NEET Botany Five Year Analysis: Important Chapters And Concepts

National Eligibility cum Entrance Examination (NEET) is the single entrance exam for undergraduate medical studies. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), usually once in a year. NEET, being the only common test, provides equal opportunity to all medical aspirants across India.

As you all know, the NEET question paper is divided into four parts – Physics, Chemistry, Zoology and Botany. There will be 200 questions with 50 questions each in Physics, Chemistry, Zoology and Botany. Out of those 200 only 180 questions need to be attempted. So, if NEET aspirants want to score good marks in Biology, they need to focus equally on both Botany and Zoology.

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This article explains how you can score well in Botany. Botany is a branch of biology concerned with the study of plants, including their structure, properties, and biochemical processes. It has been observed that the majority of NEET aspirants prefer to spend their time studying Zoology as they find Botany boring. But it is easier to score good marks in Botany since it includes less concepts and more examples. To get good marks in Botany, make sure you understand the fundamental concepts and terms such as Binomial Nomenclature, the Differences Between Monocots And Dicots, Angiosperms And Gymnosperms, Levels Of Organization, Respiratory Cycles, And Flow Charts.

Careers360’s five-year analysis can help you get a better understanding of the NEET Botany paper and show how you can prepare effectively. We examined the previous five years' question papers and put together a list of the most frequently asked chapters and concepts.

Also Read| NEET Physics: Five-year Analysis, Most Asked Chapters And Concepts

Five-Year Analysis : Chapter -Wise

There are 21 chapters in the NEET Botany syllabus. Careers360’s analysis is based on the last 5 years' question papers, which contain 236 questions. You can also find the list of chapters with higher weightage to less weightage.

Chapter Wise Distribution Of Questions

The most significant chapters are Molecular Basis Of Inheritance, Cell: The Unit Of Life, Cell Cycle And Division, Plant Kingdom, And Sexual Reproduction In Flowering Plants, which account for 40% of your botany syllabus. So, out of the hundreds of concepts, the most important concepts of these chapters are presented below to help you learn effectively.

• Molecular Basis Of Inheritance - Central Dogma, DNA Structure , Lac Operon And Genetic Code

• Cell: The Unit Of Life - Fluid Mosaic Theory , Endomembrane System , Types Of Chromosomes And Structure Of Centriole

• Cell Cycle And Cell Division - Events Occurring At Interphase And M-Phase (Phases Of Prophase I Of Meiosis I),

• Plant Kingdom - Bryophytes As An Amphibian , Pinus , Gingko , Cycas And All The Life Cycles

• Sexual Reproduction In Flowering Plants - Agents And Types Of Pollination, Events Of Fertilisation, Embryo Sac Structure, Outbreeding And Double-Fertilisation.

Fiver-Year Analysis - Concept-Wise

We discussed the major chapters above, which cover the entire Botany section of the NEET. However, we tend to overlook other significant concepts that may not be included in the important chapters but are regularly asked in the NEET paper. These concepts are highly common, as each year one question can be based on them. So, the top ten most often questioned concepts in NEET Botany are listed below:

Ten Most Asked Concepts

In the last 5 years, 48 questions were asked from these 10 concepts. Furthermore, the ten concepts listed below account for nearly 20% of the questions asked, making them the most frequently asked in the NEET - Botany section.

Let's have a brief look at these concepts:

• Cell Cycle: Interphase - The chapter Cell Cycle belongs to the unit, Cell Structure and Function. A cell cycle is a set of events that occur in a cell as it divides and grows. The five stages of the Interphase, further divide into G1, S and G2 phases. The second stage is called Mitosis. It is also called the M phase and is further divided into 4 stages, that is, Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telophase; and Cytokinesis. In this concept you have to focus on the main events occurring in the G1, S and G2 phase of Interphases, synaptonemal complex and chiasmata formation.

