Nearly 1.5 lakh students write NEET across T.N.; aspirants find biology easy

NEET aspirants appear for the test at Asan Memorial Senior Secondary School on Sunday.

Several students found biology the easiest, followed by chemistry and physics, in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for MBBS and BDS held on Sunday.

The exam was held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in 44 centres across Chennai. The principal of a Kendriya Vidyalaya was the coordinator for the test in Chennai. It is estimated that at least 1.5 lakh students from the State attended the test this year.

Last year, of the 1.58 lakh students who registered, 1.52 lakh students appeared and 89,198 students qualified. As many as 36,335 took the test in Tamil.

At a centre in Nungambakkam, announcements were repeatedly made to ensure that the students were on time. A student who came around 1.20 p.m., had to send her father back to fetch her spectacles. A student, who was wearing teeth braces, was advised by other parents to carry a blank paper signed by her father. “I cannot remove my braces,” she said, when she was informed that a student had been sent out to remove her braces. The repeater said last year, there had been no problem with her wearing braces.

Another student was sent out for wearing a full-sleeved shirt. He exchanged his tee-shirt with his uncle who had accompanied him.

Most test takers found chemistry and physics tough. V. Ezhilarasi, a teacher from Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Ashok Nagar, said, “About 16 to 35 questions in physics were from the State Board syllabus, but were not direct substitution. They required skill and application, which the students would have found to be challenging.”

Meanwhile, several first-time test takers as well as repeaters found biology easy. N. Kavyasree of Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Saidapet went for the month-long coaching in her school. A school topper in Class 10 and 11, she prepared for biology using NCERT textbook. “Biology was easy. I should have prepared better for chemistry and physics. The school coached well, but I need more time,” said the student, who took the test at Kendriya Vidyalaya on Island Grounds. Her father runs a lathe unit. Her mother Mageswari said she would study for around 10 hours.

P. Vasumathi, of Jaigopal Garodia Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Virugambakkam, too found biology easy. She is aiming for dentistry. “She wanted to do physiotherapy. But, at the last minute, she decided to sit for NEET. She prepared for a month,” her mother said. Ms. Vasumathi’s father M. Palaniappan is a carpenter., and they live in Iyyapanthangal.

Sujeetha from Mahalashmi Vidhya Mandhir, Avadi, found the paper to be moderate, while physics was lengthy. “It requires more time to practice and tackle the exam. I attended coaching classes and shall take a year off to write again next year,” she said.

For Rakesh B., who is from a matriculation school in the city, the paper was tough. “I aspire to be a veterinarian, but I took the exam to ensure that my options are covered. However, I had a difficult time understanding the questions. I will retake the test,” he said.

Rithikashree N., a repeater, is looking at other options. “I found physics and biology tough. I wanted to be a doctor but have decided to look at other options,” she said.