New Delhi, 10 November 2021 – The All India Rank (AIR ) 1 holder in NEET-UG, Mrinal Kutteri from Hyderabad had also cracked the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) exam before ranking first in NEET-UG 2021. The top rank holder stated, “As physics and chemistry are common topics among both the papers, I appeared in the JEE exam just for practice. Unexpectedly, I was able to clear the exam with a decent score of 99.28 percentile and also qualified for JEE Advanced.” He also cracked the KVPY exam conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and would have pursued genetics research as a career if he had not cracked NEET. However, the fact that he cracked the medical exam, combined with his love for biology, made him pursue a career in medicine.
Mrinal started preparation for NEET with Aakash Institute. His father is an HR marketing consultant and his mother works as a software program engineer. Mrinal notes that unlike other students who studied for long hours at a time, he studied for short bursts of around 45 minutes and took 10-15 minutes breaks in between. This enabled him to study hard while having the time to give his body and mind ample rest. “My parents and teachers supported my schedule and made sure I did not feel under pressure due to my different study method,” the topper shared.
Writing for NDTV, Mrinal notes “When it comes to preparation, I truly believe that conceptual understanding is the shortest, simplest and yet the most honest route to good performance. I look at every topic like it’s a puzzle … Whenever you read something, try and immediately connect it to a related topic. Here’s an example: try to learn digestion as a process. Try and visualize the path that food traces as it makes its way through your digestive system. Try and understand all the changes it undergoes on the way. Don’t look at changes in the mouth, stomach and intestine as separate events.”
Mrinal’s NEET-UG Preparation Strategy – Main Takeaways
- Focus on conceptual understanding rather than theoretical learning. Try to understand every process, which will help you retain information better.
- Study intently for short durations and take ample breaks.
- Focus on Class 11 and 12 NCERT books and then consult notes from reference books or coaching institutes.
- Do not cut yourself from the outside world, but you can reduce interactions with friends during the last month before the exam.
- Support from parents and teachers is crucial. Inform them about your preparation strategy, so they can help you navigate the pressure better.
- Time management is key. Try not to waste time on unimportant things.
- De-stressing is important. Do what you love in your free time to reduce stress and pressure.
