NEET: Everything You Need to Know About India’s Medical Entrance Exam

When you’re aiming to become a doctor in India, NEET, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, is the single gateway to MBBS and BDS seats across the country. Also known as National Medical Entrance Test, it replaced all other state-level and private medical entrance exams in 2016. There’s no backup plan—if you want to study medicine in India, you take NEET. No exceptions. It’s not just another exam. It’s the make-or-break moment for hundreds of thousands of students every year.

Behind every NEET score is a story: late-night study sessions, coaching center commutes, parents sacrificing everything, and students who cracked it after failing once—or twice. The exam covers Physics, Chemistry, and Biology from Classes 11 and 12, but it doesn’t test what you memorized—it tests how well you apply it under pressure. Top coaching institutes like NV Sir, a well-known name in NEET coaching circles with a track record of high success rates, focus on pattern recognition, time management, and high-yield topics. And it works. Students who follow structured NEET preparation plans, even without expensive coaching, often outperform those who just attend classes.

What’s missing from most guides? The real cost. NEET coaching isn’t just about fees—it’s about opportunity cost. A year spent in coaching means no part-time job, no social life, no safety net. But the alternatives aren’t much easier: retaking the exam next year, studying abroad with limited seats, or switching careers entirely. The NEET syllabus, based on NCERT textbooks but tested at a level far beyond school exams is predictable, but the competition isn’t. With over 2 million applicants and only about 100,000 seats, your rank matters more than your marks. That’s why students who focus on weak areas—like Organic Chemistry or Human Physiology—instead of trying to cover everything, end up ahead.

There’s no magic trick. No shortcut. But there are patterns. The top scorers don’t study more hours—they study smarter. They know which chapters appear every year. They know how to spot trick questions. They know how to manage stress during the exam. And they’ve seen what works from others who’ve been there. Below, you’ll find real reviews of coaching centers, breakdowns of the toughest topics, and honest advice from students who made it through. No fluff. No hype. Just what you need to know before you sit for NEET.