Candidates who are going to appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) know that Biology is the most scoring subject in the paper as there are 90 questions asked from the subject from a grand total of 180 questions, such that Weightage of Biology in NEET is 50% of total questions and marks. Hence, in order to crack the NEET exam, it is essential to prepare for Biology in the best possible way such that you can score as much as you can in it and thus give yourself the best chance to crack NEET.
However, before diving into the tips to prepare for Biology, it is essential to know that the pattern of questions asked in biology in the NEET exam has changed – the biology section is divided into zoology and botany which have 2 sections each, which will carry 35 and 15 questions respectively. However, there will only be 10 questions in the 2nd section which can be attempted. Thus, the total number of questions in Biology is still the same – 90, but now the students are given a bit more freedom in choosing the questions which they want to attempt, which can be a big advantage to the students.
Finally, here are some tips to help you prepare Biology for NEET –
– Prepare from NCERT thoroughly –
The syllabus for Biology in NEET is from NCERT only. Thus, students should not get confused over which material to select to study from and should focus on NCERT and read it thoroughly such that they are able to retain the important stuff that can be asked from the chapters. Highlighting and underlining important points is also a really important technique that will help the students while a revision to focus and learn the topics that are important.
– Pattern of exam should be analysed and understood –
Students should first understand the sort of questions that are asked in NEET in the biology section and also the difficulty of the questions so as to prepare for the subject in a better manner. Around 40% of the questions are from class 11th and the rest are from class 12th. Hence, the students should prepare accordingly.
– Prepare notes for future reference –
As there are so many topics and so many things to remember, it is necessary that the student maintains a notebook where they write all the important points as they read through the chapters, so that they are able to recollect all such important points in a single place when the exam is near. Also, each student should always make their own notes and not rely on the notes of others as notes are personalised and reading from someone else’s notes might get a bit confusing for the student.
– Devise a strategy on how to prepare a chapter –
As you start reading a chapter, as you read it for the first time, you should just try to focus on reading the chapter with full concentration and not highlight anything or underline any part. When you go for a second reading of the chapter, then you should mark the important points from the chapter. This will make that information better retained in your mind and will also mark out the key parts of the chapter.
– Try to practise more questions for each topic –
As you finish a chapter or a topic, try to do as many questions as you can, so that the main concepts that you have learned are put to test and you can get to know all the topics in the chapter for which you are not able to answer the questions. As you answer more questions and reread all the topics which you are not able to solve the question for, your knowledge for the chapter grows and you get stronger in that given chapter.
– Take breaks frequently, don’t burn yourself out –
While reading and preparing for a chapter, do not keep on reading the given chapter for too long and remember to take frequent breaks so that you don’t burn yourself out. Notice how much time you can focus for with your maximum concentration and after you cross that threshold, take a break and do something that you enjoy for a limited time, like listening to songs. However, it is really important to not extend your break time over the limit and get back to studies after your break gets over.
– Write examples in one place for better revision –
In biology, examples are really important as the examples can be asked directly in the questions which, if the student knows, become really easy questions. When you read a chapter from NCERT, read the examples also, especially from the chapters plant and animal kingdom, plant anatomy and animal tissue.
– Revise frequently –
With a syllabus as vast as Biology, it becomes imperative for the students to revise as frequently as possible so that they can keep the important topics in their memory. When we read something, again and again, it gets imprinted in our memory which makes it easier for us to recover them quickly from our memory in exam time. Revision from notes copy that you make while reading the chapters helps a lot in revision time and quickens the process.
– Relax and do mental prep to stay calm –
Finally, it is paramount to work on your mental fitness too. Include calmness inducing exercises such as meditation and yoga in your daily routine which will help you remain calm in tense situations including exam time, in the long run. All students prepare for the same syllabus but the ones who are able to handle pressure in the exam hall are the ones who have more chances to score more in the biology section of NEET.
To crack an exam as difficult and competitive as NEET, scoring high marks in biology is really crucial as it consists of half the total marks. Biology, being a subject with such a vast syllabus, it is really important to cover its full extent in the best possible manner. The tips given above will go a long way in ensuring you secure good marks in biology and give you an advantage in scoring high in NEET overall.
GOOD LUCK!
