The National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test-Postgraduate (NEET-PG) is the qualifying and ranking exam students need to clear if they wish to pursue prestigious postgraduate courses in medical science such as Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Surgery (MS), Diplomate of National Board (DNB), and Doctorate of National Board (Post MBBS direct six-year course in the field of Neurosurgery, Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and Pediatric Surgery). A highly competitive examination calls for absolute dedication, hard work, and careful planning. If you aim to crack NEET PG in the very first attempt, you need an exceptional level of focus and strategic approach to medical exam preparation. So, how to study for NEET PG without wrecking your brain? In this article, we will discuss a few things aspiring medical professionals can do to increase their chances of cracking NEET PG in the first attempt.
How to prepare for NEET PG 2024 then? Know your exam syllabus first!
Your first step should be understanding the NEET PG syllabus and exam pattern inside out. Go through the contents of the syllabus and make a note of all the important topics and sub-topics. To prepare well, you need to focus on every subject, including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, forensic medicine & toxicology, community medicine or PSM, ENT, ophthalmology, dermatology, psychiatry, OBGYN, medicine, surgery, radiodiagnosis, anaesthesiology, and pediatrics. Understanding the exam pattern will help you prepare a study plan and know what to expect from the NEET PG exam.
Prepare a realistic study schedule
Once you know which topics and subtopics to focus on, your next step in the journey of cracking NEET PG is to create a well-structured study plan that you can follow to score high. Your study plan should be designed in such a way that it allows sufficient time for every subject. While creating a study schedule, do allocate some break time. This will ensure your study schedule isn’t too stiff to follow. Also, breaks are like power naps; they give students a breather before they dive into their books with full force.
Choose the right study material
Now that you have a study schedule you intend to stick to, you need proper study material, which includes your textbooks (most important!), NEET PG question banks, and previous years’ papers. And while you are at it, we suggest you go for an online course as well, as they go a long way towards simplifying exam papers for you. Here is a link to some of the best online courses for NEET PG by DigiNerve, designed by some of the most reputed names in the medical field.
As you go through DigiNerve’s online courses, focus on the subjects where you can use extra help. For example, if you think you need to devote extra time to understand the nuances of surgery, go for Surgery for UnderGrads by Dr. Sriram Bhat.
Practice mock questions
It goes without saying that you must understand subjects under the NEET PG syllabus thoroughly and memorise the terms. However, to prepare yourself for the exam, practicing questions is a must. Go through MCQs under every topic. Then, check the time you take to solve these questions. Keep doing this exercise until you get better at reading questions at a good speed and answering them with absolute accuracy. Yes, practice makes an aspiring medical professional perfect! Also, review previous years’ question papers to know what to expect and tailor your preparation accordingly.
Focus on yourself
While sticking to your study schedule and practicing mock questions are non-negotiable, remember to take care of your physical and mental health. Eat healthy, work out for a minimum of half an hour every day, and sleep for at least 6–7 hours every night. Refrain from resorting to junk just because you have easy access to it. Every day, take a minimum of 15 minutes to practice some kind of meditation. Sit alone with your thoughts for a while. Be mentally strong, which will help you stick to your study schedule and keep you motivated.
Revise, revise, revise
We cannot stress enough the importance of revision. Whatever you study, you will retain it only if you revise it. Revise it verbally and revise it on paper. Online courses by DigiNerve contain notes, pictorial guides, and flashcards that help you go back to the topics of relevance, albeit in an engaging manner. Keep testing your memory to check the effectiveness of your preparation.
All said and done, cracking NEET-PG in the first attempt is difficult. But you must remember that every year, thousands of students do it. So, go through all these points again and plan your preparation well. Focus on consistent efforts and the right preparation strategies, and you will do well. Here is a link to an article that simplifies “How to prepare NEET PG 2024” like never before. Do go through these links to understand these expert tips better.
All the best!
