NEET 2025 Preparation: Five Common Mistakes that Bring Your Score Down
National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test 2025 ( NEET )
Counselling - 8 Oct '25
Avoid repeating the mistakes made by NEET aspirants in the past and improve your chances of clearing the exam in the first go. Read on to know the five common NEET 2025 preparation mistakes that bring the score down.
Every candidate who attempts the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) dreams of qualifying for the examination on the first attempt. They work hard to make this dream a reality. However, not everyone succeeds when the results are declared. Those left behind wonder where they had faltered. The problem is not always the commitment or dedication of an individual, sometimes it is a few silly mistakes made during the preparation phase that change the outcome.
Explore colleges based on NEET
Want better recommendations?
There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
- Chat with our counselor
- Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
The NEET 2025 exam will be conducted on May 4, 2025, in an offline mode. With less than a month left for the exam, aspirants must have completed preparing for the exam and focussing on revision and practice. Moreover, they should also know the common mistakes during preparation so that they can avoid them. In this article, we have listed five common NEET 2025 preparation mistakes that bring the score down. Aspirants should avoid repeating these mistakes to improve their chances in NEET 2025.
Five Common NEET 2025 Preparation Mistakes that Bring the Score Down
The common mistakes for NEET 2025 preparation listed below are not exactly regarding a particular subject or topic but can vary from the method or approach of preparation altogether. Let us know which are such common yet wrong practices followed during preparation that must be avoided to secure a high score in the exam.
Explore more Medicine & Health Sciences exams with upcoming dates
14 Nov '24 - 15 Oct '25
18 Oct '25
1 Jan '26
1 Jan '26 - 31 Jan '26
28 Feb '26
Mistake #1: Disregarding NCERT
NEET 2025 preparation and NCERT books are inseparable. They must go together if one wants to score decent marks in NEET 2024. Neglecting the NCERT books and focusing only on the reference material is one common mistake that many NEET aspirants make. NCERT must always be the first book that you refer to for any topic. Only after completing the preparation of a chapter from NCERT, one should move to another book to study the same chapter. Reference books should be used as supplementary books as they can never replace NCERT for NEET 2025 preparation. According to NEET toppers, they gave priority to NCERT books before other reference books that are available in the market.
Also Read: Are NCERT books enough for cracking NEET 2025?
Mistake #2: Depending too much on mock tests and avoiding analysis
Many students feel that taking NEET mock tests is more beneficial than reading textbooks for NEET 2025 preparation. They focus more on solving NEET mock tests and spend very little time actually reading and understanding the nuances of a chapter. It does help in the beginning when the difficulty level of the questions is low. As the preparation reaches an advanced stage, they find it difficult to attempt the questions which require a thorough understanding of the topic.
While preparing for NEET 2025, students must always read and understand the chapter before attempting mock tests. Only when the base and concepts are clear, they will be able to attempt any question from a topic. Another important mistake students often commit during NEET preparation is avoiding analysing their mock test performances. After each mock test, they should get their mock tests analysed by their mentor to understand the scopes of improvement and the recurring errors. After this, modify your preparation strategy accordingly.
Also Read: NEET 2025: 5 advantages of solving previous years' question papers and mock tests
Mistake #3: Shifting from one book to another
The minute one decides to prepare for NEET, he/she ends up searching for the books that people refer to for NEET preparation. Most of the students end up buying two or more reference books for a subject, apart from NCERT books. These books for NEET preparation usually sit on the shelves until exam day. Another common problem is shifting from one book to another, without completing a chapter from either of them which leads to confusion. To avoid both these issues during the advanced stages of NEET 2025 preparation, students should start by buying only one reference book that they intend to use. They should finish the NCERT books first and then complete the reference book. Only after completing these, they should refer to the third book for better retention of concepts.
Mistake #4: Trying to mug up the answers
While solving the mock tests and previous years' NEET question papers, students may come across many questions that they are unable to attempt. Though mugging up the answers for the Biology section may be beneficial sometimes, doing the same for the Physics and Chemistry sections usually proves to be futile. The approach for such questions must not be cramming all the answers, but reworking the concepts. They should first Identify the weak chapters or topics and then revise them thoroughly before taking the next mock test.
