Standing at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic, the doctors, nurses and medical staff have surely caused us to realise the value of medical science. India greatly requires another generation of talented medical professionals. Many aspiring pupils, pursuing this remarkable objective, yearn to enter their dream colleges. Barring their path is the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Confronted with such odds, a student cannot leave behind any inconsistency in his preparation. A systematic approach and consistent hard work are the only way to ace this exam.
The gravest omission that the bulk of students make is to skip chemistry. As a subject, they deemed chemistry too vast to memorise wholly and full of abstract concepts and theories that are impossible to understand. However, the Chemistry section of the paper has a 25% weightage of the entire score. If mastered, chemistry can indeed boost your scores and uplift your rank. This could be the resolving factor that makes or breaks your chances of entering your prized college. With the perfect plan and strategy, students can excel in the Chemistry subject and obtain excellent results.
Analyse the syllabus and learn the NEET Exam pattern
The syllabus of the NEET exam is immense. The wise approach is to understand the chapters included in the NEET curriculum and the extent of importance each holds. Subdivided into two segments of 35 and 15 questions, the Chemistry part of the paper comprises 45 attemptable questions with a score of 180. Over 50% of questions come from the 12th, and the remaining from the 11th syllabus.
Every past topper has had the same secret to their success. They have recognised the underlying pattern in the questions asked in the exams. Students must learn to decipher what types of questions are more prevalent and have a strong chance of repeating. This technique further saves time wasted on questions that will most likely not appear.
Devise a Master Plan and Stick to it!
Foremost, a student must devise a foolproof plan for his preparation to score an excellent score of 160+ in NEET Chemistry. The key to designing a robust and success-oriented plan is to break up your study goals into small and achievable factions. Separate the Chemistry curriculum into three parts Physical, Inorganic and Organic. Set up realistic deadlines for covering these topics. Keep focused on your plan and celebrate every milestone to stay motivated. Stick this plan in your study room and continually visit it to maintain your persistence.
Section Wise Weightage in NEET Chemistry
Here is a breakdown of the importance of the three major categories of Chemistry – Physical, Inorganic and Organic. Majorly the distribution is equal for all the three sections and requires equal attention from the students.
| Section | Weightage |
| Inorganic | 36% |
| Organic | 28% |
| Physical | 36% |
Chapter Wise Weightage in NEET Chemistry
Here is a breakdown of percentage distribution and number of questions per chapter according to the past years’ trends and data.
| Chapters | Number of Questions | Weightage (%) |
| Organic Chemistry-I | 8% | |
| Hydrocarbons | 2 | 4% |
| General Organic Chemistry | 2 | 5% |
| Organic Chemistry-II | 26% | |
| Haloalkane | 1 | 2% |
| Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids | 2 | 3% |
| Polymer | 1 | 2% |
| Alkyl Halide, Alcohol & Ether | 2 | 4% |
| Aromatic Compounds | 3 | 6% |
| Biomolecules | 2 | 4% |
| Carbonyl Compounds | 2 | 4% |
| Environmental Chemistry | 1 | 2% |
| Chemistry in Everyday Life | 2 | 3% |
| Organic Compounds containing nitrogen | 2 | 3% |
| Practical Organic Chemistry | 1 | 2% |
| IUPAC & Isomerism | 2 | 4% |
| Inorganic Chemistry-I | 22% | |
| Chemical Bonding | 4 | 9% |
| p-block | 3 | 7% |
| Periodic Table & Periodicity in Properties | 2 | 4% |
| Hydrogen | 1 | 2% |
| s-block | 1 | 3% |
| Inorganic Chemistry-II | 12% | |
| Coordination Compounds | 3 | 6% |
| d-block & f-block Elements | 2 | 4% |
| Metallurgy | 1 | 2% |
| Qualitative Analysis | 1 | 2% |
| Physical Chemistry-I | 17% | |
| Atomic Structure & Nuclear Chemistry | 2 | 3% |
| Chemical Equilibrium | 1 | 3% |
| Ionic Equilibrium | 2 | 4% |
| Redox Reactions | 1 | 2% |
| Gaseous State | 1 | 3% |
| Mole Concept | 2 | 5% |
| Thermodynamics and Thermochemistry | 1 | 3% |
| Physical Chemistry-II | 15% | |
| Chemical Kinetics | 2 | 4% |
| Electrochemistry | 1 | 3% |
| Solid State | 1 | 3% |
| Solution & Colligative Properties | 2 | 4% |
| Surface Chemistry | 1 | 2% |
Most Relevant Topics to be covered for NEET Chemistry Preparation
Here is a list of the topics divided according to their importance and tendency to reappear in the exam. It would be prudent for the students to assign their study hours for each topic after going through the list given below.
