Tathagat Avatar NEET 2024 AIR 1 Topper Interview: Pay Heed to Class 11 Topics to Score High
National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test 2025 ( NEET )
Counselling - 30 Oct '25 - 3 Nov '25
Tathagat Avatar secured AIR 1 in NEET UG 2024 exam with 720/720 scores. NEET 2024 topper interview of AIR 1 Tathagat Avatar is provided below. Potential NEET aspirants can check the topper’s preparation strategy, revision tips, quick notes and success story here.
Q. Congratulations on your success in NEET 2024. Were you expecting this rank?
Tathagat: I was not expecting to get AIR 1 in NEET UG 2024. I think no one can say with surety that they will get AIR 1. However, I was expecting to get a rank under 100. Although I had anticipated hearing about the outcome later, it was revealed today. I knew I was going to do well on this test, but one can only desire a perfect score.
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Q. How was your journey so far?
Thathagat: My parents and teachers have been my biggest pillars of success. I would like to thank my parents as well as my teachers for having faith in me.
Q. How did you prepare for the NEET examination? What steps did you take to overcome distractions?
Candidates will get 3 hours or 180 minutes to solve the entire question paper of NEET. They can divide the time between the NEET subjects or sections as per their convenience. There is no sectional time limit in the NEET exam pattern. According to the experts, candidates should keep around 45 minutes for each subject and 15 minutes for revision. Candidates must prepare a fool proof time management strategy while taking mock tests. They must follow different approaches and then finalise on the most convenient one.
The total number of exam cities for NEET 2025 was 566. This year, the total number of NEET exam cities in India was 552. The number of NEET exam cities outside India has remained 14. The number of exam cities in India has decreased by five cities from last year, which was 557.
Tathagat: This was my third attempt of the NEET exam. I made the decision to study through online mode only. I took my classes from PW and Alakh Pandey sir cleared my concepts very easily. Their lectures were to be delivered in an approach that I enjoyed. Joining an offline exam series was another strategy that I found to be effective. I think practising NEET mock test was very helpful for time management. Eliminating all forms of distraction for a period helped me perform well on the NEET exam.
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Q. How did you balance NEET preparation along with board exam preparation?
Tathagat: I was relieved not to have any concerns about balancing two exams this year because I took a drop year following my prior attempt because of NEET results.
Q. Which is your dream medical college and specialisation?
Tathagat: I would love to go to AIIMS Delhi and enrol myself in the MBBS programme. However, the AIIMS Delhi cutoff is expected to go higher this time.
The exact numbers of NEET 2025 exam centres will be announced by NTA along with the result details. It is expected that the total number of NEET 2025 exam cities was around 5,000. Last year the number was 4,750. The number of NEET 2025 exam cities in India has decreased by five cities this year. However, the total number of NEET centres in exam cities has remained the same, which was 14.
The NEET 2025 exam was conducted on May 4, 2025, from 2 PM to 5 PM. NTA announced the exam date through an official notice along with the application form on February 7, 2025.
As per the Supreme Court hearing dated June 13, 2024, the Centre said that the scores of 1,563 candidates who were given grace marks, are cancelled. They were given an option to reappear for the exam which was conducted on June 23, 2024. The result of this test willl be declared by June 30, 2024. The result for those candidates who will not be appearing for the re-NEET 2024, will be considered for that of the May 5 exam, devoid of grace marks.
The NEET 2024 exam was conducted by NTA on May 5, 2024 in 571 cities across India and abroad. Incidents of wrong question paper medium distribution, paper leaks and proxy exam takers were reported in the media after the conduct of the exam. As of now, as many as 13 people have been arrested in allegations of paper leak. This led to unrest among the students and stakeholders and they are demanding for a retest. Moreover, after the declaration of the result, several anomalies were observed which again led to unrest among candidates and a demand for reNEET 2024 resurfaced. NTA formed a Grievance Redressal Committee which reviewed the complaints submitted, and decided to reconduct the exam for 1,563 candidates.
Q. What motivated you to appear for NEET exam for the third time?
Tathagat: Last year I qualified NEET but my score was not as expected. Hence, I decided to take another attempt of the NEET UG exam with the aim of studying in the best medical college in India.
Q. How important was coaching for you?
Tathagat: I realized that my online preparation plan was considerably more advanced and provided me with more practice time subsequently. People usually advise against using online coaching and learning to crack the NEET exam, but based on my current performance, I can assert with confidence that AIR 1 can be achieved through online study while seated in a tiny room as well.
Q. What was the most challenging subject in NEET according to you?
Thathagat: Inorganic chemistry was the toughest for me during the preparation of NEET UG 2024.
Q. Any specific preparation tips you would like to share with future NEET aspirants?
Tathagat: In my opinion, students must focus on textbooks of classes 11 and 12 and follow the guidance of their teachers Aspirants must join online test series either online or offline. Additionally, try challenging questions at the end because you shouldn't spend too much time on them at first. Revision is another essential part of NEET preparation. Be self-assured and refuse to allow self-doubt to affect you. Never stop seeing yourself as the best and pay attention in class eleventh topics.
Further, Thathagat suggested class 11 students pay heed to class 11 topics very carefully and not take it lightly. Dedication and discipline shall be maintained by the students. Mock tests are very important to score high in the NEET entrance exam. Hence, it shall be attempted rigorously.
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NEET 2024 was conducted on May 5, 2024, from 2 PM to 5.20 PM (IST). NTA conducted the exam in 571 cities across India and abroad. Around 20 lakh candidates appeared for the exam. The difficulty level of the exam was moderate to tough. NEET is a paper-pencil based test (PBT) consisting of a total of 200 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Out of this, candidates had to attempt 180 questions. The total marks of the exam is 720.