INI CET 2025 Topper Interview: AIR 9 Dr. Kushwanth Shares His Preparation Strategy

INI CET 2025 topper with AIR 9, Dr. Kushwanth Empati, shared his preparation strategy in an exclusive interview with Shiksha.com. Dr. Kushwanth recounted his journey to becoming the INI CET July 2025 topper. Read the article to learn about his preparation strategy and how he overcame challenges while preparing for the examination.

Q1: Congratulations on emerging as an INI CET 2025 topper! How many marks did you score?

Dr. Kushwanth: I attempted all the questions. Out of 200, I think I got 161 correct. So, my score would be around 148. I secured All India Rank 9.

Q2: Tell us something about yourself.

Dr. Kushwanth: I hail from a village in Telangana. I completed my schooling and intermediate studies there. In 2019, I cleared the AIIMS UG entrance exam with a rank of 19 and got admission to AIIMS Delhi. I completed my 5.5 years of MBBS there and finished my internship in January. After that, I began preparing for the INI CET for my postgraduate entrance.

Q3: What motivated you to pursue medicine as a career?

Dr. Kushwanth: My mother is a single parent, and she always encouraged me to study well. Initially, I considered pursuing engineering at IIT. But during 10th grade, we had to make a decision, and my mother guided me towards medicine. I was hesitant at first—I wasn’t sure if I could do well in biology—but she had faith in me. After starting the course, I never looked back. Studying MBBS has been a great experience.

Q4: Did you appear for any other PG medical entrance examination?

Dr. Kushwanth: My primary target was the INI CET because I wanted to return to my undergraduate college. This was my second attempt. Like other central college students, we were eligible to take the November attempt during our internship. However, due to hectic postings just before the exam, I didn’t get enough time to prepare. Despite that, I secured a decent rank of around 370, but it wasn’t sufficient for the speciality I wanted.

Q5: How and when did you start preparing for the INI CET exam?

Dr. Kushwanth: I studied during August, September, and October for the November INI CET, but my preparation was limited due to internship duties. For the July INI CET, I began serious preparation in January and continued until May—about four and a half months of focused effort.

Q6: Which study material would you recommend for INI CET preparation?

Dr. Kushwanth: There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. It depends on personal preference and comfort. Students should explore different options and get feedback from friends to choose what works best for them. I personally made notes based on my own preferences. I mainly followed Marrow’s rapid revision, since I had been using it since my third and fourth years and was already familiar with the content.

Q7: What challenges did you face while preparing for INI CET 2025?

Dr. Kushwanth: One major challenge was maintaining consistency. Studying for eight hours one day is good, but sustaining that momentum is tough. It requires self-discipline and avoiding distractions. I constantly reminded myself why I chose medicine and stayed motivated by thinking of my mother, who has always supported me.

Q8: What exam preparation tips would you like to give to INI CET aspirants?

Dr. Kushwanth: Choose your study source wisely and stick to it. Keep your notes concise so you can revise them multiple times—at least three full revisions and one quick revision before the exam. PYQs (previous year questions) are crucial—focus more on the topics than the questions themselves, especially for the INI CET pattern. Also, take mock tests under real exam-like conditions. Simulating the test environment helped me stay calm during the actual exam. I didn’t feel anxious at all, not even for a minute.

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