Best Tips & Tricks To Answer MCQs In NEET Examination
NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is a single entrance exam conducted by the NTA (National Testing Agency) annually. The aim of this exam is to determine the eligibility of medical aspirants for undergraduate course admission. After securing a good rank in the NEET exam, candidates can seek admission to the top medical colleges & institutes in India as well as abroad.
NEET is definitely one of the most coveted & competitive medical entrance examinations in India. Even though it is challenging to completely cover each & every topic provided in the NEET exam syllabus, smart preparation of the entire syllabus can be helpful for NEET aspirants who are short on time. Due to the rising competitive curve, thousands of candidates apply & appear for the NEET exam every year.
Advantages Of NEET Exam – Its Importance & Benefits
Generally, the NEET exam is conducted in offline mode for 3 hours. The question paper consists of 200 MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) from Zoology, Botany, Chemistry & Physics subjects. However, students only need to answer 180 questions. For each correct answer, candidates can get four marks & for each wrong answer, they can lose 1 mark.
If one strongly aspires for a career in the medical sector, it is wise to be familiar with the tips & tricks to answer MCQs in the NEET exam. Additionally, NEET aspirants must practice thoroughly with sample papers & mock tests. It is vital to focus on the commonly asked NEET questions as well. The more one practices & prepares, the more they understand concepts, and the more the chances are in acing the NEET exam.
At times, regardless of the meticulous preparation & studies, NEET candidates can end up choosing the incorrect answer for objective questions. This can completely ruin their career & year-long hard work. In most cases, the options for the NEET questions appear confusing & similar. Students can guess the right answer for such questions based on some decisive factors. However, random guessing is not going to be helpful for the NEET exam or any other competitive exam. Only a few lucky candidates make correct smart guesses, for the rest guessing can be a complete disappointment towards the end. This article explains all the best hacks to handle tough NEET papers & smart strategies to guess MCQs correctly in the NEET exam. These techniques can only help candidates who are well-versed with the whole NEET syllabus & who require a little push to get the correct choice.
Multiple Choice Questions- Boon Or Bane For NEET Exam
Objective-type questions or MCQs are those kinds of questions that appear to be easy at first but tricky when solving. The complexity of the competitive nature of exams has increased with time. Initially, MCQs followed the same pattern, but now there are different types of MCQs like scrambled pictures, graphs, tables, and so on. So, it is imperative to look at the tips to answer tricky MCQs in the NEET exam. MCQs are considered to be both tough & easy, why is it so? Here are a few pointers about the two sides of MCQs.
- What makes MCQs easy?
- MCQs are relatively less risky than descriptive questions as you can easily score 4 marks if answered correctly
- Sometimes, even guessing MCQs can fetch marks
- Nearly 40% of MCQs are based on principles or concepts
- The answer for the MCQ is guaranteed in the choices
- What makes MCQs tough?
- As MCQ evaluation is computerized, there is no chance of grace marks
- MCQs have the ‘marks/penalty’ or ‘all/none’ rule
- Negative marking makes MCQs more twisted
- At times, MCQ options are so narrow that it shakes even the confident candidates
- Since the MCQs are mostly conceptual, candidates need to be proficient in figures, formulas, time, date, and so on
- As the total number of MCQs is higher, the syllabus covered is more
How To Crack NEET MCQs Like A Pro?
Since the NEET examination involves answering 180 objective questions, it is crucial to plan accordingly to clear the exam with flying colors. Candidates must be aware of the tips to answer any type of NEET MCQs. Choosing an incorrect option can lead to negative marking and can drastically affect the final NEET score or rank. Hence, follow the NEET cheat codes or hacks provided in this article to solve NEET MCQs smartly.
