Let’s look at my story and compare.
When I was in school, I started studying for AIPMT/ WB-JEE (now NEET UG) in late 2009 i,e late in class 11. I had demonstrated an impressive ability to waste time in the begining of class 11 (trying to unsuccessfully win a girl’s heart!) so I had no choice but to start taking my life seriously after terrible half yearly exams.
I am sure most of you remember how difficult it is to clear backlogs in PCM in plus two. With that massive disadvantage, I struggled all through class 11 and 12 as a mediocre student.
My other problem was that I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I had both Biology and Math, and I was decent at both and had no preferences. My father wanted me to be a doctor but he had zero confidence in my abilities – I don’t blame him, remember the first half of my class 11?
After the Selection tests for Boards were over, in September ‘10, I settled down at home and started running on all cylinders. I had a good 6 months to prepare myself.
I studied properly for only those 6 (later 7) months – and didn’t reach godly figures like 11–12 hours/day before the last 2 months.