How to prepare for NEET? Fully explained- Coaching or Self study, Strategies, Test series, and all other informations

Which to choose- between coaching and self study?

Before taking a final decision, you should check the list of features given below:

●Coaching

1. Study Plan: In coaching, you will get a pre-defined and researched study plan made by their exam experts and HODs. All you have to do is to stay focused, motivated and follow the study plan.
2. Fees: Coaching centres demand very high fees for your preparation.
3. Study Materials: Coaching centres provide you well-defined and researched study material that can be used for your NEET preparation.
4. Updates: They keep you updated on all the changes in exam pattern or syllabus.
5. Time management: Classes run at a fast pace, and you will have to regularly work very hard to keep yourself up with the classes.
6. Competition: In coaching, you get to interact with many students who are preparing for the same exam. It helps you to get into the feeling/ environment of competition and hence it helps you to understand the level of your own preparation.

●Self study

1. Study Plan: You can study the syllabus on your own pace and device your own method/ plan of preparation. This is beneficial for students who find it difficult to move with the pace of coaching classes.
2. Fees: You dont have to pay any fees for your preparation, except for some online test series.
3. Study Materials: For self-study, you will have to purchase different books, watch different study videos and make your own study material, which is a time consuming process.
4. Updates: You will have to be updated (on your own) with the exam updates by searching internet regularly.
5. Time Management: In self-study, you can set your own deadlines and prepare your own study plan. But you will have to manage your time very carefully, keep yourself away from wasting your time in unusual activities, like games, social media, etc.
6. Competition: If you are doing self study, you are your own competitor, and therefore, you will lack competition and you will feel difficulty in understanding your level of preparation. This can be overcomed by joining a good All India level test series.

Whether you are attending coaching classes or doing self-study, good time management and hard work are the keys to crack NEET/AIIMS/JIPMER. Also, remember that coaching classes can only guide you, you will have to do a lot of self-study along with the coaching classes.

Strategy to score good marks

To score good marks (above 600), you should have a strong grip over basic concepts and higher speed of solving MCQ type questions. This can be achieved through reading good books, practising a lot of questions, making good notes and revising them at regular intervals.

● If you are attending coaching classes, then you should pay full attention in your class and ask your doubts with your teachers and make it clear on time. After that you should revise your notes and then read NCERT. After this, practice your module questions and past year papers. And then revise that topic's notes and solved questions at regular intervals. You should not miss any of your coaching tests and try to give them with your best efforts. After getting the test results, analyse it and identify your mistakes and try to never repeat them.
This is the best way of studying for NEET.

● If you are doing self study, then first read NCERT and then read good books like HC Verma or DC Pandey (for Physics), MS Chouhan (for Organic Chemistry) and Balaji (for Physical Chemistry). For Inorganic Chemistry and Biology, read only NCERT Books. You may watch those free lecture videos available on youtube for more clarity on concepts. After that make short notes, which you will have to revise regularly.  And solve questions from past year papers (of NEET and AIIMS) and those books which you have studied. Do not forget to revise them at regular intervals.
You should join a good test series, for regularly giving mock tests. And after getting the test results, analyse and identify your mistakes and try to never repeat them.

Which test series to join?

For a good preparation, you need to test your ability at regular intervals through mock tests. The other big advantage of giving mock tests is that it reduces your exam fear and fill you with confidence. So it is very important to choose good quality test series.
Here is a list of some good test series with separate categories of paid ones and non paid ones:

●Non-paid- Free test series.

1. Embibe- Embibe free NEET mock tests are prepared by subject experts. The types and pattern of questions in the Embibe NEET mock tests are very similar to the NEET exam. Here you can attempt more than 20000 questions chapterwise for free.
2. PMT Corner- This website is created by AIIMS Patna students and it provide you free online test series and it also gives you free allen test papers to download in pdf format.
3. Gradeup- It provides full length mock tests for NEET for free, which is valid till 31st May 2019.
4. Youth4work- It provides you to practice previous year papers online and it also provides some mocks tests for free for NEET.

●Paid test series.

1. Allen Online Test Series- Allen Career Institute (Kota) is a pioneer in NEET/AIIMS/JIPMER/JEE coaching. Its online NEET test series is used by most of the NEET Toppers and rankers and is the best in the market. The questions designed are of the same level as of actual NEET exam. Its test reports give you detailed analysis of your performance, allowing you to evaluate your performance with others from all over India.
2. All India Aakash Test Series (AIATS)- Aakash is a reputed name for NEET and engineering exams preparation. The All India Aakash Test Series for NEET is available both in online and offline formats (at aakash test centers).
3. ETOOS- This platform provides really good test series with properly planned questions and you can give it at your home easily.
4. Biomentors- Biomentors is a new online coaching platform which is created by Dr. Geetendra Singh and it provides free video lectures, but test series are paid and the tests are taken topicwise and atleast two to three times a week. And this test series is available at cheapest rates in market, with monthly subscriptions also available.
5. Motion- This is also a good platform. Here you get properly planned tests and you can also download old tests. You can give your tests in both mobile and laptop.

In my opinion, if you can afford, then join Allen test series. And if you are short on budget then join biomentors test series.
And if you don't want to spend a single rupee, join Embibe's NEET Test series.

Last month strategies

When 2 months are left, then you should increase your frequency of revision and give one mock test daily. Stop using social media and internet. Read nothing new, try to strengthen those topics which you have studied till now. Never take tension and never get demotivated. Always think positive and try to give your best.

Examination day strategy

Have a good sleep during night, wake up early and have a light breakfast and leave for your centre early, so that you are not late. It is always advised by NEET authorities to visit your centre a day before and confirm your location.

If you still have any query in your mind, feel free to ask it in comments.