What NOT to do while preparing for NEET UG 2025

What NOT to do while preparing for NEET UG 2025

National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) is an all-Indian examination that the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts. NEET (UG), as the name suggests, concerns the entrance examination for admissions to undergraduate programmes in various government or private medical colleges.  NEET UG exam is conducted as per the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act 2020.

Engineering and medical sciences remain the two most popular streams of higher education in India. NEET UG is a gateway to secure positions in coveted colleges, thereafter assuring a place in one of the most successful and in-demand professions of all time.  Your NEET UG preparation strategy requires a revisit, especially when you will be competing with more than 20 lac students from across the country. 

In this article, I have prepared a guide for the young NEET UG 2025 aspirants. That said, the suggestions are generally applicable irrespective of whether you are appearing this year or later. 

Also, in this guide, I will tell you what you must NOT do while preparing for NEET UG 2025. 

1. Not Know the NEET UG 2025 exam dates 

A blunder in itself is forgetting the exam dates, which, contrary to popular belief, is quite common among students. While the NTA is yet to announce the date of the exam, word is out that the exam is likely to be conducted in May 2025. 

Based on past trends, the exam might be scheduled in the first week of May. Considering the same, the date should be the 4th of May, 2025. The timings should be the usual i.e. from 2:00 PM to 5:20 PM. 

In case you want to keep yourself updated on developments, it is recommended that you keep looking up for public notices on the official website of NEET. 

2. Not Revise The Syllabus of the Exam 

If you are writing the NEET UG 2025, then you should already have the syllabus on the tip of your fingers. Nevertheless, it does not hurt to revisit the syllabus to double-check whether you missed anything or not. 

As per the public notice issued on 20th December 2024, the official syllabus of the exam covers three core subjects, namely Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. 

Starting with Biology, important topics to cover include cell structure and function, genetics & evolution, human psychology, plant physiology, and reproduction.

Physics, moving on, has several important topics such as gravitation, thermodynamics, electrostatics, current electricity, rotational motion, and experimental skills.

Lastly, the Chemistry section will feature questions from organic compounds, biomolecules, coordination compounds, and hydrocarbons. 

Once you know the syllabus fully, your NEET UG 2025 preparation will become goal-oriented, streamlined, and productive. 

3. Not assess the topic/chapter-wise score weightage 

 During your preparation period, you cannot skip any topic. NEET UG 2025 cannot be predicted with certainty, very much like previous exams. The only source of estimation is the previous years’ question papers, which should be studied and analysed to understand the pattern. 

Based on what is available, the distribution of marks has been predicted. For instance, in Botany, chapters related to the molecular basis of inheritance, cell cycle and cell division, anatomy of flowering plants, and plant kingdom share the highest distribution of marks in the exam. 

When it comes to Physics, NEET aspirants must practice questions on alternating current, current electricity, dual nature of radiation and matter, electrostatic potential and capacitance, and gravitation. 

Chemistry has a more even distribution of marks across chapters and topics. Topics which have historically attracted the highest score distribution include organic chemistry, alcohols, phenols and ethers, equilibrium, hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids, and coordination compounds. 

4. Not Make a Workable Timetable For NEET UG 2025

Many NEET aspirants, especially in the last few months before the exam, either make unrealistic timetables or make none at all. The first thing you should do after having revisited the syllabus and kept track of notices on NEET UG 2025 is to make a workable timetable. 

In a few months, you will be writing the exam. By now, you should have covered most of the topics from the syllabus. It is time to change your preparation strategy and devise a new timetable.  It should include not only coaching lectures but also revision and mock tests. You might have to control your distractions a little bit more. Don’t think, however, the suggestion is to socially isolate.   

A few considerations to keep in mind include the time available in a day, the date of the exam, leisure time you need to refresh and socialise, and revision. Right now, as we speak, your timetable should feature a generous space for practising NEET UG previous years’ question papers and mock tests. 

One cautionary note: just because you are approaching the exam faster than before does not mean you push yourself beyond capacity. Take proper rest and engage in self-care regularly. 

5. Not Practice Mock Tests 

You have 3 hours (or 180 minutes) with you. In those gruelling three hours, you will be attempting one question after another. And, it is not simply a matter of attempting the question right; it also means you will have to prevent mental pressure from getting the best of you. 

In such stressful situations with stakes so high, it is natural for NEET aspirants to experience anxiety. However, practice can help alleviate it. The more you become accustomed to the pressures of the exam, the less intimidated you will be. 

Mock test preparation is your solution. Whether you are studying in any coaching institute in Sikar or outside or engaged in self-study, you should be practising mock tests regularly. In the beginning, you may want to assess your performance in individual subjects. In between, you can attempt mock NEET UG papers to evaluate your overall position. 

You can practice mock tests at home, but there won’t be competition. If you are associated with a coaching institute in Sikar,  you will be offered access to several online practice tools which will provide in-depth analyses and ranking. 

Also, online mock test videos are extremely helpful. Dr. Anand Mani, who offers informative videos on NEET UG 2025 preparation posts on how to attempt and analyze NEET 2025 Mock Test.  Then you have this video where the instructor of Matrix Academy Sikar solves Botany questions from the NEET 2019 paper. 

6. Not Engage in Progress Check 

NEET UG 2025, or any NEET UG paper cannot be cracked unless continuous efforts are made. You have all the resources with you: you have chosen the NEET coaching institute in Sikar (or outside), and you have access to mock tests and previous years’ question papers. 

Even after having all these you fail to keep track of your progress, then you need to take things seriously. You should consult your friends, batchmates, and coaching & school instructors when it comes to your performance in class or mock tests. 

Of course, self-assessment is important, but you are no expert in the subjects. Nor, do you have enough experience in the education sector to know how the competition works. It is, therefore, recommended that you identify your weak and strong points. Address your doubts with instructors from time to time and engage in brainstorming sessions with batchmates and friends. 

To beat the pressure of NEET UG 2025, you need to oil your faculties!

All said, should you be interested in knowing more about NEET UG 2025, click this link and discover relevant articles.