Not every success story begins with a rank. Some begin with disappointment, self-doubt, and the courage to start again.
That was the case for Debarun Mukherjee, who appeared for AIIMS NORCET once before and secured AIR 3075—a rank that still couldn't get him an AIIMS seat. Instead of accepting defeat, he chose to rebuild his preparation from scratch.
Months of disciplined revision, thousands of MCQs, and complete trust in his preparation eventually helped him achieve AIR 12 in AIIMS NORCET 9. In this interview, Debarun shares what changed between his two attempts and the preparation habits that made the biggest difference.
The result of his previous NORCET attempt could have slowed down his preparation, but Debarun chose to start again without taking a long break.
He recalled:
"Mera jab NORCET 8 mains ka result aaya tha... mera rank 3075 tha. Main next day se hi subah uth ke phir se preparation start kar diya. Ek din bhi main loss nahi kiya."
Rather than dwelling on what went wrong, he treated the previous attempt as feedback. This mindset became the biggest turning point in his journey and gave him a head start over many aspirants who lose momentum after an unsuccessful attempt.
Instead of searching for new books or changing platforms, Debarun simplified his preparation. He revised the same notes repeatedly until every concept became second nature. He said:
"Jo bhi Physics Wallah ne padhaya tha... usko itni baar revision kiya ki mujhe khud ko bhi yaad nahi kitni baar revise kiya. Page number tak yaad tha ki kaunsa topic kahan likha hai."
He also decided to approach the preparation as if he were starting from the beginning:
"Main zero se start kiya tha. Maine socha mujhe kuch bhi nahi aata."
This helped him strengthen concepts instead of relying on memory from the previous attempt. His experience shows that repeated revision often matters more than constantly adding new study material.
Following a comprehensive preparation strategy helped Debarun stay focused throughout his AIIMS NORCET journey. Instead of switching between multiple resources, he relied on one learning path and concentrated on building strong concepts through regular revision and practice.
PW Nursing Wala supported his preparation by offering:
Concept-focused classes that strengthened fundamentals in key nursing subjects.
Detailed notes that made repeated revision easier and more effective.
Extensive MCQ practice sessions aligned with the latest AIIMS NORCET exam pattern.
Marathon revision classes that helped reinforce important topics before the exam.
A comprehensive study approach that reduced confusion and encouraged consistent preparation.
Along with revision, extensive question practice became the foundation of his preparation. He shared:
"Chhe mahine mein main 5000 se bhi zyada MCQs practice kiya."
He also avoided adding unnecessary resources to his preparation:
"Main extra dimaag kuch nahi lagaya. Aapne jo bola aur baaki teachers ne jo bola, wahi follow kiya. Bas usko baar-baar revise kiya."
According to Debarun, sticking to one reliable source reduced confusion and allowed him to spend more time improving accuracy and speed.
During the interview, Debarun recalled several questions from Community Health, Pharmacology, and Research that closely matched topics covered during his preparation.
"Community, Pharma aur Research itna achhe se padhaya... wahi theory aur wahi approach exam mein kaam aayi."
He also shared his exam strategy.
"Main 154 questions attempt kiye. 126 sahi hue aur 28 galat hue."
His preparation helped him answer confidently instead of leaving too many questions unanswered. That confidence ultimately translated into AIR 12.
When the result was announced, Debarun could hardly believe what he was seeing. He recalled:
"Main pehli baar dekha to laga 1200 rank aaya hai. Phir dobara check kiya... phir samajh aaya ki AIR 12 hai."
His family, who had supported him throughout his journey, celebrated the achievement together. Looking back, Debarun believes the biggest reason for his improvement wasn't talent—it was consistency.
For future aspirants, his advice is simple:
"Haar mat maaniye. Jitne baar ho sake revision kijiye aur jitna ho sake MCQs practice kijiye. Selection pakka hoga."
Debarun Mukherjee's story is proof that one disappointing result does not define your future. By restarting immediately, revising consistently, practising thousands of MCQs, and trusting a comprehensive preparation strategy, he improved from AIR 3075 to AIR 12. His journey reminds every AIIMS NORCET aspirant that success often belongs to those who are willing to begin again with greater determination.