Post-graduation is the next step for most MBBS students. Becoming a surgeon, a physician, a paediatrician, etc is something we have dreamt of since our childhood.
Today, what stands in our way like a seemingly insurmountable wall is NEET PG. (1.5 lakh doctors will appear for this exam, and seats are limited.)
Final year and internship are easily the toughest 2 years of MBBS. Everyone works hard more or less. So, what should be your plan? How to crack NEET PG and remain healthy and fit at the same time?
First, I will elaborate the broad strategy for Cracking NEET
Fundamentals
The foundation of your knowledge will be laid in the years of MBBS. Here comes the role of standard books – Robbins, Harrison, Bailey, Reddy, etc. Books which might not fetch you marks in University exams but are needed to build your concepts.
Study Material
Once you are in internship, you will have to choose your study material. It depends on whether you have joined any class or are going to do MCQ books. Both are equally good – I had joined Dams in 3rd minor and used MCQ books during internship.
The most important thing is stick to the same thing!
Either, class notes or MCQ books. Revise from the same source again and again. The material is not inadequate.
Number of revisions
You should do at least 3 revisions before the exam. Some might even go for a fourth (like I did for short subjects). You can plan a 6, 2,1 schedule (months) or a 5,3,2. Anything that works for you.
The most important thing here is Speed.
I had set a target of 100 pages per day. Do big subjects like Medicine, Surgery, Pathology in 15,5 and 2 days for 1st, 2nd and 3rd revisions respectively.
Giving Mock tests / Grand Tests
Once you have finished 1st reading, you can start giving Mock tests or GTs – Dams / Bhatia / marrow / prep ladder etc.
Tests serve many purposes – time management, identifying your strong and weak subjects, getting an idea of number of negatives so you don’t attempt too much or too less. You should reach 200 positives at the least for a good rank. Then try to slowly minimize your negatives. That will improve your rank.
Identify your strengths and weaknesses
During 2nd revision, you know what subjects you are weak at. Revise them more. Give them more time.
By this time All India mock tests will be conducted – around September. You might not finish your 2nd revision by then but it’s OK! You might not get a good rank but that’s also OK.
If you are within 3-4K you have a very good chance of improvement. I myself jumped from 3K in CBT (Conducted by DAMS) to 53 in NEET PG.
The last month
You should focus on high yield subjects and topics. Dermatology, psychiatry, biochemistry, anaesthesia, FM, are subjects that can be quickly revised entirely.
For other bigger subjects be selective. Read high yield notes, tables etc. You may even leave a big subject like Medicine. But among the final year subjects do OBGYN well.
A few days before exam
Revise only high yield things. Do tables, markers, genetics, chromosome numbers, etc. Stay calm, everyone is going through the same stress.
The one who handles it well in the last moments will win.
On the day of the exam
Read till the last moment – you never know! What you read a few hrs before can be asked in the exam. And in such exams even 1 mark can mean a rank difference of 100
How to Remain fit during this 1 year?
Most people will ignore their health. Internship is stressful, you might not get time to sleep, eat, exercise. But, try to manage whenever you get time. Exercise has many benefits – it keeps your mind fresh and body healthy.
From my personal example – I am a cyclist, trekker and gymmer. At the start of internship, I completed Mumbai – Goa solo cycling – 523 km in 5 days which was my long-held dream.
As monsoon came, I went on treks – any holiday I could find in the busy schedule, I would go on a trek and come with a fresh mind. Nature does heal you. I did 6-7 treks in monsoon alone.
Walk whenever you can, avoid cabs for short distances. Say no to alcohol or smoking.
For being fit, you might not get time, but there are certain things of omission – Avoid junk food, too much oil and salt is not good. Avoid free sugar in the form of Soft drinks. These you can easily manage.
Today the risk of sudden cardiac deaths, chronic diseases, are all rising. Doctors are an especially high-risk group. Despite knowing this fact, if we don’t change our lifestyle then that’s the most idiotic thing possible.
One exam doesn’t decide your future. But bad health will eventually. Longevity is more important in our field. And for that one must be fit.
Value yourself! Your body and mind are precious! Success will come sooner or later. Don’t spoil your health for your rank. Both can be achieved together like I did.
All the best! The society and India need you Doc!
This article has been written by Dr. Abhijeet Shukla who is an intern at Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai. He scored an All India Rank 53 in NEET PG 2019. Dr. Abhijeet Shukla is an avid cricketer, trekker, cyclist and gymmer.
1 reply on “How to crack NEET PG while staying fit!”
Reallly helpful. But what to study first Preclinical subjects or Clinical subjects and how much time needed for them.
NEXT would be a challenge really