THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NEET FOR A MEDICAL STUDENT

As NEET - UG or The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test formerly known as the All India Pre-medical Entrance Test (AIPMT), has become the only entrance exam for medical course (MBBS), dental course (BDS) and Ayush (BAMS, BUMS, BHMS) it is extremely important for medical students to not only qualify the test but also score well to get enrolled in the best Government and Private medical universities all over India.

Students who wish to pursue their MBBS from abroad also need to take the test as per the notification issued by Medical Council of India (MCI) after 8th March 2018 if they want to come back and practise in their country. Also some of the medical universities in abroad provide admissions to medical students only after they qualify the NEET exam.

The exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is the most powerful, authorised, specialist, autonomous and self-sufficient testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for admissions in higher educational institutions.

NTA is an independent body set by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India (GOI) whose role is inviting applications, conducting NEET, declaring results and then submit All India ranks to Directorate General Health Services (DGHS), Government of India (GOI) for admissions and efficient conduction of counselling rounds thus providing better transparency, admission opportunity and equality for all the medical aspirants.

For qualifying the test, students need to come in the top 50 percentile category which will help the deserving candidate to secure admissions in the best medical university. Apart from this it will also make them eligible in securing their seats in the best Indian institutes which are of national importance such as AIIMS and JIPMER and also for pursuing Mbbs abroad.

The minimum age eligibility criteria for all the medical aspirants should be of at least 17 years. Apart from this, the students also need to secure minimum 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

The Entrance test syllabus includes topics from Physics, Chemistry and Biology; further dividing Biology into two parts:

1. Botany
2. Zoology

NEET is conducted just once a year and this year it is on 12th September 2021

The NEET exam will consist of 180 questions which carry four marks each and in case of any wrong answer, one mark will be deducted. However no marks will be deducted if the candidate skip any question. Students have maximum 3 hours time limit to complete the exam.

Looking up to some of the most important aspects and advantages of NEET:

1. One Nation, One Test Policy: As NEET has replaced all other entrance exam, it has become a boon for all the medical aspirants across the country.

   Earlier several medical colleges conducted their own entrance exam which created a lot of chaos among the students disturbing their mental health.

2. Reduced Mental Pressure on the Medical Aspirants: As NEET has taken over all other medical entrance exam, it has made students lives more easy and convenient to concentrate only on one entrance rather than shifting the focus to several other universities entrance test. Earlier students performance on their 12th exams also affected before NEET because of the pressure of performing better on all other medical entrance exam.

3. Translucent and Consistent Process: One And Only common entrance test for all the medical aspirants across the country assures that there is uniformity in the standards which are set for enrolling into the medical courses at different universities and colleges all over India.

4. Now, as the admissions in the medical universities are only accepted through NEET, it has emerged as the most trustworthy and transparent tool in the medical admission process, as only deserving medical aspirants can get admissions in the best medical university be it Government, Deemed or Private.

5. Consistent Exam Pattern and Time Saving:

   The NEET entrance exam pattern consists of 180 questions that needs to be answered in 180 minutes which at least provide students one minute for each question unlike AIPMT.

   This give students sufficient time to concentrate and answer each question accordingly helping them score better. Also this will reduce their anxiety about missing out anything and they can verify all the answers again thoroughly. Prior NEET, the medical aspirants had to prepare and learn the different format of various medical entrance exam depending on which state they will be appearing for. With the emergence of NEET, students mental pressure has now been reduced.

6. Resources, Money And Time Saver: With this One Test policy, It gives students enough time to focus on NEET itself rather than shifting and dividing focus on several other tests.

   It also saves students money as well since the students don't have to make the payment for other entrance test i.e. only once for NEET. Just focusing on one entrance also saves students energy and resources.

7. End to Scam Scenes: Earlier there were many reports of exam paper leak across the country leading to students suicide cases as well. Before NEET, there were many medical universities which was booked for scams and selling seats on hefty donations in some states in India.

   This is the most common scenario in the medical education system; specially in those states where the number of private medical colleges are more.

   With the end to all other entrance exam, such activities have now been dissolved.

   With NEET, securing admissions in the best medical university completely depends on your score. NEET has also saved students, who couldn't score well from getting scammed by the private colleges in the hope of securing direct admission through paid seats.

8. Equal Opportunity for All: Earlier with several entrance exams of different states, there was always a possibility of reservations and blocking of seats irrespective of any criteria which would literally reduced the deserving candidates chance for securing the seat. With NEET, all the students get an equal opportunity to secure the seat depending on their scores in any state.

   So availing an Mbbs seat in any medical institute all over India corresponds to qualifying NEET with the best scores.

9. No Effect on Reservations: Before NEET came into existence, students were scared that It will end the reservation system in the country and it will become a challenge to secure seat in any medical institute. But it didn't have any effect on it except the criteria shifting from 12th boards scores to NEET scores.

10. Unlimited Attempts: As per new rules, there are no limitations on how many times a student can attempt NEET, providing and increasing the opportunity for a medical aspirant to pursue his dream.

But the candidate must fulfill certain age criteria.