NEET MDS Preparation

NEET MDS Preparation

The NEET MDS exam is a centralized test which helps aspiring BDS students to seek admission in the college of their choice. The scope of possibilities after you qualify the NEET MDS exam is so vast that each student puts his/her best foot forward. Preparing for the NEET MDS exam is no cake-walk. It requires the students to first observe the previous year papers and then design a strategy that would aid them during the preparation phase. The major difference between the candidates who qualify the NEET MDS exam and those who don’t is mainly in the way they approach the subjects during the preparation phase. The article aims to equip the NEET MDS aspirants about the basics of how the exam should be looked at and what the paper-setters look for in the ideal candidate.

NEET MDS Preparation - What to study?

As students set on their journey of preparation, the vast syllabus of NEET MDS exam acts as a major hurdle, which discourages the students at first glance. With more than 14 subjects and 400 topics, it is indeed a herculean task to cover and remember the contents of the entire syllabus. Thus experts suggest making use of selective learning and smart work to prepare for the NEET MDS exam. The NEET MDS should not be approached in the way subjective papers are looked at. Since NEET MDS is an objective type test, the preparation should also be objective and to the point. There is no need for comprehensive coverage of syllabi for two reasons.

  1. Cramming and memorization is of no help in the NEET MDS exam
  2. Comprehensive study takes a lot of time

Hence students need to sort out the subject matter well in advance, which should consist of the important topics from each subject. The topics need to be put in a tabulated form and number of days for completion of each topic should be stipulated alongside. This will help you to chart down your daily schedule and you would straight away get down to the business without wasting time on choosing what to study ‘today’. It cuts down wasteful activities by almost 50 percent. Now, the question is how can the subject-matter be selected? This is what you need to do:

  • Decode the semantics of previous year papers of MDS
  • Decipher the most asked topics
  • Take guidance from your seniors
  • Limit gazing too deep into the topics
  • Make a note of high yielding topics and begin with these topics in the first phase of your preparation

NEET MDS Preparation - When to Study?

The ideal time to begin your preparation for the NEET MDS exam is 7-8 months before the examination. Starting early ensures that you win the battle. You will clearly have an edge over candidates who started their preparation late in the day.

NEET MDS Preparation - How to Study?

Here’s how 8 months must be divided:

Months

What to do

Strategy

March –June First Reading
  • Set targets to improve performance
  • Take up high yielding subjects first
  • Concentrate on clearing your basic concepts during this time
  • Study for 6-8 hours daily
  • Make daily, weekly and monthly planners
  • Enroll for doubt clearing sessions
  • Do not study for continuous hours at a stretch
  • Take requisite breaks
  • Refer to the basic books prescribed during BDS
  • Make notes simultaneously
  • Leave out the small and less important topics in this phase
  • Do not pull all-nighters, mornings are the best time to study as your minds are refreshed
July-August First Revision
  • Revise the topics to make learning concrete
  • Follow a time-table
  • Start attempting mock tests and solving previous year questions
  • Note down your week topics
  • Apply your knowledge to evaluate yourself
  • Lay emphasis on the ‘low yielding topics’ which you left out in First Reading
September-October Second Revision
  • Revise the topics learnt in the above months
  • Solve chapter-wise MCQs
  • Lay more stress on the exam pattern and practice how to avoid negative marking in the exam by giving mock tests
  • Revise week topics and concentrate on further strengthening your strong-holds

In the third and final Revision which should be done in the months of November and December, the following tasks should be taken up:

  • Revise what you have learnt so far
  • Stay motivated
  • Learn from your mistakes
  • Highlight important points with colored pens
  • Evaluate yourself
  • Indulge in Group Study and discussions based on recent researches and provisions
  • Read medical journals to stay equipped with recent researches and developments in the field of dentistry
  • Stay away from distractions
  • Don’t get too over-confident
  • Work on correcting your mistakes and come up with a personalized strategy that best suits you, by means of taking repeated tests and experimentation
  • Learn the art of time-management
  • Beware of negative marking during the exam
  • Stay away from guesswork
  • Reward yourself when you score well in the exam and study for extra one hour on committing a similar mistake as done in the previous mock test

Updated Aug 15, 2022.