NEET 2024: Chemistry preparation and study tips for NEET entrance exam

If you’re a medical aspirant giving the NEET exam and are looking to maximize your Chemistry score, I’ve put down some tips which will not just help you prepare better but also help you crack the NEET exam with an improved score in Chemistry.

1) Understanding the Pattern

NEET Chemistry has two sections to it – Section A and Section B. Section A has 35 MCQ questions, in which there is no choice provided. Section B has 15 MCQ questions, out of which 10 questions can be attempted. Hence, a total of 45 questions can be attempted for a total of 180 marks. Most of the questions are theory-based and of easy to moderate difficulty level. A score of 120 on 180 is not too difficult to achieve.

2) Study Materials and Resources

Historically, it has been observed that most of the Chemistry section questions are either based on the theory and exercises of the NCERT Chemistry textbooks or from the previous year question papers of NEET. Only around 5 questions are based on higher level content which may not be found in NCERT textbooks. Thus, the primary resources to thoroughly study are the NCERT Chemistry textbooks. Apart from this, there are many other books that can be used for MCQ practice. 

3) Most Important Topics

Like in Physics, 11th grade topics have an overall weightage of around 40-45 percent and 12th grade topics have an overall weightage of around 55-60 percent in the NEET Chemistry paper. Chemistry is divided into 3 parts- Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. 

The most important topics in Physical Chemistry for NEET include Atomic Structure, Surface Chemistry, Stoichiometry, Solid State, Thermodynamics and Electrochemistry. Numerical problems are generally few in number, and the emphasis is majorly on theory-based questions. One can expect no more than 10 numerical problems overall in the whole chemistry section.The most important topics in Inorganic Chemistry include Periodic Classification, Chemical Bonding, s-block, p-block, d-block, f-block, Redox Reactions, Metallurgy and Co-ordination Complexes. In general, it is important to focus on Inorganic Chemistry because it is the most fact-based portion of the chemistry section, which makes it the easiest to score in.

The most important conceptual topics in Organic Chemistry for NEET include General Organic Chemistry (GOC) and Isomerism, Hydrocarbons (including Aromatic Hydrocarbons), Halogen Derivatives, Alcohols, Aldehydes and Ketones and Nitrogen Containing Compounds. These topics are an absolute must-do. Students must specifically focus on named reactions and chemical tests within these chapters, as many questions are directly asked based on such reactions. Additionally, questions from theory topics such as Polymers and Chemistry in Everyday life are quite commonly asked and are easy to score off.

4) Study Tips

Studying for NEET Chemistry essentially involves focusing on learning theory. A trick that usually works well for many students is to use highlighters or post-it notes in the NCERT textbooks wherever you come across points, formulae or equations that are important. Creating your own formula book and/or personalised notes while studying can be immensely beneficial, especially for quick and efficient revision just before the exam.

I recommend making mind-maps for Organic Chemistry, which can help in remembering named reactions and tests. For Physical Chemistry, the trick is to practise numerical questions with a timer. It can be very easy to lose track of time otherwise, which may become a counter-productive habit. Inorganic Chemistry is very theory-heavy, and I recommend reading a little bit of it everyday just to keep it revised. Otherwise, one tends to forget these facts. Focusing on Chemical Bonding and Periodic Properties is critical for Inorganic Chemistry.

Finally, make sure you take plenty of Mock Tests. More importantly, do revisit the old tests you give to keep track of the important questions that you may have gotten wrong earlier, so that you can benchmark your progress. NEET is all about speed, accuracy and time management. The more you practice, the better you will get. For more personalized advice, mentoring or training, you can reach out to me via email at institute@tejtutorials.com

The author of the article is Tejas Shyam, edu-preneur and founder of The Education Journey.

(Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own and do not reflect those of DNA.)