How to Prepare for NEET along with Class 12 Board Exam

How to Prepare for NEET along with Class 12 Board Exam – The biggest challenge among medical aspirants is to balance NEET 2023 preparations with Class 12 board exams. It is essential for NEET aspirants to perform well in the board exams as well as obtain a fair score in the entrance examination for NEET. This makes balancing between board and NTA NEET 2023 exam preparations a herculean task.

Since the syllabus of NEET includes the NCERT curriculum of Class 11 and 12 combined, it is ideal to start the preparation of the NEET exam from Class 12 to minimize the pressure of balancing board exams and NEET preparation. NEET eligibility criteria also require candidates to secure a minimum aggregate of 50% (45% for Physically handicapped and 40% for reserved categories) in the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology in the Class 12 board examination in addition to qualifying entrance exam by securing the cutoff percentile required for the respective category. Aspirants can check below for important tips on how to prepare for NEET UG 2023 along with the Class 12 board exam.

Strategies on how to balance board exam and NEET 2023 preparation

What to Study – An aspirant must have prior knowledge of what to study before s/he starts preparing for NEET exam or Class 12 board exam. The NEET syllabus comprises both the Class 11 and 12 NCERT curriculum while that of the board exam includes only the part being studied in Class 12. For the reference of the candidates, the Class 12 syllabus for NEET 2023 as well as the board examination has been described in detail below.

Syllabus of Class 12 NEET and Board Examination

Develop an Effective Approach – Candidates are often caught up in the dilemma of how to balance NEET preparation 2023 with the board exam, as there is a difference in the exam pattern of both. The pattern of questions asked in NEET 2023 is entirely objective of Multiple choice questions whereas the Class 12 board exam consists of both objective and subjective type questions. To develop an effective approach, aspirants must ensure that they have a thorough understanding of the basics, a method that will help in answering both the type of questions.

Referring the Right Books – NCERT books are to be religiously followed in order to balance the board exam and NEET 2023 preparation. As suggested by experts as well as NEET toppers, candidates must be thorough with the book to farewell be it in NEET or Class 12 board exam. NEET aspirants, however, are also required to have a complete understanding of the Class 11 NCERT and can also refer to best books for NEET.

Planning the daily study schedule – Aspirants striving to balance board and NEET preparations will need to prepare a study schedule which includes time for regular classes and self-study. Candidates also need to put in a rigorous effort in terms of studying for both the exams.

What to Practice – Class 12 board examinations require candidates to elaborately depict diagrams, solve numericals, and equations. NEET, on the other hand, asks questions based on schematic diagrams, formulas, and numericals. Aspirants must practice all such questions on a regular basis in addition to studying the theory while preparing for NEET along with Class 12.

Self Analysis – The most important aspect of how to balance board and NEET preparation 2023 is self-analysis. The approach of self-analysis for the Class 12 board exam will differ from that of NEET. While preparing for Class 12 boards, candidates must try and solve full-length sample papers and question papers from previous years. In NEET 2023, however, it is essential that candidates also take up mock tests in addition to solving previous year NEET question papers.

Topper tips on how to balance NEET preparation with board exams

Tanmay Gupta, AIR 1, NEET 2021 said "Actually, I think NEET preparations include board exam preparations also. What you learn in NEET exam, you have to write in an elaborated form in the boards. If you understand the NEET concepts carefully then I think it won’t be a big task for anyone."

Juggling between NEET and Class 12 boards was never a tough task for NEET 2019 AIR 10, Raghav Dubey who said, “I have been preparing for NEET exam from last two years. The three major subjects for Class 12 and NEET are Physics, Chemistry and Biology, which were completed within a year. Then, I just had to focus on English and other additional subjects. The board preparations really strengthen my NCERT concepts for NEET."

Sharing his preparation strategy for balancing board exams and NEET preparation, Krishna Ashish Agrawal, NEET 2018 AIR 7, shared, “Physics was a little tricky for me so I tried to pay more attention to this section. I had a prepared schedule for each section and I tried to closely follow until the last days. I studied for 6-7 hours each day and believed in my teachers whatever knowledge they imparted me I followed it. Although, I had to halt the NEET preparation while taking the board exams for a month. After Class 12 boards, I studied for NEET with more vigour and hard work”.

How to Balance NEET 2023 Preparations and Board Exam – Expert Opinion

"The future medicos currently studying in class 12 have to deal with conflicts of priorities at this juncture. The students have to focus on the board exam as well as continue to maintain steam for NEET. Based on the board exam schedule published, for the majority of the boards, a student can expect a gap ranging from 3 to 5 days between exam for all core subjects.

During the intervening period between exams for the core subjects, the first 2 days need to be spent on strengthening all the weak areas. During the remaining period, an end to end complete revision of all the topics need to be done. The study sessions should include a good mix of theory, problem-solving and revising all the questions which have appeared in the last 5 years board paper. The problem-solving sessions will help the student to sustain the NEET preparation, especially in Physics and Chemistry", says academic expert, Anand Nagarajan, academic head of school division, T.I.M.E, Chennai.