NEET UG 2024: Common mistakes to avoid, best strategies for time management, how to fill OMR sheets

Are you aspiring to ace the NEET UG 2024? Well, then it's time to gear up and master the art of time management. Amidst the preparation for NEET, students often prioritize completing the syllabus, neglecting the crucial aspect of practice and time-management. Students overlook the importance of preparing for how to efficiently finish the exam within the given time limit. 

Time management is crucial as the NEET exam is in objective form and students need to fill the OMR sheet where they often make big blunders. Allocating time wisely to each section allows you enough time to re-check everything and then fill the OMR sheet cautiously. Anil Ahlawat, CEO of MTG Learning Media, in a conversation with Republic World shared some important strategies and common mistakes to avoid while preparing for NEET UG 2024. 

Effective Time Management Strategies for NEET UG 2024

Let’s talk about how you can effectively complete the NEET 2024 exam in time so that you don’t make any blunders with the OMR sheets.

• ·        Read the question carefully: Make sure you understand what the question is. MCQs are tricky, so it's important to understand them fully.
• ·        Divide time wisely: Don’t exceed the allotted time limit. Give less than 40 minutes to Biology, less than 60 minutes to Chemistry and less than 70 minutes to Physics.
• ·        Start sequentially: Start with the easiest section first and then move on to the difficult sections.
• ·        Don’t look at the options first: Before looking at the options, come up with your own answer to remain unbiased and unaffected by the options provided.
• ·        Complete the biology portion first to save time for chemistry and physics as typically, the order of difficulty is biology, chemistry, and then physics.

“To master time management in the actual exam, you need to start the practice now and excel in it. Attempt NEET previous year papers, mock test papers and NEET sample papers with OMR sheets to practice the above strategy,” he said. 

What to Do When Unsure of a Correct Answer?

• Eliminate wrong choices first: Compare the words or phrases that may be similar or different. By eliminating the incorrect choices, you will be left with the right answer.
• Skip difficult questions: Don't spend too much time on one question. Mark it & move on to easier ones and come back to it if you have time.
• Watch out for tricky questions: Pay attention to the words that make the question negative or that make the answer too extreme. For example, take this statement – “Only choose the not incorrect option.” This type of statements can lead to misunderstandings.
• Don’t change your answers too much: Unless you're really sure that your first choice was wrong, try not to change your answers a lot. Research shows that your first instinct is often the right one.

Best Way to Fill the OMR Sheet

“We designed this strategy to avoid the risk of losing out on all the marks,” he said. These tips are to follow in the first 2.5 hours of the exam.

• Fill the OMR after 10 Questions - Use the ‘Part Bubbling’ technique instead of ‘Bulk Bubbling' in the last. Fill in the bubbles for 10 questions at a time only.
•  Only Dot the Answers - For accuracy, dot the correct bubble before filling it completely. This allows you to second check your options. (OMR scanner doesn’t consider dot as an option)
• Review Second Time Then Fill - Quickly review your dotted answers, then bubble the correct dotted answers.
• Repeat – Repeat the process after every 10 questions for 2.5 hours of the exam.

“Now, the steps to follow in the last half hour of the exam. When you’re left with only half an hour, start filling the OMR sheet after each question. However, do it with caution. To crack NEET 2024, subject expertise alone is not enough. Effective time management is vital as it avoids last-minute panic & ensures all questions are attempted. Follow these strategies. Good luck, future doctors!,” he added.