How to Plan Your NEET Study Schedule to Maximise Your Score?

The National Eligibility Entrance Test: NEET is considered a significant competitive medical entrance exam and the only national-level entrance exam in India for admission to medical colleges for different medical courses. More than 25 lakh students appear for the NEET exam yearly for admission to various medical and dental colleges nationwide.

As per the source, the total number of registered candidates for NEET 2024 was above 24 lakhs, and among which 13.5 lakh  candidates were qualified.

As the level of competition is very high, students need to be well-prepared in order to get selected for one of the top medical colleges in the country. The eligible criteria for this medical entrance exam is that the student should have passed class 12 with 50% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Here are some easy and helpful study tips to help students prepare.

How to Plan Your NEET Study Schedule to Maximise Your Score

To maximise your score in the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test), an effective and well-structured study schedule is essential. NEET is a highly competitive exam, and your preparation needs to be focused, consistent, and strategic. 

Here is a step-by-step guide to help you plan a study schedule that can boost your NEET performance:

Understand the NEET Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Before diving into your study plan, it’s essential to understand the exam structure:

Evaluate Your Current Level

• Identify Strengths and Weaknesses: Assess which subjects or topics you are comfortable with and which need more attention. This will help you allocate study time accordingly.
• Time Availability: Calculate the number of months or weeks left until the exam. This will help you set realistic goals for each topic.

Create a Realistic Study Timetable

A balanced study plan is crucial for consistent preparation. Here’s how to design it:

• Study Time per Day

1. Ideal Duration: Aim to study 6-8 hours per day, possibly extending it to 10-12 hours as the exam date nears. Balance intense study hours with breaks to prevent burnout.
2. Time of Day: Choose a time slot when you are most productive. Many students prefer early morning study, but the key is consistency.

• Subject Allocation

Physics, Chemistry, and Biology: Allocate time according to your strengths and weaknesses. Typically, students spend more time on Biology (which has the highest weight in NEET) and less on Physics, as it tends to be more challenging.

• Subject-wise Allocation Example (for 6-8 hours/day):

Weekly Study Plan

• Revision: Dedicate 1-2 days of the week to revision and self-assessment through mock tests.
• Practice Papers: You should focus on practising NEET-style questions and solving mock papers at least one day per week.

Breaks and Relaxation

• Take Short Breaks: After every 1-1.5 hours of study, take a 10-15 minute break to refresh yourself. Use this time to stretch, walk, or do something relaxing.
• Longer Breaks: Take a longer break of 1-1.5 hours for meals and some rest. Try not to overstudy, as mental fatigue can impact performance.

Focus on Key Topics

Prioritise the most essential and high-weightage topics for each subject.

Physics:

Chemistry:

Biology:

Incorporate Regular Revision

• Daily Revision: Review what you studied the previous day for 30 minutes to 1 hour. It helps reinforce concepts.
• Weekly Revision: At the end of each week, revise the topics covered during the week and solve a set of questions.
• Monthly Revision: Every month, dedicate at least 3-4 days to revising everything you have learned.

Solve Practice Papers and Mock Tests

• Regular Practice: Solving practice questions is crucial. It will help you develop time management skills, improve accuracy, and get accustomed to the exam format.
• Mock Tests: Aim to take at least one full-length mock test every week. In the final 2 months, increase it to 2-3 mock tests per week.
• Analyse Mistakes: After each test, thoroughly analyse your mistakes and weaknesses and revise the corresponding topics.

Use the Right Study Material

• NCERT Books: Follow the NCERT textbooks for each subject, especially for Biology, as the NEET syllabus is primarily based on them.
• Reference Books: You can refer to popular NEET-specific books like:
  • Physics: H.C. Verma (Concepts of Physics), D.C. Pandey
  • Chemistry: O.P. Tandon, Morrison & Boyd (Organic Chemistry)
  • Biology: Trueman’s Biology, Dinesh's Biology

Stay Healthy and Manage Stress

• Exercise: Incorporate physical exercise to keep your body and mind active.
• Eat Healthy: A balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein helps improve concentration and energy levels.
• Sleep Well: Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep daily to allow your brain to rest and rejuvenate.
• Stress Management: Practice meditation or deep breathing exercises to manage anxiety and stress.

Final 2-3 Months: Intensive Preparation Phase

• Reduce New Learning: Focus mainly on revision, practice, and clearing doubts in the final 2-3 months.
• Simulate Exam Conditions: Take mock tests under actual exam conditions (same time limit, no interruptions, etc.) to build stamina and get used to the exam pressure.

Stay Motivated

• Set Small Goals: Break your large study targets into smaller, manageable goals.
• Reward Yourself: Celebrate your small achievements with something you enjoy, like watching a movie, meeting friends, or taking a short break.
• Stay Positive: Maintain a positive attitude, especially when things feel overwhelming. Remember your goal to crack NEET and get into a good medical college.

Also refer: How to Achieve your Medical Dreams with Expert Strategies.

Effective study tips to score well in NEET Exam 2025:

Here are some easy and effective study tips to score well in NEET Exam 2025:

Create and follow an Accurate Timetable.

This helps students stay focused on their goals during exam preparation. As more syllabi will be covered quickly, this timetable helps students plan accordingly and prepare effectively.

Start from the Scratch

The best way to begin the preparations is by having a basic understanding of all the concepts. Therefore, every student should have a quick review of all the crucial topics from the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 and 12.

Mock Tests

Taking regular tests is the best way to judge their preparations. RegularRegular mock tests help students to identify and improve their weaknesses and mistakes in a particular subject. They also help them build their stamina and confidence.

Practice Regularly

Practice on a regular basis helps students gain more concentration on their studies. Therefore, solve more questions from previous year's papers, sample papers, and other questions from the best reference books for NEET.

Focus more on Weak Areas.

Many students are weak on different topics. Hence, students have to learn and work harder to overcome their weaknesses and gain confidence to succeed. Therefore, during their NEET exam preparation, students must work on the crucial points, formulas, abbreviations, diagrams, labelling, and more. For more basic concepts in Biology, students can refer to NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Biology.

These were important and effective study tips to score well in the NEET exam 2025. Apart from all these points, students should also know about the current syllabus and clearly understand the exam pattern. Therefore, get help from your mentors or teachers, collect all the relevant information by visiting the NEET exam websites, and collect more samples and previous year's question papers from various educational websites.

These tips will be beneficial for the upcoming NEET exams.

All the best!