Tackling Multiple-choice Questions of NEET

NEET is a national-level medical entrance test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for young medical aspirants to seek admission to prestigious medical colleges across the country. Every year, lakhs of students register to appear at NEET, which is annually conducted. However, only a few candidates manage to get through their dream colleges.

Arguably, NEET is one of the gruelling competitive tests offering fierce competition to students. And why shouldn’t it, after all, NEET now stands as the sole entrance test that must be cleared by students, in order to pursue undergraduate medical programmes.

But, why is it that despite the year-round preparation and having complete know-how of the syllabus, students score low? There are several reasons for this, exam phobia, lack of conceptual knowledge, time management etc. There is one aspect that is either ignored totally by students or paid less attention to but is of immense importance – the knack of answering NEET questions. We may have mastered concepts at times, but fail to understand how exactly questions should be answered or how to effectively utilise time.

Since NEET is a multiple-choice test, students must ace the art of making the correct choices between the 4 options provided for each question, all that and more in technically less than a minute. To help students in this endeavour, we have listed some important points to draw students’ attention towards these simple and easy points to follow while tackling multiple-choice questions in NEET. Read on.

How to Tackle Multiple-choice Questions of NEET?

Go over the complete question

The first and the foremost mistake students tend to commit is skimming through the questions, looking for keywords, trying to look for answers in the options and marking them. Refrain from doing so. Do not make the mistake of answering questions without having read the complete question. Often, students are tricked by phrasing questions differently.

Read the complete question in its entirety before you jump straight to the options. It can cost you dearly as NEET has a negative marking scheme. Understand what the question is actually asking, even if you already have an answer. After having understood the question completely, go over the options one by one and then mark the answer you already have. This way, you are doubly sure that you have marked the correct answer.

Coming up with an answer in your mind

Extending the aforementioned point, after having read the question thoroughly and understood, come up with an answer in your mind before glancing at the options. Sometimes, two options seem so right to you that it leaves you confused. Hence, review the answer in your mind and make the correct choice.

Elimination method

We are all well aware of this approach. This approach is usually adapted in the event when the answer to a question is either forgotten or some part of the concept is read. You can start eliminating options that you are cent per cent sure are incorrect, one by one, and apply this to every option until you arrive with a potential answer.

Also, this approach can be followed even if you know the correct answer; cross out those options which you know for sure are incorrect. This will ensure that your choice of answer is the correct one, just a reassurance of sorts.

Picking the best and most accurate answer

It is imperative that you pick the best possible answer for the question being asked, and not just any answer that appears correct to you. It typically happens that all options seem correct to you, however, technically, there is the best answer provided for which marks are awarded.

Prefer answering questions you know first

If you face obstacles answering a question, skip that question and move to the next and revisit that question later, once you have answered all other questions. At times, answering easier questions offers insight into the challenging questions, while still those questions are being treated by the subconscious mind.

A calculated guess

If you are sure you read a concept, are sure of a question and its probable answer, but just because NEET has negative marking, you think of stepping back, think again, as it might be the correct answer that you have. Make educated guesses for a question you are not completely sure about. In the worst-case scenario, if you do not seem to be very sure of the answer, it is always suggested to skip.

These were some points to keep in mind while answering questions. Refer to some NEET previous year paper to get a good understanding of the types of questions and practise well from them. Subscribe to BYJU’S YouTube channel for relevant content.