Tips to Get AIR 1 in NEET 2026: NEET is one of the most challenging and competitive entrance examinations in the nation. Every year millions of students take this examination with the ambition of being doctors and serving the society. But only one AIR 1 is there in this race among thousands of hopeful students. Attaining the position of AIR 1 is not so simple. It demands a blend of hard work, dedication, intelligent planning, and self-control.
NEET AIR 1 Tips is not only about studying hard but also using those hours to maximum effect. The objective is to study the syllabus thoroughly, revise it several times, and be prepared to attempt the whole paper with accuracy under time. In this article, we will discuss subject-wise preparation, time management, revision, and inspiration from real-life toppers.
The first thing to understand before you take any step is the approach of NEET toppers that differentiates them from the vast crowd of NEET aspirants. The syllabus for each chapter, the books, and even the teachers are all generally accessible. The divergence occurs in the way they study and adhere to their plan.
NEET AIR 1 rankers spend their study time wisely by avoiding unnecessary reading materials and unstructured study methods. They are well aware of the exam pattern, thoroughly understand the syllabus, and have a timetable they stick to religiously. The above three aspects are the foundation of Tips to Get AIR 1 in NEET 2026.
NEET 2025 Toppers List | NEET 2024 Toppers List |
To become the NEET topper in 2026, you need both hard work and smart strategies. Below are the most important methods.
Candidates who target the AIR 1 need to understand the NEET 2026 exam pattern. NEET is a 3-hour long exam of 180 questions (out of which only 180 are to be attempted). The paper has three sections Physics, Chemistry, and Biology with Biology having the maximum weightage.
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern | |||
Subject | Total Questions | Questions to Attempt | Marks |
Physics | 45 | 45 | 180 |
Chemistry | 45 | 45 | 180 |
Biology | 90 | 90 | 360 |
According to the table above Biology contributes most significantly to achieving the AIR I. However, that does not mean Physics and Chemistry can be neglected. An AIR 1 rank holder has a good score in all three subjects.
To aim for AIR 1 in NEET 2026 you must first become familiar with the study materials you need. The syllabus for NEET comprises the NCERT syllabus of Class 11 and Class 12 of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. So you do not have to learn anything outside of this, but you have to know every single concept within and out. A common mistake that most students do is chase after numerous reference books and forget to give due importance to the topics that are already mentioned in the NCERT books.
One of the key Tips to Get AIR 1 in NEET 2026 is to build a good foundation. If you have not clear basic concepts, you will start to struggle while solving tricky NEET-level questions.
Basics of Physics and Chemistry should also be well established before going through higher-level concepts and problems. Students should develop a deep understanding of basic physics motion laws before tackling complex numerical problems.
In Chemistry, atomic structure and bonding should be clear before going through organic reaction mechanisms.
NEET topper’s timetable is completely different from an average student’s routine. It is not about burning the midnight oil by studying 16 hours a day without any breaks. Instead, it is all about using those study hours smartly.
Here is an example of a well-balanced daily schedule:
NEET 2026 Time Table | |
Time | Activity |
6:00 – 7:00 am | Revise yesterday’s topics |
7:00 – 9:00 am | Biology (new topic) |
9:00 – 9:15 am | Short break |
9:15 – 11:15 am | Physics (concepts + numericals) |
11:15 – 1:00 pm | Chemistry (organic/inorganic) |
1:00 – 2:00 pm | Lunch + rest |
2:00 – 3:30 pm | Coaching class / Online lecture |
3:30 – 4:00 pm | Practice MCQs from the coaching material |
4:00 – 4:15 pm | Short break |
4:15 – 6:00 pm | Revision of old topics (coaching notes + NCERT) |
6:00 – 8:00 pm | Mock test or practice paper (can use the coaching’s test series) |
8:00 – 9:00 pm | Dinner |
9:00 – 10:00 pm |
Light revision + next day planning (coaching homework if any) |
One of the most important Tips to get AIR 1 in NEET 2026 is to practise questions every day. Studying theory is not going to help you unless you test yourself regularly to see how well you can apply what you have learnt.
A well-rounded practice routine can include around 100 Biology MCQs, 50 Chemistry MCQs, and 40 Physics questions every day. This will help your brain to develop the ability to remember facts and solve questions within a limited time.
Daily practice will also help you to identify your weak areas much earlier, giving you ample time to work on them. Over time, you will find that your accuracy and speed improve while your confidence soars.
By the time you take the real NEET exam, this habit will make question-solving come naturally to you and you will not be stressed.
NEET Mock tests are your real preparation and not just practice papers. They will help you train with the same time crunch, same type of questions, and same accuracy as in the real NEET paper. Make a habit of taking at least one full-syllabus test per week and you can increase the number to 2 or 3 per week in the last couple of months.
Analysing your performance on the tests is the most important step. Many students do not take the mock tests seriously, they just solve them and forget.
Analyze every loss of marks, learn the right approach, and revise those topics so you don’t make the mistake again. It is equally important to practise filling the OMR sheet during your mock tests so that you don’t lose precious marks on silly marking on the real day.
All students have weak topics that they dislike to attempt. What separates an average student from an AIR 1 ranker is how they handle these weak topics. Ignoring weak topics is never a good idea since NEET is based on the complete syllabus and even a few incorrect questions in the test can bring your rank down by several thousands. Identify the topics where your accuracy is less than 70% and give them special revision time before moving to new topics.
Here are the most important Tips to Get AIR 1 in NEET 2026, divided into steps:
Focus on your core knowledge while making sure you complete all NCERT chapters. Also, make sure you understand all the concepts.
Create an effective study schedule that allocates dedicated time slots for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Daily question practice will help you increase speed and accuracy and it will also help you remember concepts.
Regularly take Mock Tests and analyse your errors, and ensure you do not repeat them in the actual exam.
Spend some extra time on topics you are not so confident with, until you reach an acceptable level of accuracy.
Tathagat Awatar inspires students by scoring 720 out of 720 to achieve AIR 1 in NEET UG 2024. The NEET topper is from Madhubani, Bihar. His father is a teacher and mother is a housewife. Tathagat tried NEET thrice but kept on preparing despite failures. He scored 611 in 2023 and failed to complete the paper.
In his third attempt, he enrolled in Physics Wallah’s Yakeen NEET 4.0 online batch, never deviated from NCERT and did several revisions of every topic. Hard work and perseverance in the face of failure is the key takeaways from his success story.
Prepare for NEET 2026 with PW NEET online batches. These courses provide clear lessons and regular practice tests to help you cover the entire syllabus step-by-step.