| Most Important Topics | Moderately Important Topics | Less Important Topics |
| Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids | Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers | Chemistry in Everyday Life |
| Biomolecules | Classification of Elements And Periodicity in Properties | Electrochemistry |
| Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure | d and f-Block Elements | Environmental Chemistry |
| Chemical Kinetics | Hydrocarbons | General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements |
| Coordination Compounds | Polymers | Haloalkanes and Haloarenes |
| Equilibrium | s-Block Elements (Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals) | Hydrogen |
| Organic Chemistry – Some Basic Principles and Techniques | Solid State | Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen |
| p-block Elements | Solutions | States of Matter: Gases and Liquids |
| Redox Reactions | Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry | Surface Chemistry |
| Thermodynamics | Structure of Atom | – |
Given the huge number of topics involved in chemistry, they have broken it into three parts:– Physical, inorganic and Organic Chemistry. All three sections have a distinct style and require a unique method for studying them. Understanding the importance of this, we’ve provided a short guide for your preparation of these sections separately.
Physical Chemistry – The Landscape of Numerical Questions
The majority of the questions appearing in Physical Chemistry are numerically based and require the student to have strong calculation skills. The problems are particularly based on four principal topics: Chemical and Ionic Equilibrium, Redox Reactions, Liquid Solutions, and Electrochemistry. Instead of memorising the formulas, students must focus on understanding the theories behind their applications.
- Allow the NCERT chapters a good read
- Prepare a formula chart for every chapter for a quick review
- Analyse the solutions to understand how to apply these formulas
- Try to practise solving these questions faster in timed constraints
Inorganic Chemistry – Facts and Factoids
Many students decide to skip this portion due to fear of many facts to learn. However, excellence in these topics separates toppers from the rest. The most significant chapters of this part are Chemical Bonding, p – Block and Coordination Compounds.
- Regularly keep revising the facts and memorise them
- Use Infographics, charts and mnemonics for retaining a large amount of data
- You can directly jump into solving questions and learn the information by seeing the solutions
- Refer to additional reference books for complete coverage of the syllabus
Organic Chemistry – Labyrinth of Reactions and Exceptions
The complexity of organic chemistry is not unknown to anyone. You either get it completely or don’t get it at all. The introductory chapter of General Organic Chemistry is the most important to build up your foundations.
- Keep notes on formulas and reaction mechanisms for regular revision
- Strengthen your base in GOC, Hydrocarbons, Alcohol, Aldehyde, Amines and Alkyl Halide
- Gain complete clarity of isomerism and various effects
Books are your best friend to prepare for NEET Chemistry
What separates the toppers from the other is your choice of books. There are a plethora of books available out there, each claiming to be better than the next. It is no small task to single out the right book for your preparation. After all, this decision will have vast implications for your studies. You require a good book that gives comprehensive coverage of the entire syllabus.
An engaging writing style helps that clearly explains concepts for no doubt. Likewise, the book must have many solved and unsolved questions from past years for good practice. Here is a list of splendid books recommended by toppers and teachers alike for your reference.
