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How to Prepare for Medical Entrance Exams in India

doctor dream meaning

Doctors are always perceived as saviours. No wonder, then, that medicine is regarded as a respected and a lucrative career option by young professionals, today.

As of 2016, there are 412 medical colleges in India with a total capacity to train 52,765 Indian medical students each year at the under graduate level. More than 6.3 lakh students appeared for the all india level medical exam, AIPMT last year. Imagine the level of competition involved!

With the number of aspirants increasing each year, students with good preparation, and the ability to handle pressure have an edge to perform better in these medical entrance exams.

The first question that comes to mind, when you think about preparing for the medical entrance exam is the syllabus. The syllabus for almost all medical entrance exams, for the M.B.B.S programs in India is similar. You can keep the AIPMT Syllabus as a reference point.

The exam preparation time varies from one individual to another, but the start of class 11th is considered the best time to start preparing for the medical entrance exams, since the syllabus for these entrance exams is almost same as that of class 11th and 12th.

Medical Entrance Exam Basic Pattern

  • The language of a medical question paper can be both English and Hindi.

  • Medical entrance test may be a one stage or two stage entrance examination. If the exam is of one stage then a mains exam is conducted to execute the selection process, whereas if it a two stage entrance exam, then first a preliminary and next a mains exam is conducted for the purpose of selection.

  • Any medical entrance exam question paper usually divided in four parts namely Physics, Chemistry, Biology and General Knowledge.

  • It may consists of 200 objective and reasoning type questions; 60 each from Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The General Knowledge section may consist of 20 questions.

  • Each question has four choices and 1 mark is offered for each correct choice. One third marks are however detected for every wrong answer.

  • Once the results for the medical entrance exams are announced, counseling letter is sent to all the successful candidates with a prospectus of comprehensive admission procedure as may apply.

Top Medical Entrance Exams Pattern

A.  All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS MBBS)

The AIIMS entrance exam for MBBS is a paper-based test of 3 ½ hours duration. This exam would consist of 200 objective type (multiple choice and assertion-reason type); 60 questions from Physics, Chemistry, Biology are asked. 20 questions are asked from General Knowledge and there is negative marking for incorrect answers. After the declaration of the result a final list for counselling is prepared based on merit.

B. NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)

NEET-UG 2017 (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Under Graduate courses) will be conducted at an all India level aims to relieve the need of students to appear in multiple tests and promote merit in admission process. NEET UG will allow class XII students to sit in a single entrance examination to get admission to almost all medical colleges in India, including private medical colleges.

C. JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research)

JIPMER MBBS Exam, 2014 would be conducted online. There will be 200 multiple choice questions asked over the duration of 2.5 hours. Questions would be from Physics (60 questions), Chemistry (60 questions), Biology (60 questions) and English (20 questions). No negative marking for wrong answers.

Medical Entrance Exam Syllabus

To become a doctor one has to secure excellent scores in Biology/ Biotechnology, Chemistry, Physics, and English. Students who have completed their class 12 with science background are eligible to apply for medical entrance  exams. However, certain exams will require the students to have a pass in the B.S or Pre Medical background.

The syllabus of medical exams will be of class 12th. Questions will be asked from Physics, Chemistry and Biology topics at 11th and 12th CBSE/ICSE and state boards. Usually, the questions are objective type. The paper consiists of 200 questions and the duration is of 3 hours. Barring a few state level or specific private institutions exams, such exams have negative marking. Hence, students must answer only those questions for which they are sure of the answer.

Medical Entrance Exam Eligibility

  • The minimum age of the candidate should not be less than 17 years.

  • A candidate must have passed Higher Secondary Certificate Examination (10+2) or its equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry and Biology from a recognized board and English as one ofthe main subjects.

  • A candidate should have passed the 10+2 exam with 50% aggregate in Chemistry, Biology, English and Physics.

  • The minimum passing percentage for the reserve categories is 55 % to appear in the entrance exams.

  • Those candidates who are waiting for results may also apply to appear in the medical entrance tests.

Time of Medical Entrance Exam

1. The announcement for All India Pre-medical Examination (AIPMT) comes in December usually and tests are conducted by April/ May.

State Level and institute level examinations are conducted usually in the months of May and June.

2. National level institute examinations are announced usually in January- March and test conducted in May-June.

General Tips For Medical Entrance Exam Preparation

Following are the guidelines to help you prepare better for the medical entrance exams:

1) Have a long term goal of finishing the syllabus till X date, but focus more on short term goals. The syllabus is vast, take baby steps. Don’t plan well in advance. Plan for a day or a week. Set realistic targets for a week and check your progress at the end of the week.

2) Do not buy every book in town. Go through the NCERT books thoroughly, and refer another 1 or 2 books for each subject for the numerical aspect and to know a little more about a particular topic.

3) Focus more on clearing your fundamentals. Clear your concepts, only then move to the depths of a particular topic.

4) In case you feel you do not understand a certain concept, do not hesitate to ask your friends or mentors.

5) Make a time table. Adhere to it.

6) Keep a check on your progress by taking sectional tests. Sectional tests help you fine tune your preparation, help you manage time better and, also, bring your weaknesses into the limelight.

7) Make sure that you overcome your weaknesses, before moving ahead.

8) Keep revising whatever you do. Remember, it is a marathon, and not a 100 meter dash.

9) Read blogs/articles/papers/books by famous doctors. If nothing else, it will tell you a little about what these people have done, what drives them and why they like what they do.

10) Do not put yourself under immense pressure. Take time out for yourself. Do something you love, develop a hobby and have fun while preparing.

Medical Entrance Exam Books

  • All India Pevious years’ solved papers by Mudit Khanna
  • AIIMS solved papers by Amit and Ashish
  • Tehalaka by Dr. Rajesh Prasad (it contains solved mcqs of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and forensic medicine)
  • Sure Success By Ramgopal

Medical Entrance Coaching Centres in India

  • Aakash Institute
  • Brilliant Tutorials
  • MBD Alchemie
  • Naik Academy, Mumbai
  • WinEntrance
  • CareerPoint, Kota
  • Oasis Educational Services
  • Brilliant Tutorials

For a detailed list (state-wise), please visit: Top Medical Coaching Institutes in India

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