Tathagat Awatar knew he would score well in NEET UG 2024, but sharing the top spot with 66 others surprised him. Awatar has scored a perfect 720 marks and obtained 99.997129 percentile. His initial score after the NEET UG provisional answer key was 715, however after the revised answer key was released on June 4, the only answer marked incorrect in the provisional key came right and he scored 720. His all India rank for counseling is 1.09. LATEST UPDATE | Tathagat Awatar's current rank after reconsidering the correct physics question is 34. His score is now 715 and percentile is 99.9946856. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) result was announced on Tuesday and as many as 67 medical aspirants are sharing the rank 1. Asked about the NEET UG grace marks policy, he said he is unaware of this. "I don't know why NTA said it has allotted grace marks to students for exam time," he said. Hailing from Bihar’s Madhubani district, the 19-year-old scored 86 per cent in Class 10 and 88 per cent in Class 12. "I switched to Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) in Class 12 as that school was nearby," he said. NEET UG 2024 Result | Result highlights | What led to 67 AIR1s? | 67 AIR 1, but 1 topper? | Increase in cut-off | Awatar was always drawn to the intricacies of science and biology in particular. Speaking to the indianexpress.com, the topper shares how he prepared for NEET UG. How did you prepare for NEET UG? This was my third attempt at NEET UG. I first appeared in 2022 after I completed my Class 12 exams. Then I took a year drop to prepare well for the exam. Although I scored above the cut-off on my second attempt, I thought I could do better and therefore I dropped out another year. In my first attempt, I scored 526 marks and in the second and third attempts, I obtained 611 and 720 marks, respectively. I was enrolled in a local coaching programme in Class 11 in 2021. However, with Covid and classes going online, my focus on studies got diverted and the classes also could not motivate me much. However, I joined Physics Wallah and referred to their coaching material. Apart from that, I mainly focussed on NCERT. In the class, teachers would give us notes and later we would solve questions. When the exams were approaching, the coaching institute would conduct revision classes. In my second attempt at NEET, I became overconfident as I solved section-wise question papers in abundance. However, when I sat to take the actual NEET UG exam last year, my strategy for section-wise tests failed as I was unable to solve questions on time. Therefore, in my third attempt, I changed my approach and started to do complete tests. I solved over 100 full mock tests. I answered biology paper first, followed by physics and chemistry. While answering the questions in biology, I would start with section A, then B followed by marking in the OMR sheet. Similarly, for zoology, physics and chemistry, I would attempt section A first, next B and then mark them in the OMR sheets. What is your dream college? I always wanted AIIMS New Delhi. I was motivated to read about NEET UG toppers' preparation and how the best institute in the country teaches. However, considering the number of students on the list of toppers this year, even if I do not get AIIMS, New Delhi, I would be happy that I have scored a perfect 720 marks and I am no less than them. I will probably choose some other AIIMS (AIIMS Jodhpur or AIIMS Bhopal) if not AIIMS New Delhi. How did you handle stress? I used to do exercise and meditation regularly. The support of my parents also came as a stress reliever for me. They are both teachers and they have always wanted me to do my best. There are no doctors in my family and therefore to become one was also a motivation in itself.
