NEET PG 2023 Topper AIR 2 Dr. Prem says to try to assess yourself wherever possible, on multiple platforms

The NEET PG 2023 was held on March 5 and the result was announced on March 14. Prem secured AIR 2 by scoring a perfect 721. Read further to know more about his preparation strategy, books he referred to, a day in his life, and interesting tips to beat exam stress.

The National Board of Examinations (NBE) released the NEET PG 2023 results on March 14, 2023. Prem secured All India Rank 2 and got 721 marks out of 800. In a conversation with Shiksha.com, he said, "The feeling is enthralling, and will always cherish this moment."

Out of 2,08,898 candidates who appeared for NEET PG 2023, Dr. Prem emerged as the second topper. Read further to know more about Dr. Prem, NEET PG 2023 topper, AIR 2, as he shares a day in his life, preparations strategy, and interesting tips to beat the exam stress.

Q. How did you prepare for the NEET PG test and what motivated you to pursue a career in medicine?

A: To be completely honest, I didn't get interested in medicine until much later in life. As there had never been a doctor in my family before me and they believed I had the talent and character to achieve it, my parents and brother suggested I pursue the subject when I finished high school. I began to get interested in the field once I joined the MBBS programme, and today I am totally enthralled by it.

Although reading standard textbooks in my first and second professional years had already helped me establish a good foundation, I began preparing for NEET-PG in the latter part of my second professional year. I used the platform Marrow for dedicated NEET-PG videos, question banks and tests; I also used the Computer-Based Test (CBT) series from Delhi Academy of Medical Sciences (DAMS). I also gave free mocks from other apps whenever I could.

Q. What was your study routine like, and how did you manage your preparation for the NEET PG examination with your other responsibilities?

A. Frankly speaking I didn't really have any schedule. However, I ensured that I give enough time to all the subjects and especially more to those which are weaker ones. However, I didn't really follow a rigid schedule. 

I used to try to watch at least 10 videos every day, but I couldn't always stick to it because of my internship and other obligations. It's crucial to be adaptable and not rigorous about your timetable so that you have room for preparation ups and downs. I also used to play and watch football once or twice a week to unwind my body and mind, and I believe that's crucial.

Q. What all challenges did you face while preparing for the NEET PG Examination 2023, and how did you overcome them?

A.  It was a little sad when my mock exam scores started to decline in the middle of my internship. But I'm glad it did since it motivated me to step up my preparation and prevent complacency.

It would be annoying when I would forget basic information or keep doing stupid things, but it's crucial to keep going, use the mistakes to identify your weaknesses, and invest more time in them.

Before the test, my grandfather passed away a week before. He always wanted to see me become a doctor and push my boundaries, therefore I am glad I was able to realise his dream even though I couldn't study for a few days. I give him credit for this accomplishment.

Q. What all books did you refer to while preparing for the NEET PG Examination and which one do you feel were the most useful?

A. I have referred to some standard textbooks for most of the subjects except some minor ones  (radiology, dermatology, anaesthesiology and psychiatry) and Marrow for all subject videos and question banks, including previous year questions.

Apart from this some of the standard textbooks are indispensable, such as Park’s textbook for community medicine and Robbins for pathology. Apart from those, I found the Marrow videos, GTs and especially the pearls really helpful.

Q. What time management techniques did you employ during the test, and how did you approach the various parts of the paper?

A.  Before the real test, I took a lot of practise exams, so I didn't really have a problem with time. Throughout my undergraduate years, I used to take a lot of quizzes, and that has definitely aided in my ability to think quickly. I could complete the entire paper twice and the trickier or more difficult questions three times.

I began by answering all the questions I felt were simple and with which I felt comfortable, and I then dealt with the ones I felt were challenging or difficult so that I could make some educated estimates by excluding potential answers. Prior to the exam's conclusion, I marked these for review and gave them one more look.

Q. How did you manage your stress and anxiety the day of the exam as well as during the planning phase?

A.  Try not to attempt too much in the last week. Get enough sleep, talk to your loved ones, and concentrate on only reviewing a few things.

Q. Did you choose offline or online coaching to prepare for the NEET PG? What factors played a role in your decision-making?

A: I took online coaching only. I am not an offline coaching guy. I used to nod off in 10 minutes even during the college lectures. I always preferred online coaching as I can tailor it as per my neds and adjust it to match my preferred timings. 

Q. According to your experience, what are the benefits and drawbacks of offline and online coaching?

A: Advantages of online coaching: Convenient, flexible, easy to use even during travel, cheaper, speed of reading can be adjusted to one’s requirement.

Cons: Minimal interaction with teachers (at least in videos), requires dedication, screen fatigue, requires good quality devices and internet.

Advantages of offline coaching: Interactive, peer learning, gives some a more conducive environment to study

Cons: More expensive, draining at times, might be too fast or too slow for some

Q. Whether an aspirant opts for offline or online coaching, how should they make sure that they ae receiving high-quality advice and coaching?

A: Mock tests. Regardless of what you use, try to assess yourself wherever possible, on multiple platforms. That will help you confirm your progress and most importantly, the fact that your concepts are strong.

Q. How did you manage to maintain discipline and concentration when receiving online coaching as compared to offline teaching in a classroom setting?

A: I used to review topics for quizzes when they came up and had a general goal of going through all subjects at least twice. That really did help me maintain my memory. I didn't really have a timetable, as I already mentioned, but I did frequently watch videos. To be really honest, I don't think I needed any additional motivation to study—just the desire to succeed on the test.

Q. What advice would you give to aspirants who are confused about whether to opt for offline or online coaching for NEET PG?

A. There is no single best choice. There are a multitude of factors which determine your  NEET PG 2023 result, but online or offline coaching is definitely not one of them. A guy with an AIR of 50,000 in online coaching is not likely to have achieved an AIR of under 100 by switching to offline alone. Use whichever you feel is comfortable for you, but whatever you do, do remember the fact that there is no substitute for perseverance.

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