In 2021, NEET merits slip by up to 15 marks in Guj

In 2021, NEET merits slip by up to 15 marks in Guj

Bharat.Yagnik@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:  16.12.2021

Gujarat students did not fare very well in the Nation Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), the uniform exam for admission in under-graduate medical courses in the country, in 2021. In fact, the pandemic year which saw the worst-ever second wave of death and disease due to Covid-19 has recorded merits of state students slipping by up to 15 marks.

Analysis of the merit list of NEET scores of 5,000 students of the state for the year 2021 reveals that from 500 rank onwards, the NEET score has consistently slipped as compared to year 2020.

For instance, a student at 500 rank in merit list has a score of 610 out of 700 this year which was 618 in 2020. Similarly, the analysis of scores at 900, 2,000, 3,000, 4000 and 5,000 ranks also shows a decline in merit ranging from nine to 15 marks.

From 500 rank onwards, the NEET score has consistently slipped

‘Online coaching reason for drop in cutoff’

Experts said that considering the slip in merit, it is expected that the cutoff for admissions in 5,000-odd medical seats in the state will go down. Students termed completely online coaching and schooling as the primary reason behind decline in NEET merit marks saying virtual learning did not give them enough scope to clear their doubts and give their best shot.

The few exceptions to this trend are that students in first place on the NEET merit in Gujarat have scored 715 marks. In 2020, the student on top of the list had 710 marks. Also, at 100th place, the merit this year is 667 which is four marks higher than the 663 score posted in 2020.

Anay Nanavati, a medical aspirant who scored 618 marks says that they studied virtually under immense stress of the deadly Covid second wave. "In 2020, students had completed their course and were on study leave when Covid struck. For us, the whole class 12 and NEET coaching was online which adversely impacted performance. I personally feel my score would have been 50 marks higher if I had physically attended classes," said Nanavati.

Medical intake: Documents of 390 candidates verified

Ahmedabad:

As many as 390 candidates have got their documents verified in the second round of admission for medical, dental, ayurveda, and homeopathy colleges. So far, 25,008 candidates have been registered in the two rounds of admissions conducted by Admission Committee for Professional Undergraduate & Medical Educational Courses (ACPUGMEC) this year. In the second phase, out of total 177 students registered in the open category, 120 completed document verification process. A total of 536 students have registered, of which documents of only 390 have been verified so far. The committee had earlier announced that it has completed the registration process for self-financed ayurveda and homeopathy courses for 15% all India quota. A total of 26,186 had purchased the PINs. TNN