Students’ Speak: How to prepare for NEET during quarantine

It is fitting to feel uncertain about what lies ahead in the future especially in times such as these when the whole world is struggling to survive and collectively fighting a war to save humanity. I’m sure most medical aspirants too would be anxious about how to prepare for their NEET which currently has been postponed tentatively to the last week of May.

To start off, it is imperative to continue to remind yourself why you have decided to choose this career path. The COVID 19 pandemic has proven how important the healthcare workers are for the sustenance of a society. Being clear about your goal while being passionate about it, can be a great driving force in your preparation for NEET by acting as a strong motivating factor.

Chart out a day plan

Second, it is important to chart out a plan for your entire day with proper portioning for studies as well as time for relaxation. When it comes to preparing for NEET, it is extremely essential to be cautious about the way you utilize your time, as this knowledge comes in handy even when you’re attempting your paper, when each second is crucial and time lost directly translates to loss of potential marks. With plenty of time in your hands you could utilize it to revise all important topics prior to the exam which, not to forget, is just a few months away, as well as focus on topics that you feel unsure or less confident about based off of past experiences. This is essentially the best time to make all of your basics rock solid. Solve as many practice papers/previous year papers, as possible, as these will give you the required confidence while attempting the actual paper.

Practice is imperative

It is important to remember that there are only a finite number of ways in which one can test your knowledge regarding the subjects, therefore by practicing as many question banks as possible, you can become aware of all the possible questions that can be asked regarding a certain topic. When I was preparing for my NEET exams all of my focus was on the NCERT text books and I know this has been mentioned time and again by multiple people before, but, being thorough with the content of your NCERT textbooks is not just helpful, it is a basic requirement and hence extremely essential. For this there are many textbooks out there but what I used especially for my Botany and Zoology was “NCERT at your fingertips” as this has tonnes of practice MCQs as well as assertion and reasoning type of questions based on the NCERT that help by giving students a proper grasp on the subjects.

Take time to relax

As mentioned before, proper portioning of time for relaxation is as essential as study time. This time can be extremely overwhelming for the UG aspirants and it is very easy for the exam stress and uncertainty to take a toll on your mental health. Therefore, the students should ensure to take good care of themselves. Having a good sleep pattern helps, and one should make sure that they have at least 6 to 7 hours of undisturbed sleep. Some people prefer staying up late in the night to study whereas some prefer getting up early to study, whatever be your time allotted for sleep, you should ensure that it doesn’t coincide with the time at which the exam would be conducted as over time your body may get used to this pattern and you may feel tired or sleepy on the day of the actual exam.

Keep your body and mind healthy

Apart from this, it is also essential that the student devotes time to some form of exercise, to keep the body active and engaged, and the mind fresh. As a result of the quarantine, everyone is forced to stay inside their homes and therefore the only option that remains is some form of home bound exercise such as yoga or strength training at home. Including meditation for a few minutes would also help relax the mind. If not meditation, taking out some time for your hobbies or anything else that you’re passionate about, can act as a great stress buster.

Create a study environment

One more thing to remember, is that, as a result of the quarantine almost every household would have all family members at home at all times. The students should be thoughtful about the kind of study environment they create. It should be free from all sorts of distractions, be it in the form of family members or friends via social media apps. Time devoted to studying should be fully utilized just for studying. No matter how many hours are put in, focus shouldn’t be lost. Remember, quality always holds greater significance over quantity.

In the end, you should not forget the age old saying, “Practice makes perfect” Use this quarantine time to give it your best shot and remember not to get overwhelmed as the mark of a good doctor is that he remains calm and composed in the face of all adversities.

About the Author:

Ashish Beji R is a student at Government Medical College, Amritsar. He is a student of medicine with passion for medical sciences art and life. When he is not studying to become a doctor, he is usually jamming with his guitar or writing poetry.