AIPMT 2014 Preparation Tips - What Topper says

With nearly three and a half months to go for AIPMT 2014 scheduled on May 4, 2014, Careers360 brings you topper insight on AIPMT 2014 Preparation Tips for the coveted medical entrance exam.

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Toppers say Cracking AIPMT 2014 all depends on self practice, time management and at last but not the least, belief in hard work.

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For any doubts and queries related to the exam pattern, preparation and other related queries, students can call the AIPMT 2014 Exam Helpline at 011-40360360.

In this interview on AIPMT Preparation, Aseem Verma, NEET AIR 52 and State Rank (Chhattisgarh) 1 shares his insights on how he cracked AIPMT 2014 and talks on preparation material, difficulty level, question pattern and important tips to the aspirants motivating them for self preparation and belief in hard work.

Careers360: In which year did you qualify the Pre-Medical Test?

Aseem Verma: I qualified it in the year 2013. This was my first attempt.

Careers360: What was your NEET Rank? Which colleges did you get?

Aseem Verma: My NEET AIR was 52 and State Rank (Chhattisgarh) was 1st. I was getting all the colleges except MAMC and AIIMS, New Delhi via my NEET rank. Apart from this I had BHU, AFMC, CMC Vellore, CMC Ludhiana, KMC Manipal and all other AIIMS to choose from.

Careers360: Which college did you choose? What were the selection criteria?

Aseem Verma: I chose Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi as it has internal PG and is located in Delhi.

Careers360: Which colleges did you aspire to take admission in?

Aseem Verma: I did not aspire to take admission in any particular college as such. I just wanted to perform well in NEET and other Medical Entrance Examinations.

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 Careers360: Which other exams did you take?

Aseem Verma: I took the following medical examinations - 

  MU OET - AIR 186

  CMC Ludhiana - AIR 4

  CMC Vellore - Qualified for interview but didn't take.

  AFMC - Qualified for interview but didn't take.

  BHU - AIR 38

  NEST - AIR 44 (For basic sciences)

  AIIMS - AIR 86

Careers360: Which one is more advantageous for medical aspirants between NEET and AIPMT?

Aseem Verma: I personally believe that NEET is better than AIPMT because it provides an opportunity to the students to compete on a national scale as the state colleges are also involved. Further, the state PMTs are tarnished for being unfair and all, but NEET gives a fair competition to the aspirants.

Careers360: What were your scores in 11^th and that in 12^th? Did the marks have any effect on your Pre-Medical Test?

Aseem Verma: In Class 11th I scored 96% and 12th, 95.6%. I had secured 100 marks in CBSE 12th Boards (AISSCE) Biology.

I feel the CBSE curriculum taught in school is at par the apt Pre-Medical Entrance Exam. Nowadays the question paper is based accordingly NCERT pattern, so both of these go hand in hand.

If you perform well in school, it’s obvious that you will perform well in your Pre-medical examinations too. You must practice a lot with the previous exams MCQs along with school studies.

Careers360: What was your preparation strategy for Pre-Medical Test?

Aseem Verma: Well I decided to take Biology in Class 10^th and made up my mind to face AIPMT after 12th.

I read a lot of interviews in the first two months and followed what all the toppers wrote in their interviews.

I made NCERT books as my core books and referred with the other reference books for those topics in which I had the doubts. I used to solve a lot of questions and got clarified all the doubts from my teachers. Analyzing the past years question papers and solving a lot of MCQs was the secret of my success.

Initially, I built my concepts in Physics and Chemistry and tried out applying whatever I had been taught by solving MCQs. Biology is all about revising, so whatever I read, however little it was, I ensured that I revised it a lot. During the last few months, I started taking a lot of full syllabus tests to manage the time and developed the skills to solve the paper accurately within the stipulated time.

Careers360: What were your weak points and what were the stronger ones? How did you tackle your weakness?

Aseem Verma: I always feared that I won't be able to score much and can’t memorize everything. Failure was what I afraid about.

As I left class 10th and entered 11th, building a career in medical field was my concern. But, all I did was focused on NCERT and kept revising more and more every day.

Gradually my fear went away and I started enjoying studies.

Punctuality and consistency are always required.

I was able to focus only on any of the two subjects at a time, so one subject was always left unattended at any particular time. So what I did was, I first focused on Physics and Chemistry as developing the concepts in these subjects is very important. Then, during the last 5-6 months, I paid full attention on my Biology theory and just solved Physics and Chemistry MCQs to keep in touch and kept revising them.

Careers360: What specialized field you would like to have?

Aseem Verma: I would like to specialize in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery.

Careers360: Do you think coaching is important for the AIPMT aspirants? If some aspirant can’t afford coaching, in what way he must prepare for the AIPMT Exam?

Aseem Verma: The main purpose of coaching is to generate competition among the aspirants so that a continued effort is put in by them. But, I personally feel self-study is the path that will help you in clearing the coveted medical entrance examinations.

I didn't rely on coaching as such and studied the theory and all important myself.

What a coaching can do is just guide you, all the efforts are supposed to be made by you.

One should study the theory and practice a lot of MCQs. In addition one can get enrolled in the All India Test Series available online so as to have the flare of competing in a National Level Examination.

The hardest part to do is to keep going consistently for continuous two years, but if one is able to make it, an outstanding victory is awaiting.

Careers360: What tips would you like to share with the AIPMT aspirants?

Aseem Verma: I would like to suggest the following to my junior aspirants -

• Keep yourself inspired by reading various magazines which have the articles of successful people so that you are motivated and keep giving in your best to achieve your goal even when the conditions are not favourable.

• Try to devote as much time in studies as possible but don't let studies become a burden.

• First study from the NCERT books and then refer other books to clear the doubts.

• Practice a lot of MCQs for Physics and Chemistry.

• Never leave a MCQ. If you are not able to solve it in the first attempt look for the other ways to solve it.

• For Biology, REVISE, REVISE and REVISE. Most of the questions will be from the NCERT Biology text books so just learn by heart every line of the book and scoring 90% will be an easy task.

• Take tests often and try to solve the paper in two rounds. If you feel you cannot solve a question or the calculations are lengthy, just mark it and move on. Go through the paper once and then come back again for the marked ones.

• I started the paper with Chemistry, followed by Biology and then Physics. But it all depends on what you are comfortable with.

• Mark the OMR sheet as you solve the question and get the answer. NEVER leave the marking for the eleventh hour.

• Just believe in yourself and be happy with what you get. I believe that under estimation is more dangerous than over confidence.

• Don't think much of any paper once you have taken it, but do analyze the paper again and again. Check your weak points and work on them. Try not to lose the grasp on your strong areas.

• BIOLOGY WIL BE THE DECIDING FACTOR, so keep revising the NCERT books time and again.

• Stick to one book and revise it completely rather than running after a various number of books.

• At the end, only self-study matters so keep studying.

• Take full syllabus tests during the last few months as it will help in managing time. Try to complete the paper in two rounds before 3 hours and also know where you stand on a National Level.

• Never forget, STUDY but enjoy too. Don't sit for long hours continuously. Study for half an hour then just walk inside your room for 2-3 minutes and then get back. Walking is the best way of getting refreshment and revision. 

• Discuss all your doubts with friends and teachers. Discussing with friends and teachers will help in solving tough problems easily. 

ALL THE BEST FOR AIPMT 2014

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