NEET 2021: What factors will affect the exam dates?

Students preparing for NEET 2021 may get a few extra weeks for their preparation, experts suggest deferment of the exam date. Read more here.

The examination season this year has been full of notifications either suggesting the cancellation of an exam or its deferment. But the impact of this pandemic will not be limited to the current academic session. Experts suggest that the next season will also be affected by the aftermath of COVID-19.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the examination for admission to undergraduate medical courses in India, is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in May every year. The exam date for NEET is such that the aspirants can comfortably appear for their board exams and still have some time to brush up on their NEET preparation. However, NEET 2021 dates may be deferred by a few weeks due to the current COVID-19 situation. There are many reasons as to why experts feel that NEET 2021 may not be conducted in May next year.

NEET 2021: What factors will affect the exam dates?

Schools in COVID-19:

Schools were among the first to close after the outbreak of COVID-19 in India. They will likely be the last to open after this phase is over. To prevent the loss of studies, the classes are now being conducted online. However, completing the curriculum on time for these students will not be easy. It may require a few extra months, resulting in the delay of the board examinations. If the Class 12 boards are delayed, NEET 2021 dates may also be pushed further.

Also Read: NEET 2021 Syllabus Reduction: What to Expect?

Exam dates for NEET 2020:

Though the exam dates for the current year have been announced, there is no certainty as to whether the examination will be conducted on the said date this time. Even if the examination is conducted on September 13, the academic session 2020-21 will begin only in the month of December. This may impact the admission cycle of NEET 2021, applications for which are expected to be out in the first week of December.

Medical education online:

Along with the schools, all colleges and academic activities have started online classes for the students. However, what will happen to the first year students after taking admissions to the desired colleges? Subjects like Anatomy and Physiology cannot be taught online. Students need to attend the dissection classes to get a hold on Anatomy. While most of the theory part can be covered through online lectures, the first year students may have to struggle with practical lessons. These students may have to take the practical lessons with the students of the next batch, or, the next session may be postponed by a few months to accommodate the students of the previous batch first.

Read More:

• NEET Preparation Tips for Droppers
• NEET Preparation Tips for Class 11 Students
• How to prepare for NEET along with class 12 board exams?