NEET 2020 Topper Interview: Akanksha Singh AIR 2

"When I moved to Delhi in Class 11 and 12 in Delhi, the students were very competitive and hailed from good institutes," says NEET 2020 topper Akanksha Singh, securing AIR 2 with a perfect 720 marks.

Akanksha Singh has created history by scoring a perfect of 720 out of 720 in NEET 2020 exams. By scoring a percentile of 99.9998537 Akanksha has secured AIR 2. Akanksha, who hails from Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh is positive about the NEET 2020 result besides getting AIR 2 even after scoring a perfect 720 due to the NTA’s tie-breaker policy. Soyeb Aftab, who has bagged AIR 1, has also scored 720 but due to his older age than Akanksha, Soyeb has secured AIR 1.

In her early days of school, Akanksha wanted to become an IAS officer, but in Class 9 she discovered about AIIMS, New Delhi and decided to become a doctor and pursue her career in neurosurgery research.

Akanksha is very optimistic and took each and every struggle and challenges as an opportunity. She used to travel 70 kilometres to her coaching institute in Gorakhpur when she was in Class 9 and 10. As there were no renowned coaching institute in her town, she shifted to Delhi and joined Aakash institute after passing her Class 10 exams.

NEET 2020 Topper interview: Akanksha Singh

Question: Congratulation on your splendid success in NEET exam. Being from a small town, what challenges and struggles you have had in the past?

Akanksha: Thank you! Being from a small town like Kushinagar, I had faced challenges earlier. In my city there is no big coaching institute for NEET preparations. Hence, I have to travel to 70 kilometres daily to Gorakhpur to attend coaching Classes till Class 10. I used to spend around 4 hours travelling on a daily basis. By the time I reach back home, it used to be around 9.30 pm. Later on I moved to Delhi after passing Class 10 exam.

Question: From where did you took NEET coaching and continued your schooling (Class 11 and 12) after moving to Delhi?

Akanksha: As I said, I had struggling times during my Class 9 and 10 and that’s why I moved to Delhi in order to join better coaching institute for NEET preparations. In my early days I faced problems in Delhi, but gradually things got sorted. I had joined Aakash Institute in Delhi and did my schooling from Pragati Public school (Class 11 and12). I took it as a challenge and I made it.

Question: Again, as you said after moving to Delhi and joining NEET coaching you faced problems, what kind of problems did you faced?

Akanksha: Yes, when moved to Delhi in Class 11 and 12 in Delhi, the students were very competitive and hailed from good institutes. Hence, they possess good knowledge and hold on the subjects and topics we were taught in the coaching and school. Earlier, I used to take a lot of time to understand and cover each chapter. While on the other hand, my other Classmates used to understand the same topics faster as they have the command over the subjects better than me. I lacked guidance as I belong to a small town, but with my hard work I was able to overcome all the challenges.

Question: How you used to spend your time while travelling to Gorakhpur?

Akanksha: I used to return from school at around 2 pm and my coaching used to start from around 4 pm. I used to take 2 hours to reach my coaching institute. I usually studied during this time, but while returning from coaching at around 7:30 pm, I usually ended up sleeping or resting. Once I reached home around 9:30 pm, I used to start studying again.

Question: What was your exam day strategy?

Akanksha: My exam strategy was just like most people. First, I used to cover Biology and used to take about half an hour to complete Biology section, Chemistry would take around 40 minutes and Physics would take me around 50-55 minutes to finish. Over the time and rigorous practicing during the lockdown, the time I used to take to complete, reduced. I was able to complete the Biology section in 20 minutes, Chemistry in 30 minutes and Physics in 40- 45 minutes and the whole paper in less than two hours. On the exam day students are under immense pressure and are vulnerable of committing silly mistakes. If you are able to finish the exam in 2 hours or 2 hour 15 minutes than you get enough time to review the paper and avoid or correct those silly mistakes. NEET 2020 exam was easy and like the mock test papers I was able to solve it in 2 hours which eventually helped me review the whole question paper twice. 

Question: Lockdown was announced on March 23, 2020, where were you after the lockdown? Did you faced any issues in preparing during the lockdown?

Akanksha: Before the lockdown was announced I was in Delhi so I had enough resources and facilities there and didn’t faced any issues. But during the lockdown I was in Kushinagar and I had to attend online Classes during that time and the internet connectivity was so erratic and it used to hamper my Classes. In order to pick up the topics again I used to take help from my friends later on or else I used to cover it by myself. Internet connectivity here in Kushinagar is a big issue.

Question: You have scored perfect 720 out of 720 still you are ranked second, do you think NEET’s tie breaker policy is unfair?

Akanksha: The first rank holder and I both have got 720 out 720 and it is obvious any one among us has to be ranked first. I am ranked second because I am younger in age. Hence, it doesn’t feel that bad. My dream was to study in AIIMS, New Delhi and I am able to fulfil it, rest the rank is just a number. I am happy and satisfied with the result.

Question: How did you refrain yourself from distractions during your preparations?

Akanksha: I was very much focused towards my goal. During the two years of preparation in Class 11 and 12 I didn’t had smartphone with me and I am not on any social media site as well. I am not at all fond of such things. If I wanted study about any topic from the internet I used to watch study related YouTube videos on my hostel’s common computer. In order to have a laser sharp focus I had distanced myself socially. I am very much inspired by the motivational speaker, Sandeep Maheshwari and PM Narendra Modi.

Question: What motivated you to choose medicine as a career? When did you decide to become a doctor?

Akanksha: Earlier, I wanted to be an IAS officer, but from Class 9 onwards, I discovered about AIIMS, New Delhi and was inspired by the kind of research they do. Then only I decided to become a doctor. I liked that medicine is a job where you can interact with people. My dream was to make it to AIIMS. I am planning to specialise in neurosurgery research someday. I hope that my research will benefit people not only from my village, but all over India. 

Question: How you are inspired by the work of the doctors and healthcare practitioners during COVID-19 outbreak?

Akanksha: The virus is new to everyone and all the doctors and healthcare practitioners around the country have given their 100 per cent to tackle the situation. I hope to become an inspiration for others in future after becoming a doctor like the existing corona warriors.

Question: Question: What would you suggest to future NEET aspirants in terms of preparation, attitude, etc?

Akanksha:  I would like to advise students belonging to small towns that they should find opportunities out of their struggles and not to make such shortcomings as obstacles. I had also faced a lot of problems while I was here in Kushinagar; I was not able to cover all the topics. Those shortcomings can be supplemented with your hard work and strategies. Make your goals a dream and prove it by accomplishing it. Also, NEET exams are more NCERT centric, if you thoroughly study from NCERT books. Focus on NCERT's books.