Tips To Avoid Negative Marking In NEET Exam
Follow the subject-wise approach for NEET MCQs
- Biology
- Pay attention to choices such as ‘None of these, both a & b, all the above’ to avoid negative marking
- Carefully read all the choices and check if any could be ruled out before finalizing the answer
- The words such as ‘Not correct & except’ require more attention
- Ensure you understood the question stem prior to answering
- Underline or mark the keywords in the Biology MCQs
- Chemistry
- Note the catalyst & temperature involved while answering MCQs with chemical equations
- Ensure that the question is about the main product or intermediate product of the reaction
- All NEET MCQs are based on facts, so it is better to leave the question rather than blindly guess the answer
- Quickly cover all the simple questions and save time for tricky numerical MCQs
- Simply arithmetic calculation by computing the approximate value whenever possible, however, ensure that is done in a limited manner
- If there are similar values in the choices, leave this question for the last as it requires perfect calculation
- Physics
- Employ dimensional analysis to solve high order thinking MCQs
- Remember to check units in the option as well as the question
- Avoid silly calculation mistakes in Physics MCQs
- Rough work can be done in the given space
- Legible rough calculations are the best as one can trace it if not sure about the answer
Peruse NEET MCQs before looking at the given choices
NEET MCQs are designed in a complex manner to assess the candidate’s expertise. Therefore, NEET aspirants often find it challenging to solve these MCQs. Owing to the complexity of the questions, it is indispensable to thoroughly read the NEET MCQs for marking the right option. Students should clearly understand the question by assembling all the data given as it can help in guessing the answer. For some questions, candidates can come up with the correct answer even before going to the options. Too much stress or confusion can only increase one’s doubts. So it is better to remain calm, rule out the wrong choices, and consider the options which seem befitting.
Initially answer the easy NEET MCQs
Starting with easy MCQs gives candidates an edge. They can save time for solving typical questions. Moreover, easy questions can enhance the candidate’s ability to think & their confidence level. Students who begin with the difficult section find it hard to move on to the rest of the questions, costing a lot of valuable time.
Mark the keywords
Marking the keywords in NEET MCQs will help candidates in narrowing down the meaning of the question. The stem of the question can be easily identified with keywords and students can choose the correct answer that matches the question stem. Similar to keywords, NEET aspirants have to focus on negatives, superlatives, and qualifiers as well.
Employ a stepwise method to solve the conceptual questions
For answering complex & conceptual NEET MCQs, use a step-by-step approach along with conceptual thinking. Matching-type MCQs are frequently asked for the NEET exam, wherein candidates need to find the correct match or mismatch options. An example of such a question is given below for reference. NEET aspirants generally struggle to find the right option from similar answers which need a tactical evaluation of the MCQs.
Question: Which of the given pairs is mismatched incorrectly?
a. Gobar gas – Methanogens
b. Vinegar – Coliforms
c. Antibiotic – Streptomyces
d. Ethanol – Yeast
Answer: b
Plan & use your time wisely
It is the goal of every NEET aspirant to cover all NEET MCQs within three hours. This can be achieved by relentless practice during exam preparation. Spending too much or too little time can be an issue. So, candidates need to properly allocate time for Zoology, Botany, Chemistry & Physics sections. Easy NEET MCQs could be answered first, following which candidates can move to tricky ones. Proper time management will boost the student’s confidence level and thereby has a profound effect on choosing the right answer. Here is an effective division of 3 hours for all NEET aspirants.
Things To Know Before Preparing For NEET
| Divisions | Time | Activity |
| Round I | 1st 20 min | Thoroughly cover the entire NEET paper & mark familiar MCQs |
| Round II | Next 100 min | Answer all the marked MCQs. Take 30 sec for each MCQ |
| Round III | Next 50 min | Move to the unattempted questions & try answering the ones which you’re 100% sure of |
| Round IV | Last 10 min | Check the marked answers. Avoid last-minute guessing |
Recall the concepts using context-dependent memory
Many NEET candidates face the dilemma when they couldn’t remember the specific set of rules or formulas while answering certain questions. The ideal way to tackle this issue is by moving forward with the rest of the NEET paper & later returning to such questions. Going back to the medium by which one came to know about this topic or concept is quite helpful. For instance, this could be either self-study, reference books, online tutorials, or a coaching center. This can essentially trigger the candidates’ memory and help them in recollecting the key pointers for answering the question.
Use the elimination strategy
This is a wonderful approach to making smart guesses in NEET MCQs when candidates are confused about the answers. There are 3 or 4 possible choices for each NEET MCQ. And all questions will have a choice that simply screams that it is not correct. So, cut down the choices by removing these completely out of chance options. It can help NEET aspirants to narrow the options to 2 or 3. Now, students have a high chance of guessing the answer correctly.
Question: The Pka value of weak acid HA is 4.8 and the Pkb of weak base BOH is 4.78. The pH of the corresponding salt BA will be:
a. 8.58
b. 4.79
c. 7.01
d. 9.22
For the given MCQ, both the base & acid are weak. Since it is a buffer solution, the pH would be approximately 7. So, candidates can rule out both b & d options as the former is for a strong acid & the latter is for a strong base. Out of the two options, c is more appropriate as the value is close to pH 7.
