NEET Preparation Tips for Droppers: A Complete Study Plan

NEET preparation for those in their drop year can be tricky. They have already covered the syllabus and appeared for mock tests. Know the tips on how a candidate in drop year can score well.

NEET 2025 preparation strategy for droppers is a critical area for students planning to attempt the exam again in 2025. NEET droppers or repeaters refer to those candidates who had taken the test earlier but could not perform as per their expectation and hence decided to appear again with better preparation. Given their NEET result on the first attempt, it is evident that the preparation strategy followed originally was not foolproof and needed introspection and change. Hence, the question of how should NEET droppers prepare for the exam is of prime importance.

Appearing for any entrance examination more than once can be taxing for many students. Still, there are a number of students who decide to give themselves a second chance by taking a year off to prepare fully for an exam and repeat the exam-taking experience. Those in their drop year often do not understand how to start preparing for an examination for which they thought they had done enough. They often forget to ask themselves a few important questions before embarking on the journey to prepare for the examination again.

NEET 2025 is likely to be held in the first week of May 2025. If you do not score well in NEET this year and have already decided that you will appear again for the exam next year, then you must plan and follow the NEET preparation strategy for droppers without any further ado. On the other hand, if you belong to that category of students who plan to participate in the NEET 2024 counselling and in case you are not allotted a seat, then you will plan to take NEET 2025, then you must continue with the NEET preparation or revision so that you do not miss out on the precious time.

In this article, we have tried to solve the dilemma for those preparing for NEET in their drop year. NEET preparation tips for droppers is an attempt to help such students formulate a preparation strategy that will not let them down. To know the expert-suggested NEET preparation tips, read the complete article.

NEET Preparation Tips for Droppers

Here we bring some tips and strategies for NEET droppers to prepare for NEET.

What went wrong?

The first NEET preparation tip for droppers is finding what went wrong the last time. Accepting the reason why you could not clear the examination is very important to start afresh. Make a note of the things that you feel are responsible for a low score in your previous attempt at NEET. Be honest with yourself while preparing this list. If you do not accept the weaknesses at this stage, you will not be able to overcome them and perform better in the next attempt.

Learning from your mistakes

Failure is success, if we learn from it.

-Anonymous

Now that you have made a list of all the things you feel are responsible for a low score in NEET, you have to tick them off one by one. If you think that you did not spend enough time on revision, now is your chance to make that right. If you feel that you still have doubts, start working on them. The list can be long or short, irrespective of how many reasons you have stated, your aim is to leave not one reason that will pull you down the next time.

A new outlook towards the preparation

If you do not have a mentor or guide, now is the time to find one. Because you have already attempted this exam once, you are already familiar with the NEET syllabus and pattern. You have probably solved most of the NEET question papers of previous years. So, where should you start the preparation this time? This is where your mentor will help you. Do not hesitate to ask for help; it is for your own good. Having a mentor or guide by your side will help you gain a new perspective. You will be able to start afresh with your NEET preparation.

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• How to prepare Biology section for NEET?

A new timetable

Many of you must have enrolled yourself in a coaching institute. For those in the dropper year, the classes are usually longer. However, self-study remains an important part of the preparation. Prepare a new timetable which considers the time spent at the coaching centre. Dedicate another six to eight hours for self-study. You must also consider the list you had prepared in the first step while preparing the new timetable. If one of the reasons stated in your list was ‘did not follow time-table’, write it in bold letters on top of your new time-table. This will help you adhere to it this time.

Staying positive and focused

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.

-Winston Churchill

The biggest challenge for those in their dropper year is to remain focused. Looking at your counterparts who have started their college life may give rise to unnecessary comparisons. Never compare yourself with others. Stay connected with your friends but refrain from discussing your preparation with them. Seek guidance from only those who have knowledge about NEET preparation and will give you constructive suggestions. Remember, the battle is half won if you stay positive during the NEET preparation phase.

Bridging the gaps

During the first half of your dropper year, try to bridge the gaps in your NEET preparation. Complete the syllabus of NEET by covering the chapters that were omitted in the previous year. Clear the doubts that were carried forward. Focus on the subjects or topics that are weak and need improvement. While doing this, do not overlook revision. Both old and new should be balanced during this time.

In the second half of the year, focus primarily on revision. You must also ensure that you devote equal time to all subjects.

Also Read: How to prepare revision notes for NEET?

Take as many mock tests as possible

The final NEET preparation tip for droppers, during the last six months of your preparation, solve at least two NEET mock tests in a week. Mock tests will give you exposure to questions of varying difficulty levels. This will help you strengthen your NEET preparation and will prepare you for the exam day.

Also, take a look at the questions that were asked in the previous years in the last month of preparation. There are many questions that are repeated in the examination every year. Going through the NEET question papers of previous years will help you get these questions right.

Download the Complete NEET Mock Test and Answer Keys from the table below.

Also Read:  Why Previous Years' NEET Question Papers and Mock Tests Are Important?

Do Not be Hard on Yourself

Last but not the least, you must not be hard on yourself and affect your self-confidence. NEET is a highly tough and competitive exam. Hence, it is alright if you cannot succeed in the first attempt. The most important factor is to trust yourself and follow the right preparation strategy. Also, it is an important thing to decide whether to drop a year for NEET or not, which has to be done based on factors such as your score, aspiration, etc.

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