NEET has 180 questions: 50 from Physics, 50 from Chemistry and 80 from Biology. The maximum mark is 720. Knowing which topics give you the most marks for the least effort — and which ones to tackle only after the basics are solid — is the difference between a strategic preparation and an exhausting one.
This guide is written specifically for Tamil Nadu students on the Samacheer Kalvi board who are preparing for NEET.
First: the Samacheer Kalvi and NEET gap
Samacheer Kalvi covers approximately 70% of NEET Biology reasonably well. The gap is much larger in Physics and Chemistry. This means Tamil Nadu students need NCERT textbooks alongside their school textbooks — not instead of them, but in addition.
The rule: For Biology, Samacheer + NCERT is sufficient. For Physics and Chemistry, NCERT is the primary source, and Samacheer is the supplement.
Biology — 80 marks, highest weight in NEET
Easy topics (score these first):
- Cell structure and function — well-covered in Samacheer, consistent NEET questions
- Plant kingdom and Animal kingdom — classification questions are predictable
- Biological classification — straightforward memory + understanding
- Body fluids and circulation — clean factual content, good return on effort
- Digestion and absorption — high-yield, moderate difficulty
Medium topics (consistent effort needed):
- Genetics and evolution — concept-heavy but very high marks allocation
- Ecology and environment — application-based, requires understanding not just memorisation
- Reproduction in plants and animals — detailed, but questions are predictable
- Human health and disease — factual, good marks if prepared well
Hard topics (high marks, but need dedicated time):
- Biotechnology — principles AND applications, both tested heavily
- Human reproduction and reproductive health — detailed diagram-based questions
- Molecular basis of inheritance — DNA replication, transcription, translation — concept depth required
Chemistry — 50 marks
Easy topics:
- s-block elements (alkali and alkaline earth metals) — predictable questions
- Basic concepts of chemistry — foundational, tested every year
- States of matter — conceptual but approachable
- Environmental chemistry — low-effort, few marks but easy to score
Medium topics:
- Equilibrium — chemical and ionic, requires practice
- Organic chemistry basics — IUPAC, isomerism, reaction mechanisms
- Aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids — high marks, regular practice needed
- Thermodynamics — conceptual, requires NCERT depth
Hard topics:
- Coordination compounds — nomenclature, isomerism, bonding theories — consistent NEET favourite
- Electrochemistry — numerical + conceptual combination
- d and f block elements — dense factual content
Physics — 50 marks
Easy topics:
- Units and measurement — formula-based, always in NEET
- Laws of motion — Class 11 content, well-practised
- Work, energy and power — conceptual with predictable numericals
- Semiconductor devices — Class 12, straightforward marks
Medium topics:
- Thermodynamics — conceptual depth needed, numericals moderate
- Electrostatics and current electricity — regular practice fixes this
- Magnetic effects of current — diagram and formula-heavy
- Oscillations and waves — concept + numerical combination
Hard topics:
- Modern physics (photoelectric effect, dual nature, atoms, nuclei) — concept-heavy, tricky numericals
- Optics (ray + wave) — diagrams, derivations, numericals — high effort needed
- Electromagnetic induction — application-heavy
Free resources worth using
- NCERT textbooks — essential, not optional. For Biology especially, read every line.
- NTA Abhyas app — official NEET mock tests from the exam authority, free
- Physics Wallah (free YouTube) — genuinely good for Biology and Chemistry basics
- Unacademy free tier — useful for topic-specific doubt clearing
The preparation timeline
Two-year plan (Class 11 + 12): Class 11 — complete Physics and Chemistry chapters alongside school. Class 12 — complete remaining chapters, begin full-length mock tests from January. March onwards — mock tests daily, revision only.
One-year plan (Class 12 only): This requires 6–7 hours of dedicated NEET preparation per day alongside school. Possible, but demanding. Biology must be finished by October. Physics and Chemistry by January. Mock tests from February.
The students who crack NEET are not always the most naturally talented. They are the most consistent — and they started with the right foundation in school.
At The NEST School, Sathyamangalam, we build that foundation from Class 9 using the XSEED active learning framework. Students who understand their Class 9 and 10 Science deeply enter Class 11 ahead of most of their peers. If you want to know more about how we prepare students, visit us at Bannari Road, Sathyamangalam or call +91 99620 09600.
