NEET UG Topper’s Tips: ‘Keeping a mistake notebook helped me to not repeat errors,’ AIR 39 shares

Sinha has wanted to become a doctor ever since she was a child. Her decision was influenced by her parents as both of them are doctors. She took a two-year-long coaching course from Allen and Physics Wallah and joined an offline test series from Allen. Sinha opens up to indianexpress.com, about her preparations for NEET UG. Read edited excerpts here:

How did you prepare for NEET UG?
Sumegha Sinha: My primary preparation for NEET UG started when I was in Class 11 and Class 12 and I enrolled in the coaching classes of Allen. I had a clear goal in mind – I had to do well in NEET UG.

The benefit of the online programmes I had enrolled was that it gave me the liberty to watch them at my own pace. After waking up early in the morning, I used to watch the video lectures of physics. I think the brain is more receptive to taking up difficult topics in the morning. And whatever was taught in the class, I used to answer the questions from the modules.

Read | How to crack NEET UG 2024 in first attempt?

For questions that were difficult to answer, I used to mark them and emphasise on that topic specifically.

Next, I would watch the biology and chemistry lectures and answer the questions assigned for that day.

Moreover, I also allocated time to study the NCERT books after watching the video lectures. Generally students ignore the NCERT textbooks of physics and chemistry, but usually direct questions come from NCERT textbooks in physics and chemistry as well.

I did not compromise on my sleeping schedule. I used to take proper sleep during the night.

How did you revise the topics?
Sinha: During the last phase of my preparation after my board exams got over, I made a time table. I allotted time to study one topic each from all the three subjects. And for those doubts that came up while taking the test, I used to watch videos of that topic only to make my doubts clear, read the NCERT and solve previous year questions.

While taking mock tests, I used to appear for them by timing myself.

What would you recommend to NEET UG 2024 aspirants?
Sinha: – Do not lose hope during preparation. There will be ups and downs but the destination is worth
– Learn from the mistakes
– Focus on the goals
– Keep distractions away including mobile phones, social media

Did you get nervous during the NEET UG preparation?
Sinha: I did get nervous in preparation. I used to feel low after I scored low marks in my mock tests. But I reassured myself that it is good that I made the mistakes during my preparation and not in the real exams. I only had one thing in mind – to get through NEET UG 2023.

I also had a ‘mistake notebook’. I used to check the notebook before every test and made sure I do not repeat the mistakes. The mistake notebook had also one-liner concepts.

How was it like preparing for board exams and NEET UG simultaneously?
Sinha: Preparing for NEET UG and board exams together was a little stressful. If one is thorough with the NCERTs, board exam preparation becomes easier. I was solely focussing on NEET UG, and therefore I studied all the parts – rationalised syllabus and deleted syllabus of CBSE – and that indeed helped.

The rationalised syllabus in other subjects, including physical education and English allowed me to give less time to them for the board exams. It was somewhat beneficial that CBSE rationalised the syllabus and did not have much of an impact on the physics, chemistry and biology part.

I am planning to go for a postgraduate programme after my MBBS gets over. I have not thought of any specialisation but I am inclined towards forensic medicine, so might take this in PG.