- NCERT Chemistry for class 11th and 12th
- Physical, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry by O. P. Tandon
- Objective Chemistry by R. K. Gupta
- Organic Chemistry by Morrison and Boyd
- Concise Inorganic Chemistry by JD Lee
- Modern ABC Chemistry for classes 11th and 12th
- Modern Approach to Chemical Calculations by R C Mukherjee
Mock Series and Test Papers are a must!
We urge students to solve the maximum number of questions possible per day. The aim of repetitive problem solving is to get students in the exam mindset. With regular practice, students learn to decode the question pattern and decipher the recurring chapters. This also develops their ability in hard calculations and lengthy derivations.
- Solve the NCERT solutions and NCERT Exemplar exercises completely before switching to other materials.
- Attempt the previous year’s papers of NEET, AIIMS and JIPMER
- Enrol yourself in mock tests and test series available online
Dos and Don’ts for your preparation
- Don’t refer to multiple books. That’s not recommended as it only leads to confusion and time wasted. One or two books, along with coaching notes, are sufficient.
- Do practice every topic after covering its theory. Don’t neglect problem-solving.
- Don’t spend most of your time on your favourite topics. Plan according to the weightage and divide your time wisely.
- Do attempt questions in an exam-like atmosphere. Set a timer and get used to pressure.
- Don’t overwork yourself. Keep yourself hydrated and stay physically fit for the exam day.
- Don’t get demotivated or distracted by what your peers are doing. Keep confidence in your preparation and stick to your plan of action.
Proper note-making and constant revision set you apart
- Keep the notes to the point and avoid adding too much information.
- Make notes in your language and add funny anecdotes and mnemonics for quick learning.
- Highlight and point out the important topics you consider to be of significance.
- Label questions according to their difficulty level. This helps in revision to avoid wasting time with straightforward questions.
- Set aside an hour every day for revising the portion you covered yesterday. Do not dismiss revision, as it is a big part of your preparation.
- Make use of visual aids such as infographics, videos, and images for interlinking topics and concepts that arise in multiple chapters and learn how to apply them.
- Formula sheets, reaction and mechanism notes, and fact charts are essential.
Tips for the exam day
- Eliminate options for a safe guess. This trick works wonders in numerical questions where some options are easily removable at first glance.
- Often, the questions contain excess information to confuse the students. Practice recognising the important info and don’t waste time on irrelevant data.
- Acquaint yourself with the exam pattern. Give yourself good practice in attempting the OMR Sheets, so you don’t mistake marking the wrong answers.
- Always set aside 5 minutes to recheck your entire paper to see if you’ve missed out on any question or incorrectly marked some answer.
- Do not panic if you cannot solve any question at the start of the exam. Keep a calm demeanour and move on to the next question until you recognise a familiar concept.
Word of advice
This guide has undoubtedly equipped the students with complete awareness on how to improve their preparation for the Chemistry segment of the NEET exam. By adopting these tips and helpful recommendations, the students can significantly boost their scores. However, this does not condone that one must focus exclusively on the Chemistry section of the syllabus. We must provide all three subjects equal consideration for a great overall rank. With dedicated efforts and a positive attitude, every student has a great chance of realising their dreams of entering their dream college.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many questions are there in the NEET Chemistry section?
There are 50 questions (45 attemptable questions) divided into two sections.
- What is the total score of the NEET Chemistry section?
The NEET Chemistry section has 180 score of 180.
- Can I obtain a score of 160+ in the Chemistry section of NEET?
Yes, a score of 160+ is very much possible with the right strategy and consistent hard work. A proper approach is required that leaves no topic out of your preparation.
- Is the Chemistry section easy in the NEET exam?
Students widely consider the chemistry section as the most scoring one. The questions are conceptual and facts based and are easy to solve within a short frame of time.
- Which part out of Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry is the most important?
All the three parts – Physical, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry are equally important and given equal weightage in the exam. Students must give the same consideration to all three portions.
