NEET Results 2024: ‘Keep stress at bay to succeed’

The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the outcomes of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, Undergraduate (NEET-UG) on June 4, 2024. Out of 23,33,297 participants, 13,16,268 candidates successfully passed the NEET 2024 examination. Initially, the total number of registrations was 24,06,079, with males representing 43.0% of the examinees, totaling 9,98,298, and females accounting for 57.50%, with 13,34,982 registrants.

Alongside these results, numerous stories of ambition and success have emerged, including the particularly inspiring story of Chhavi Kumar, who recently passed out of class XII from Apeejay School, Saket.

In a candid conversation, she talked about her preparation for NEET and how she kept stress at bay.

Tell us about yourself.

 I am Chhavi Kumar and I am 17 years old. I scored 96.8% in my CBSE class 12 exams. My hobbies include arts and crafts. My NEET score stands at 637.

How did you manage class 12 and NEET?

I attended school regularly and divided my time accordingly. At school, I focused on the Board exams as per the teachers’ advice. I was attentive to what was being taught in the class. This made it easy to revise the syllabus for class XII. At home, I concentrated on NEET preparation to manage stress effectively. 

Did you do anything specific to manage stress?

I scheduled everything meticulously. If I felt low or stressed, I would listen to music or watch something I like to cheer myself up.  I took regular breaks to relax my mind as well. My parents also had a big role to play in keeping anxiety at bay. They ensured I didn’t worry about other things and were always there, motivating me positively to do my best. They just told me to do my best and leave the rest – not worry about the result.

Why did you choose to pursue a career in medicine?

I was always fascinated by the selfless role of doctors. I never considered any other profession; I’ve always wanted to be a doctor.  And now I am all set on the path to becoming one. Interestingly, no one in my family is a doctor.  My father works in an office and my mother is a homemaker.

Did you use any specific study materials?

I focused primarily on NCERT books and used some materials and modules that were recommended, but not extensively.  I also solved several mock tests but stopped a week before the exams. This way I was able to avoid feeling demotivated by potentially low scores. 

What kind of support did you receive from your school teachers?

They taught me to be realistic and set achievable goals. At the same time, they always motivated me, assuring me that I could manage both my school and NEET preparations. 

Did you do anything specific to prepare mentally on the day of the exam?

I arrived at the exam centre early to acclimate to the environment. I walked around and used the facilities to get comfortable with the surroundings. This helped me to calm down and treat the exam like any other competitive test.   

What advice would you give to students preparing for the NEET exam next year?

It is important to focus on NCERT syllabus as questions are often directly sourced from these texts. Practice extensively to avoid confusion during the exam. Take mock tests to judge your preparation.