How Many Mock Papers Should I Attempt for NEET 2020?
With only 15 days left for NEET 2020, many students like yourself are left wondering how much preparation is necessary in such a short time. You mention that you haven't attempted any mock papers until now and have just started your first revision. This is a critical time, and the right approach can greatly impact your performance. Let's dive into the key strategies and number of mock papers you should be attempting in the next 15 days.
Why is Attempting Mock Papers So Crucial?
Back in the day, I used to give one mock test per week. However, in the last two months before the NEET exam, I would take three tests per week. This intense preparation helped me get a lot of practice under my belt, but the key was to focus on full-syllabus, major test papers. Chapter-wise question papers are not as beneficial. Instead, they are more likely to demotivate you with questions that are not part of the syllabus and require extensive revision.
Starting Your Revision Too Late?
It looks like you have just started your revision and have not attempted any mock papers yet. This is a red flag! Reading your book notes and calling it revision is not sufficient. Revision should be focused on solving as many mock test papers as possible. Time is running out, and you need to make the best use of it. Every minute should be devoted to full-syllabus mock test papers.
Key Sources for Effective Mock Papers
For NEET preparation, you should primarily focus on previous year question (PYQ) papers and Allen Major Test Papers. These papers are designed to simulate the actual exam experience and are highly relevant to the questions that will appear in the main NEET paper.
Previous Year Question Papers
Previous Year Question (PYQ) papers are essential for practice. When you solve these papers, make sure to do them under time-bound conditions. This will help you get a feel for the exam environment and the types of questions that might appear.
Allen Major Test Papers
Allen Major Test Papers are a valuable resource. You must solve at least 15 of these before appearing for the exam. These papers are particularly valuable as they contain the most important and heavily weighted questions for the NEET exam. The order of the options in Allen Major papers is similar to actual NEET papers, which can help you get accustomed to the format. Don't be surprised if the order of the options is the same; it's just a coincidence.
Keys to Success with Mock Papers
1. Attempt as Many as Possible: Aim to solve one major paper every day. Over the 15 days, you should try to solve 15 or more major papers.
2. Analyze and Learn: After each mock test, analyze your performance religiously. Identify the topics you got wrong and make a grievance sheet. Write answers to these questions on a sheet of paper, which I called a 'grievance sheet.' Read this sheet the day before the exam to boost your confidence and reduce confusion.
3. Focus on Important Topics: Since you will be facing questions from your grievance sheet, make sure to focus on these topics during the last hours before the exam. This strategic approach will ensure that you are well-prepared for the actual exam.
Staying Confident and Focused
The 15 mock papers will act as a jumble of all the major topics that will come in the exam. Be confident that the main paper will draw heavily from these topics. Solving 15 major papers will expose you to 2700 questions, with 90 of these being the most important for the exam. This is more than enough to ensure a strong performance.
Remember, this strategy has helped many students, including one friend who improved from a score of 278 to 580 by solving a lot of major papers. Don't get too nervous and try to implement this strategy as effectively as possible to boost your chances of success.
Best of luck as you prepare for the NEET exam in the next 15 days!