With the COVID-19 pandemic creating a significant demand for healthcare workers throughout the country at all levels, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Post Graduate) 2021 stands officially postponed till August 31, 2021 in order to ensure the availability of doctors. As per reports, authorities have assured that the revised exam dates for the PG medical entrance exam will be announced with at least 01 month’s time in hand.
While the national level examination stands postponed, aspirants may note that there is no possibility of the cancellation of the admission entrance test and hence, one must try and remain engaged with preparations for the exam so as to give their best whenever it is held by the National Board of Examination.
With the information brochure of NEET PG 2021 available, the NBE has already notified the syllabus and scheme of the exam. It is important that candidates are aware of the detailed syllabus and subject-wise weightage of marks in the exam to be able to prioritize indicative topics to study from the vast syllabus including Pre-Clinical, Para-Clinical and Clinical subjects taught at the Graduate Medical degree level.
Subject-wise weightage of NEET PG was last described in the 2019 brochure of NEET PG. In that year, the number of questions were 300, whereas now the total number of questions are 200. The subject wise weightage in year 2019 was as follows; it may be considered that now the weightage will be proportionally less as number of questions have reduced.
Subject wise weightage of 2019 was as follows: In Part A, the subject-wise distribution of weightage across Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry is 17, 17 and 16 questions respectively while in Part B, the subject-wise distribution of questions across Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine and Social & Preventive Medicine are 25, 20, 20, 10 and 25 questions respectively. In Part C, General Medicine Including Dermatology & Venereology & Psychiatry and General Surgery Including Orthopedics, Anesthesia and Radio Diagnosis will contain 45 questions each while Obstetrics and Gynecology will contain 30 questions, Pediatrics will contain 10 questions. In addition, ENT and Ophthalmology will also contain 10 questions each.
It may be noted that as per the official exam pattern, there will be a total of 200 questions in the objective type question paper of NEET PG 2021. While each correct answer will fetch a candidate +4 marks, on the other hand, for each incorrect answer, candidates will be liable for a deduction of -1 mark. The entire question paper will be set in the English language only and candidates will be allowed a total duration of three hours and 30 minutes to complete the national level PG admission entrance test of the NBE.
It is advisable that candidates refer to the official website for the detailed syllabus and ensure that certain smart preparation strategies are adopted in order to clear the exam on the first attempt. Aspirants are advised to refer to previous year question papers as well to know which subjects have carried the most marks weightage in the past NEET exams conducted by the NBE and then devise a strategy to answer the question paper section by section.