Make sure to check the units
This strategy serves a crucial role in numerical or Physics MCQs. Candidates can easily filter choices by looking at the given units. For instance, if the MCQ is about the time period, students can eliminate all options which are given units other than sec or m. Students can confidently mark the correct answer which is given with the unit of time. Another point to be noted is the unit asked in the question. If there is any specification about the unit in which the answer should be, students must carefully read & answer.
Question: Find the wavelength of Ha line (3–>2 transition) of positronium.
a. 1986 Å
b. 2431 Å
c. 2052 C
d. 1313 N
For the example given above, c & d options are incorrect as the Å is the unit of measurement for wavelength.
Begin with the given choices
This technique could be applied to some questions, particularly numerical, fill-in-the-blank, or matching-type MCQs. Try matching the given options with the question or try calculating with the value mentioned in the choices. If candidates find it hard to answer these kinds of questions, they can definitely proceed with this method. Short-cut tricks can also be employed to solve difficult NEET MCQs. These tricks can be learned from good coaching centers or relevant online sources. But before learning such tricks, all NEET aspirants must have a clear base of the concepts.
Rule out the outliers in the given options
Outliers are those choices that have extreme values. If the NEET paper has any MCQ with choices in the form of numbers, candidates can eliminate options with extreme values. For instance, if it is a numerical MCQ with a)950, b)60, c)57, d)9 as options, one can strike off a & d options and choose either b or c. This strategy, however, can’t be applied all the time. This can be used when candidates can’t come up with an answer or want to guess correctly. If students are ready to risk from guesswork, they can go for this technique.
Carefully answer NEET MCQs with ‘none/all’ choices
Due to fierce competition & the increasing number of candidates appearing for the NEET exam, examiners are framing standard question papers. To evaluate the candidate’s expertise, examiners set options like ‘All of the above or None of these’ with NEET MCQs. Students can either check the compatibility of the given options with the question or work out the question to find the correct answer for such NEET MCQs.
Read twice before answering NEET MCQs with opposite options
If NEET MCQs have exact opposite choices, then there is a high probability of one being the correct answer. This is a trick employed by the examiners to confuse NEET aspirants. This way they can see whether the candidate actually knows the concepts. So, students can thoroughly read & understand the question and the options before answering.
Learn concepts & facts scrupulously to handle confusing NEET MCQs
For cracking competitive exams like NEET, one has to essentially study different laws, theories, definitions, and so on. Few NEET MCQs are fully based on memory. So, students are recommended to memorize the crucial definitions, concepts, scientific names, and common names. There are application-based NEET MCQs as well. These constitute around 40%. Therefore, candidates have to parallelly concentrate on concepts and their applications to ace the NEET exam by choosing the correct option.
Pay attention to class 11 & 12 NCERTs
NCERTs from classes 11 & 12 are the standard reference books for all NEET aspirants. Confusing NEET MCQs can be easily cracked if candidates prepare efficiently with more focus on NCERT books. Since the base of all NEET MCQs are NCERT books, anyone with conceptual knowledge can solve questions, even the twisted ones. So, preparation with NCERTs helps students to clear the NEET exam in a single attempt itself. Here is the latest NEET exam syllabus that matches with class 11 & 12 syllabi.
How To Prepare For NEET Along With 12th Boards?
| Subject | Syllabus | Topics |
| Biology (Zoology+Botany) | Class 11 | Human physiology |
| Plant physiology | ||
| Cell function & structure | ||
| Structural organization- animals & plants | ||
| Diversity in the living world | ||
| Class 12 | Environment & ecology | |
| Biotechnology & its applications | ||
| Human welfare & biology | ||
| Evolution & genetics | ||
| Reproduction | ||
| Chemistry | Class 11 | Environmental chemistry |
| Hydrocarbons | ||
| Organic chemistry- Few basic techniques & principles | ||
| Few p-block elements | ||
| s-block elements (Akaline & alkali earth metals) | ||
| Hydrogen | ||
| Redox reactions | ||
| Equilibrium | ||
| Thermodynamics | ||
| States of matter: liquids & gases | ||
| Molecular structure & chemical bonding | ||
| Classification of periodicity & elements in properties | ||
| Structure of atom | ||
| Few basic concepts of chemistry | ||
| Class 12 | Chemistry, polymers & biomolecules in everyday life | |
| Nitrogen-containing organic compounds | ||
| Carboxylic acids, ketones & aldehydes | ||
| Ethers, phenols & alcohols | ||
| Haloarenes & haloalkanes | ||
| Coordination compounds | ||
| f & d block elements | ||
| p block elements | ||
| Process of isolation & general principles of elements | ||
| Surface chemistry | ||
| Chemical kinetics | ||
| Electrochemistry | ||
| Solutions | ||
| Solid-state | ||
| Physics | Class 11 | Wave & oscillations |
| Kinetic theory & behavior of perfect gas | ||
| Thermodynamics | ||
| Properties of bulk matter | ||
| Gravitation | ||
| The motion of systems of rigid body & particles | ||
| Power, energy & work | ||
| Laws of motion | ||
| Kinematics | ||
| Measurement & physical-world | ||
| Class 12 | Electronic devices | |
| Nuclei & atoms | ||
| Dual nature of radiation & matter | ||
| Optics | ||
| Electromagnetic waves | ||
| AC & electromagnetic induction | ||
| Magnetic effects of magnetics & current | ||
| Current electricity | ||
| Electro statistics |
Practice is the success mantra
Regular practice with previous year NEET papers as well as mock tests is essential for cracking difficult NEET MCQs. Dealing with a similar pattern of objective questions can help candidates to use the correct approach for tackling tricky questions in a smart manner. In order to enhance one’s performance, one can opt for some standard test series. Advanced preparation is what an MCQ exam like NEET requires. Here are a few NEET question banks for practicing.
