New Delhi: NEET is not just a test of knowledge, it’s a test of calmness, accuracy and focus under pressure. Many well-prepared students lose valuable marks because of avoidable errors during the exam. These small mistakes can make a big difference in your rank.
Here are the top 10 silly mistakes students often make inside the NEET exam hall and how you can avoid them.
1. Rushing Through Questions Without Reading Carefully
Many students misread questions due to anxiety or overconfidence. They skip key words like “not,” “except,” or “incorrect”, and mark the wrong answer.
How to avoid:
- Take 5–10 seconds to read each question fully and slowly.
- Underline key terms if allowed and double-check what the question is truly asking.
2. Filling the OMR Sheet in a Hurry
Some students mark the OMR sheet too late or in a rush at the end, leading to misalignment or skipped questions.
How to avoid:
- Mark your OMR sheet side-by-side as you solve each question.
- Ensure you’re bubbling the correct option number. Use a good-quality black pen and keep your hand steady.
3. Changing Correct Answers Without Strong Reason
Many aspirants doubt their first instinct and change answers during revision, even if their first answer was right.
How to avoid:
- Trust your preparation. Change an answer only if you’re 100% sure it’s incorrect.
- Avoid last-minute second-guessing.
4. Spending Too Much Time on One Tough Question
Some students waste 10–15 minutes stuck on a single hard question, losing time for easy ones.
How to avoid:
- If a question takes more than 1.5 minutes, leave it and return later.
- First, solve all easy and medium questions to secure those marks.
5. Panicking When You Don’t Know a Few Questions
Seeing a few tough questions early can create panic. But remember, no one solves all 180 questions perfectly.
How to avoid:
- Stay calm. It’s okay to leave 5–10 questions. Focus on accuracy, not attempt count.
- Even 160 well-attempted questions can land you a top rank.
6. Ignoring the Instructions on the Question Paper
Sometimes students forget to check important instructions, like how many options to mark, or miss section-wise guidelines.
How to avoid:
- Read the first page of the paper carefully.
- Follow all instructions about negative marking, language selection, and codes.
7. Poor Time Management Between Sections
Many students don’t plan their time for Biology, Physics, and Chemistry separately. As a result, they rush the last section.
How to avoid:
Follow this rough timing:
- Biology: 1 hour
- Chemistry: 50 minutes
- Physics: 50 minutes
- Last 20 minutes: Review and Correct
Practice this pattern in your mock tests.
8. Misbubbling or Skipping Question Numbers
A very common silly mistake is that students mark the wrong question number on the OMR sheet, shifting all answers downward.
How to avoid:
- Double-check every 5–10 questions to ensure your OMR bubbling matches the question number.
9. Neglecting Easy Questions
In a rush, many students skip reading easy questions properly, leading to silly mistakes in basic topics.
How to avoid:
- Stay alert throughout.
- Don’t become overconfident or careless with “easy” questions; they carry equal marks.
10. Carrying Wrong or Incomplete Documents
Some students forget essential items like their admit card, ID proof, photo, or dress code requirements, leading to delays or disqualification.
How to avoid:
Keep these important things ready one night before:
- NEET Admit Card (with passport photo)
- Valid ID proof (Aadhar, PAN, etc.)
- 1 extra passport-size photo
- Transparent pen, water bottle, mask, and dress code compliance
Quick Recap: Avoid These 10 Mistakes
| Mistake | Read the paper guidelines carefully |
|---|---|
| 1. Misreading questions | Read slowly and identify keywords |
| 2. OMR errors | Fill side-by-side, double-check bubbling |
| 3. Changing right answers | Don’t second-guess unless certain |
| 4. Time wasted on one question | Move on if it takes >1.5 minutes |
| 5. Panic on tough questions | Stay calm — not all must be solved |
| 6. Skipping instructions | Read paper guidelines carefully |
| 7. Poor time management | Allocate fixed time for each section |
| 8. Misbubbling question numbers | Check OMR every few questions |
| 9. Ignoring easy questions | Treat all questions with care |
| 10. Missing documents | Prepare checklist and bag a day early |
Stay calm, stay focused, and give your best.
