Tips to Revise NCERT Biology for 2022 NEET Preparation
NEET is the most important and the toughest of all medical entrance examinations in India. It is held annually after Class 12 boards. So, naturally, the students who are busy with their 12 Boards exam preparation get very little time to revise the entire 11th and 12th syllabus just before the NEET exam. During this time, revising the whole biology syllabus may seem like an impossible task.
Firstly, as students, you must make it a point to revise biology from the NCERT books. Trust us, this book can be the best companion in your journey towards NEET success. In addition to that, you must follow some tips discussed below. This will further shorten your revision time while making it more effective simultaneously.
A Few Useful Tips to Revise NCERT Biology for NEET Preparation
Do Not Panic and Take the First Step
One of the worst things you can do to yourself during this time is to overburden yourself with worries. Revising both class 11 and 12 syllabuses may seem like an intimidating task. Remember, if you panic now, you can end up losing hope and that may, in turn, affect your performance.
The first step that you must take is to thoroughly go through the syllabus. Identify the chapters with high weightage. List the chapters according to their importance. Then make a time table, try to revise the important chapters first before moving onto the less important chapters.
Revise from NCERT Biology Book
At this time you must keep in mind that there is a crunch of time. Instead of trying to study from fancy reference books, you must stick to the basic textbook of NCERT. Not only are these books simple to understand from and easy to remember but they also have all the content necessary for the NEET exams. Keep in mind that most of the questions from NEET will be directed from this book alone. In your stipulated time (in accordance with the timetable you made) try to read the chapters multiple times. Try to go through what you have studied every once a week.
Study the book thoroughly, read every line and jot down the important points.
Solve More Questions
After you finish reading a chapter, try to solve the previous years’ NEET questions from that chapter. Perform self-tests. Try solving a number of questions in a given time. This will help you deal with time management and improve the sharpness of your mind.
After the time is up, try comparing your answers with the answer key. See where you lag and which part of the chapter you should revise. This is called ‘Self-evaluation.’ It helps you to become more self-aware. Once you realize which questions you have wrongly answered, try to find the answers from the NCERT biology textbook.
Write. Write. Write.
Research shows that writing helps you remember things for a longer time. While learning or after learning, you must take time to write the things you feel are important. You should write important things to remember. Also if you have trouble remembering certain stuff, you must write it down simultaneously while reading.
So, now follow these tips carefully and kickstart your revision. Nothing is truer than the saying- practice makes perfect. You can achieve perfection only and only through thorough revision and rigorous practice. All the best to you!
FAQs on Tips to Revise NCERT Biology for 2022 NEET Preparation
1. Is mastering only the NCERT textbook sufficient to score well in NEET 2026 Biology?
While the NCERT textbook is the absolute foundation for NEET Biology, relying solely on it may not be enough for a top rank. Approximately 85-90% of questions in the NEET exam are directly derived from NCERT concepts. To tackle the remaining 10-15% of application-based or slightly advanced questions and to gain a competitive edge, it is highly recommended to supplement your revision with a standard reference book and solve a wide variety of MCQs from different sources.
2. What is the most effective way to revise the entire NEET Biology syllabus quickly?
A rapid and effective revision of the NEET Biology syllabus involves a multi-pronged strategy. Follow these steps for best results:
- Prioritise Chapters: Analyse previous year papers to identify high-weightage chapters like Genetics, Human Physiology, and Ecology, and revise them first.
- Active Recall: Instead of passively rereading, close the book and try to recall key definitions, diagrams, and cycles. This strengthens memory retention.
- Concise Notes: Use your short notes, flowcharts, and mind maps for quick review, rather than reading the entire textbook again.
- Focused Practice: Dedicate most of your time to solving chapter-wise MCQs and mock tests to identify weak areas.
3. How should I approach revising diagrams and tables in NCERT Biology for the NEET exam?
Diagrams and tables in NCERT are not just illustrative; they are a significant source of questions in NEET. For effective revision, you should:
- Analyse Every Label: Questions are frequently asked directly from the labellings of diagrams (e.g., parts of a flower, human brain).
- Understand the Process: For process-based diagrams like the lac operon or nitrogen cycle, understand the sequence of events and the role of each component.
- Memorise Data: Tables containing examples (e.g., types of placentation, examples of phyla) must be memorised thoroughly.
- Practice Drawing: A good practice is to redraw complex diagrams from memory. This helps in solidifying your understanding and recall of the labels and processes involved.
4. What is the best method for reading the NCERT Biology textbook for maximum retention for NEET?
To maximise retention from the NCERT Biology textbook, adopt a multi-reading approach. Your first reading should be quick, to get a general overview of the chapter. In the second, more detailed reading, use a highlighter to mark important lines, definitions, and examples. In the third reading, focus on creating your own concise notes or flashcards from the highlighted points. This method of active learning, moving from broad understanding to detailed memorisation, is far more effective for long-term retention than passive rereading.
5. How can the 80/20 rule be strategically applied to NEET Biology revision?
The 80/20 rule, or the Pareto Principle, suggests that 80% of the results come from 20% of the effort. In NEET Biology revision, this means identifying the vital 20% of the syllabus that yields the majority of marks. To apply this:
- Analyse PYQs: Go through the last 10 years' question papers to identify recurring topics and high-yield units such as Genetics and Evolution, Human Physiology, and Ecology.
- Allocate Time Wisely: Devote a significant portion of your revision time to mastering these high-yield areas.
- Focus on Core Concepts: Within these chapters, focus on the core concepts from which questions are most frequently framed. This ensures an efficient revision that maximises your potential score.
6. What are some common conceptual traps in NCERT Biology that students should be aware of during NEET revision?
Students often fall for specific conceptual traps hidden within the NCERT textbook. Being aware of these during revision is crucial for avoiding negative marks. Key traps include:
- Homologous vs. Analogous: Confusing the examples and definitions of homologous and analogous structures in Evolution.
- Exceptions in Kingdoms: Overlooking the specific exceptions mentioned in the Plant and Animal Kingdom chapters (e.g., which chordates lack a certain feature).
- Biochemical Cycles: Misinterpreting the direction or key players in diagrams of cycles like glycolysis or Krebs cycle.
- Genetic Problems: Making calculation errors or misinterpreting symbols in pedigree analysis questions.
7. When revising for NEET, is it better to complete the Class 11 Biology syllabus before starting Class 12?
A more effective strategy than sequential revision is an integrated approach. Since the NEET syllabus gives significant weightage to both Class 11 and Class 12 topics, it's best to revise them in parallel. For instance, you can pair a conceptually heavy chapter from Class 12 (like Molecular Basis of Inheritance) with a relatively lighter, memory-based chapter from Class 11 (like The Living World). This method ensures all topics stay fresh, creates conceptual links between units, and prevents burnout from studying one class's content for too long.
8. Why is solving Previous Year Questions (PYQs) essential for NEET Biology revision, even if I know the NCERT content well?
Knowing the NCERT content is the first step, but applying it under exam conditions is what fetches marks. Solving PYQs is essential because it bridges this gap. It helps you:
- Understand Question Patterns: You learn the specific language and style in which questions are framed from NCERT lines.
- Identify High-Weightage Topics: It provides a clear, data-backed insight into which topics are most important.
- Improve Time Management: Practising PYQs in a timed manner simulates the real exam environment, improving your speed and accuracy.
- Uncover Weaknesses: It highlights the concepts you thought you knew but are unable to apply correctly, directing your revision efforts more effectively.
