A large number of candidates who appeared for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) Phase 1 on Sunday were disappointed with their performance. Many students said they had not prepared thoroughly for the AIPMT, now termed NEET Phase 1, as it was only “an option” they wanted to keep open.
If the “lengthy” and “tough” physics section kept the students on tenterhooks, they breathed easy with biology and chemistry sections which were “easier”.
Ayyappa, a II pre-university student from Raichur who wrote the exam at Kendriya Vidyalaya on IISc. campus, said, “My entire preparation strategy was to crack the CET. But just three days before the test, we got a shocker that the AIPMT is be the only exam to obtain a medical seat.”
With a large number of students focusing on CET preparation over the last fortnight, they felt that their performance in the test was not up to the mark.
Experts pointed out that the preparation strategy for CET and NEET was different which may have adversely affected students’ performance in the Sunday’s test. Sridhar G., founder of Deeksha Network, said, “The books for both the tests are the same. While the CET checks the student’s ability to grasp facts, NEET is heavily application based and also tests a student’s problem-solving ability.”
Another student, Harshitha S. of Vidyaniketan PU College said she found NEET tricky as it had negative marking. She said that her classmates who had not opted for the AIPMT and were writing NEET Phase 2 on July 24 were at advantage as they would have three months to change their preparation strategy.
CBSE had clarified that students who had opted for the AIPMT on Sunday would not be allowed to write NEET Phase 2 if they were absent for the Sunday’s test.
An invigilator said this led to high attendance in the centres across the city. “Last year we had around 50 per cent attendance for the AIPMT. Students attempt the test causally as it is only for obtaining all-India quota seats. But with the apex court stating that NEET will be the only qualifying exam from now, we saw attendance of 90 per cent this time,” an exam head of a centre said.
Analysis by coaching class centres showed that one of the questions in the biology section had wrong options.
