diagnostic full-length mock test and see which are their highest and lowest performing sections, and then try to find out the root cause. You need to prepare after assessing your weak areas and strong areas. Students tend to make common mistakes that may bring down their scores.

Also Read: 

Practice: After completing basic preparation, start practising. Solve practice paper, section-wise or topic-wise questions. After a few months of starting the NEET preparation, they should be able to improve their preparation and take full-length practice tests.

Also Read: How to make revision notes for NEET

Be Confident: Self-confidence is very important for NEET aspirants. You must have the belief to ace the exam and prepare accordingly. The faith that you have started the preparation early enough and are moving on the right track to prepare confidently. Alongside, you should also take care of their health and not pay heed to any unwarranted rumour to divert your mind.

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About the Author
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Sreetama Datta Roy
Manager Content
Sreetama has over a decade of editorial experience in the higher education beat. A wanderlust by passion, she is also an avid reader and a music lover. Among friends, she is popular for her sense of humour.
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Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 2 days ago

Hi.

Yes, you may be eligible to apply for AFMC BSc Nursing next year, provided you meet specific criteria, which primarily include being a female candidate, qualifying for the NEET UG exam, meeting the required academic qualifications and falling within the specified age limits.
 
Key Eligibility Crite

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered a month ago

PGIMER does not accept the NEET UG score. You need to appear in the PGIMER BSc Nursing exam separately for the BSc Nursing program. To appear in this examination, students must have completed the Class 12 examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English subjects. A separate counseling will

...Read more

P

Pallavi Pathak

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

No, NEET is not compulsory to pursue medicine courses abroad. However, students who wish to return to India to practice medicine after completing their studies abroad need to have cleared the NEET exam. 

A

Abhishek Khanna

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 months ago

When we talk about the paramedical courses which do not require you to sit for NEET exam then we have options like :

  • Medical Lab Technology (MLT)
  • Radiology and Imaging Technology
  • Physiotherapy (BPT)
  • Operation Theatre Technology
  • Anesthesia Technology
  • Optometry
  • Dialysis Technology
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

D

Diya Nihalani

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, NEET-UG is mandatory for admission to the MBBS course at NTRUHS. The full form of NEET is National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). This is the only entrance exam for admission to MBBS courses offered in India. The exam is conducted once a year in offline mode. Further, applicants who secu

...Read more

R

Rachit Kumar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, applicants can get admission to the NTRUHS BSc course without NEET. As per the information available on the official website, admission to the BSc course is based on merit/ Andhra Pradesh EAMCET/ APNCET scores.  Moreover, there is a possibility that some of the affiliated colleges of NTRUHS acc

...Read more

K

Kartik Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The application fee ranges from INR 500 to INR 5,500. Students can check the table below to know the Karnataka NEET UG Counselling application fee:

Category

Fee (in INR)

NRI/OCI/PIO/Foreign nationals

5,500/-

General/2A/2B/3A/3B

2,500/-

SC/ST/Cat-I/PWD

500/-

S

Sanjana Dixit

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, candidates seeking admission in MBBS programme of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research must have a valid NEET score. Aspirants are allotted seats through centralised counselling by MCC of DGHS, New Delhi. There are a total of 250 seats available in the MBBS programme of SR

...Read more

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, NEET is obligatory for Indian students who want to practice in India after returning from foreign MBBS. If students don't qualify from NEET, they cannot register with the Medical Council of India (NMC).

NEET is not required for admission into foreign medical schools themselves. This would includ

...Read more

Y

Yatendra Pradhan

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Jobs in engineering fields like Computer Science or AI from a top institute and becoming a Commercial Pilot are among the best high-paying jobs that do not require NEET.
Additionally, careers in Data Science, the Merchant Navy, and Pharmacy also offer lucrative opportunities without requiring the NEE

...Read more

R

Rashmi Shekhar

Contributor-Level 8