• Stages of Meiosis Ⅰ - Prophase I - This concept belongs to the Chapter called Cell Cycle and is part of the unit, Cell Structure and Function. Prophase 1 of Meiosis is the first stage of meiosis and is defined by five different phases, that is, Leptotene, Zygotene, Pachytene, Diplotene and Diakinesis respectively. In this concept you mainly need to focus on the formation of the Synaptonemal complex which is formed during Zygotene phase and Chiasmata formation during Diplotene stage.

• Algae: And Their Characteristics - The Concept of Algae belongs to the Chapter called Plant Kingdom of Diversity in the unit, Living World. Algae are a class of organisms that are mostly aquatic, photosynthetic, and nucleus-bearing but lack the true roots, stems, leaves, and specialized multicellular reproductive systems that plants have.They are divided into three groups – Chlorophyceae, Phaeophyceae, and Rhodophyceae. So, the NEET aspirants should focus on the different classes of algae alongwith their habitat and characteristic features.

• Eutrophication & Thermal Wastewaters - This concept belongs to the chapter Environmental Issues which is part of the unit, Ecology And Environment. Eutrophication is the process that takes place when too many plants grow on the surface of a river or lake, usually as a result of chemicals used to promote crop growth being carried there by rain. So, in this particular concept students should focus on the meaning and the reason why eutrophication is taking place and algal bloom.

If we talk about thermal wastewasters, it refers to any waste treatment method that involves the use of high temperatures in the waste material processing. Hence, you have to focus on its sources and effects.

• The Nucleus - This concept is from the chapter, Cell: The Unit of Life which is part of the unit, Cell Structure and Function. The genetic material is contained in the nucleus, which is a double-membraned eukaryotic cell organelle. In this particular concept, you mainly have to focus on the different types and structure of the chromosomes.

• Agents Of Pollination: Abiotic Agents - This concept too belongs to the chapter, Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants from the unit, Reproduction. Abiotic pollination transports pollen from one flower to another using nonliving mechanisms such as wind and water. This allows the plant to focus its energy on pollen rather than flowers and nectar to attract pollinators. Wind pollination is more common in abiotic pollination. So, in this concept you need to focus basically on the different types and modes of pollination.

• Components Of The Endomembrane System -The Golgi Apparatus - This concept belongs to the chapter, Cell The Unit of Life which belongs to the unit, Cell Structure and Function. Golgi body is a component of the cytoplasmic endomembrane system that packages proteins into membrane-bound vesicles before they are transported to their destination. This organelle is found in all eukaryotic cells. So, in this particular concept students should be thorough with its discovery, cis-trans phase and cisternae.

• Endosperm Development - Endosperm development is part of the Reproduction unit under the chapter, Sexual Reproduction In Flowering plants. Endosperm development takes place in the triploid cell (3n) of the embryo sac. So, you have to focus on the process of endosperm development and its functions.

• Salient Features Of Double-Helix Structure Of DNA -This concept falls under the Genetics and Evolution unit and the chapter it belongs to is the Molecular Basis Of Inheritance. Students should have a basic knowledge about what DNA is. And what you need to cover in this concept are the general introduction and all the experiments with respect to the discovery of DNA, which is there in NCERT.

• Semi-Autonomous Organelles: Mitochondria (Sing. Mitochondrion) - This concept is discussed in the first chapter of Cell Structure And Function Unit, which is Cell - The Unit of Life. As we all know, Mitochondria is the powerhouse of a cell. Apart from that, mitochondria are considered to be semi-autonomous organelles. Semi-autonomous organelles are those that contain their own DNA and can replicate independently of the nucleus. Hence, you have to study in depth why Mitochondria are considered as semi-autonomous organelles. In addition, Chloroplast is the other cellular organelle considered to be semi-autonomous.

From the above analysis, we can conclude that the students can align their preparation according to the analysis of syllabus and past year papers. This analysis can help the students understand where they can put their most efforts and get maximum output. They can channelise their chapters and concepts on the basis of analysis so that important concepts and chapters can be studied in depth. So, think smart and go for smart strategies, and shape your preparation in line with the best path. Score well and come out with flying colors in NEET.

Wishing you all the best!!..