Mistake #5: Not taking breaks and making no time for hobbies
Spending time with family and friends helps relieve stress during the preparation phase. The same applies to your hobbies. However many students stop interacting with their friends and spend little or no time with their families while preparing for NEET. The result is demotivation towards the end. Moreover, the current situation of uncertainty can cause anxiety and stress but aspirants must not get bogged down with numerous news, discussions and deliberations on the impending NEET 2025 schedule and NEET application process. Remain focused on preparation and unwind from time to time to maintain composure and balance.
Read More:
- How to Complete NEET 2025 Syllabus on Time
- NEET Study Material for 2025: Check Subject-wise Study Material
- How to Prepare for NEET Without Coaching
FAQs Regarding NEET Preparation Mistakes
Q: When should I start preparing for NEET?
A: Generally, aspirants start preparing for NEET around two years prior to the exam. Even if it is not possible for candidates to start preparing two years in advance, they should give at least one year for dedicated NEET preparation.
Q: Are NCERT or school text books enough to prepare for NEET?
A: Although NCERT or school text books will help you understand the concepts and complete the NEET syllabus, to get an edge over others in this highly competitive exam, students should refer to other top books for NEET preparation.
Q: Should I take NEET mock tests in online mode?
A: Although there are a lot of online NEET mock tests available in the internet and students may refer to those, but they must stick to the traditional method of solving those. This means, even if they refer to the questions online, the mock tests should be solved in offline or paper-pencil-based mode (PBT), which is the original mode for three hours and twenty minutes to get yourself accustomed to the test.
Q4: Which subject in NEET should I give maximum preference to?
A: Each subject has equal number of questions. Hence, students should give equal attention and prepare for all the subjects equally. Among the three subjects, one must give extra attention to the weak areas.
Q: Physics is my weakest section. Can I leave out the entire section?
A: It is not advisable for candidates to leave out an entire subject in the NEET question paper. This would affect the overall score and rank and would minimise the chance of qualifying for the exam. It is best to identify the weak areas soon after starting the NEET preparation and work towards improving the concepts to get a good score in the exam.
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
Jun '20 | AIIMS MBBS 2020 Results |
May '20 | AIIMS MBBS 2020 Exam |
Jun '20 | JIPMER 2020 exam (tentative) |
13 Aug '25 | FMGE 2025 June Session Result |
26 Jul '25 | FMGE 2025 Exam June Session |
Jan '26 | OJEE 2026 registrations |
Mar '26 | OJEE 2026: Last date of fee pa... |
Jul '22 | DAVV CET 2022 Registration |
14 Jul '25 | PU CET (UG) 2025 Display of Te... |
Jun '25 | PU CET (UG) 2025 Admission For... |
Jan '26 | NTA CMAT 2026 Exam Date |
Jan '26 | NTA JEE Main 2026 Exam Date Se... |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 weeks 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
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
For admission to BAMS at Taranath Government Ayurveda Medical College, you will generally need documents such as your NEET 2025 Scorecard, Class 12 mark sheets and certificate, Class 10 mark sheet, caste certificate (if applicable), domicile/nationality certificate, and passport-sized photographs. T
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 3 weeks ago
For biology students in India, there are many high-salary career options available even without taking the NEET exam, such as:
- Biotechnology
- Forensic Sciences
- Biomedical Engineering
- Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharma)
- B.Sc Nursing
- Medical Laboratory Technology (BMLT)
- Optometry (B.Optom)
- Food Technology/Food Sci
J
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 3 weeks 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
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 3 weeks 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
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
The "best" course for PCB or PCMB students after 12th depends on their personal interests and career aspirations. Here are some of the best course options for those interested in the healthcare fields after 12th (without becoming a doctor):
- BSc in Biotechnology
- BSc in Microbiology
- BSc in Nursing
- BSc in
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks 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
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks 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
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, to take admission in Sai Tirupati University for the MBBS course the NEET UG exam is compulsory. Candidates must appear for this exam and achieve a valid aggregate in the same to take admission in the MBBS course at Sai Tirupati University. Additionally, they must ensure fulfilling the eligibil
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month 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
Contributor-Level 10