Tips To Answer MCQs In NEET
| Title | Author/Publisher | Reference |
| Objective NCERT at your fingertip | MTG Editorial Board |  |
| Objective Physics for NEET | DC Pandey |  |
| Beat the NEET Biology topic-wise MCQs | Dr. SK Singh |  |
| 300 most important & frequently asked questions | Mind View Learning |  |
| Objective biology chapter-wise MCQs | Disha Experts |  |
How To Prepare For NEET? – Proven NEET Exam Preparation Strategies
Stay abreast with the NEET study materials
The ideal method to answer a tough NEET paper is by keeping abreast with NEET basics & concepts. NCERTs are the ultimate study material for NEET aspirants. After covering NCERTS, refer to other relevant books for NEET exams. Additionally, candidates can refer to online tutorials for grasping certain topics more clearly.
Best Books To Crack NEET Exam 2022 and Preparation Tips
Avoid guessing answers for NEET MCQs
Guesswork for competitive exams like NEET is no less than hypnotization. The deeper one looks into the NEET MCQ, the more perplexed they will be. So, it is best not to fall into this trap. It is always wise to skip the questions if candidates are not fully confident about the answers. Bear in mind that there is negative marking for wrong answers and this can affect the final NEET score. Nonetheless, one can always try some hacks to tackle such questions. But if it is taking more time to come to an answer, leave it. Guessing is the last resort in the NEET examination. So, be careful while choosing the options. The same is for numerical as well. Stick with the answers one is 100% sure rather than lowering the score.
Avoid last-minute answering
Most NEET aspirants tend to get caught up with the difficult MCQs and lose time answering the easy MCQs. They eventually run out of time to solve the questions which they were 100% sure of. This adversely affects their NEET final score. Sometimes, students rush during the eleventh hour to mark the answers on the OMR sheet. They often mark all the answers on the question sheet itself and towards the end of the exam, they bubble the answers. Due to the last-minute pressure, there is a good chance of making mistakes while bubbling answers on the OMR sheet. Candidates can parallelly mark the correct answers on the OMR sheet after solving MCQs. Even a slight error can cost them valuable marks. Therefore, it is better to avoid such silly mistakes.
NEET Revision Tips – Ace Your Medical Entrance With These Tips
Quick Tips To Answer MCQs In The NEET Exam
- Cover as much as possible during the NEET exam
- Skip the doubtful MCQs
- Equate all NEET MCQ properties prior to solving
- Read the NEET MCQs twice prior to marking the answer
- If subject-knowledge fails, listen to the instincts
- Use the ‘True/False’ approach to solve negatively worded MCQs
- Carefully analyze the answer before bubbling
- Finally, remain confident & calm. A calm mind can solve MCQs quickly
These secret strategies for answering brain teasers & difficult NEET MCQs can be quite useful for NEET aspirants. Early preparation & consistent practice is a must for cracking any competitive examination. Therefore, to clear the NEET exam, candidates should be aware of the tips to answer NEET MCQs and must prepare well. MCQs with confusing options are hard to solve unless the candidates know the concepts well. Build a strong foundation & clearly grasp the concepts for best results. Rather than wild guessing, students can focus on the tips explained to answer MCQs in the NEET exam correctly. Moreover, it is pivotal to know the current trend followed in NEET exam papers by checking the commonly asked questions & previous year papers.
Future Prospects After Qualifying NEET Exam
Tips To Answer MCQs In NEET
