February 20 2026

Can an Average Student Crack NEET? A Realistic Answer

If you have ever doubted yourself and thought

“I am not a top-scoring student.”

“NEET is only for genius students.”

“I don’t think I am good enough for this exam.”

You are not alone.

Every year, lakhs of students prepare for NEET, some on their own and some with the help of NEET coaching institutes. Many of them carry this same doubt in their minds.

They see top scorers managing school along with NEET preparation and still scoring 600+ marks. Because of this, they start believing that only brilliant or genius students can crack NEET.

So, let me answer the question truthfully.

Can an average student crack NEET?

Definitely!

Not casually

Not by luck and,

Not without a clear plan.

Before we dive into it, take a look at why students feel NEET is tough and what “average” actually means.

Is the NEET exam tough or is it just hype?

It is easy for students to feel overwhelmed by the NEET exams, mainly due to the competitive nature of this exam, as well as a lack of confidence, and there is no denying that. They might overthink whether they can ace the exams or wonder if it is worth taking the exam in the first place. Handling stress during NEET preparation should be a mental priority for every student.

Competitive nature of NEET

There are 20+ lakh students attending NEET exams every year.
Reservation seats for government medical colleges are limited.

This itself shows how seriously valued and competitive NEET is, but not every student attending NEET exams is as well-prepared as you might think.

Some of the students might not have a proper strategy to ace the test.
Some do not have consistent study habits and,
Some panic under pressure.

So while the exam is tough, the fear around NEET is often bigger than the reality.

What does ”average student” really mean?

Can an average student crack NEET and what does an average student really mean? — *Understanding what “average student” really means and whether an average or below average student can crack NEET with the right mindset and strategy.*

Usually people think that “average” just means incapable, but that is not true, and it is nothing more than a myth and a label given by teachers. They have been called average due to the marks they have scored in the past, lack of confidence in writing and acing exams, and/or not utilizing proper strategy for learning. In some cases, they don’t know when to start preparing for NEET.

When a student is labeled as “average,” it can end up negatively impacting the student’s potential instead of encouraging them to grow and improve. Don’t worry, it is not the end of the world for you. “Average” people can improve if they are given the opportunity to plan and strategize on how to study smart and efficiently without feeling overwhelmed.

Why do average students feel NEET is impossible?

These are the common reasons as to why students feel that the NEET is a tough nut to crack.

Comparison of self-worth

One of the biggest reasons average students feel that the NEET is impossible to crack is because of constant comparison. Instead of focusing on and measuring their growth in their own journey, they tend to compare themselves with top-scoring students who have been studying and preparing for years.

When they start to compare themselves with others, their self-worth gets negatively affected. They might start to feel that their effort might be meaningless when other students are always “ahead.” As time passes, students begin to believe that no matter how hard they do their best, they will never be good enough, which is far from the truth.

No clear roadmap

Many average students don’t lack effort; they lack direction.

They study chapters randomly, switch between multiple books and without understanding the complete structure of NEET, and are likely to feel lost. When there is no roadmap planned, even a capable student can feel lost.

Without a roadmap, students can be unsure about:

What to prioritize to study first
How much depth for a chapter to study
What to revise
How to track progress

Fear of their past performance

Fear of past performance affecting belief in whether a below average student can crack NEET. — *Past academic results often influence how a NEET student perceives it is hard to crack NEET and the possibility of future improvement.*

As previously mentioned, students carry the fear of failing NEET due to their past performance.

Maybe they:

Failed/scored average in physics, chemistry, or biology
We’re called “weak” or “average” by teachers.

Because of their past performance, they believe that even before starting to prepare for NEET, they assume they might fail again. This affects how they think, attempt questions, handle pressure and give in easily.

Mental health and burnout

Mental health strain and burnout influencing thoughts around is NEET tough for an average student. — *Burnout and mental fatigue can impact how a NEET student evaluates whether NEET is difficult or easy during long-term preparation.*

Mental health plays a major role in our lives, more than we care to admit.

Students’ mental health can take a toll due to being overwhelmed by their family/relatives and society as well as the amount of syllabus they need to learn in depth. Studying for several hours every day without taking proper breaks can lead to burnout.

When burnout sets in, it does not happen all at once. It slowly creeps up on your everyday study habits:

Concentration starts dropping, even during familiar topics
The willingness to sit and study reduces, and procrastination increases.
Memory and recall suffer, especially during revision and mock tests.

At this point, the students not only struggle academically but also mentally. Without proper balance, even efforts stop showing results, making NEET seem impossible when the real issue is burnout, not capability.

How many students crack NEET in the first attempt?

At one point in every student’s preparation, they might ask themselves, “How to crack NEET in the first attempt?”.

These first-attempt qualifiers don’t just pass NEET casually. Most of them begin preparation in Class 11 or earlier and treat NEET as a long-term goal rather than a last-minute challenge.

They usually:

Follow NCERT line by line instead of jumping between multiple books
Practice MCQs consistently and analyze mistakes honestly
Give regular mock tests to build exam temperament
Revise concepts multiple times instead of relying on memory

A first attempt can work, but only when preparation is disciplined, focused, and guided.

Can even a below average student crack NEET?

Question of whether a below average student can crack NEET despite past academic struggles. — *Many NEET students wonder if consistent effort can help a below average student crack NEET and change long-term outcomes.*

Yes, but you cannot afford to make silly mistakes…

A below-average student cannot afford to be lenient, prepare randomly, take frequent breaks, or be inconsistent in learning. Whatever they lack, they will need to make up for through discipline, repetition, and smart strategy. You should absolutely avoid getting negative marking in NEET. as each mark counts.

To improve realistically, a below-average student must:

Understand and strengthen basic concepts before moving towards advanced questions
study consistently every single day no matter what
Make sure to cut off any distractions and prioritize focused study time.
Seek guidance early on if you are stuck; this will save you time.

The good news is that an improvement of 100–200 marks within a year can be achieved when preparation is structured.

NEET admission criteria

You might be asking yourself, “What is the NEET cutoff for government colleges required for me to get an admission?” Well, it entirely depends on the colleges, as different colleges have their own set of standards and criteria.

Generally, expected safe marks could be around 600+ for the students to reserve their seats at government medical colleges. Obviously, don’t settle for less, and do your absolute best to aim more, as it is a better probability for you to get selected.

So, take a look at the strategies to implement to crack NEET.

Strategies to implement to crack NEET

With the right plan and intent to crack NEET, it is less about studying hard and more about studying smart. The strategies involve using the right resources, organizing your study time, and taking care of your health so you can stay consistent without burning out.

Make NCERT your solid foundation

Building a strong base with NCERT to improve chances to crack NEET. — *Using NCERT as a solid foundation helps a NEET student stay focused and improves clarity on whether NEET is difficult or easy.*

For biology, chemistry, and physics, NCERT books as your go-to books are mandatory.

Read NCERT line by line, not just summaries.
Focus on diagrams and tables
Revise NCERT Biology thoroughly before exploring more books.

Most NEET Biology questions are directly or indirectly coming from NCERT. Studying that alone can make a huge difference in securing large portions of your marks.

Follow a realistic study timetable that is practical

Following a realistic study timetable to assess can an average student crack NEET. — *A practical timetable helps a NEET student stay consistent and reduces doubts around is NEET hard to crack.*

Many students would like to have their own best study timetable for NEET. You will need to have a timetable that is realistic as well as practical; this gives you clarity on how much time you need to allocate for each section/chapter per subject.

Fix daily study hours you can actually stick to for months, not days.
Keep a separate time for revisions, not just for new chapters.

Studying around 6–8 focused hours daily for months always beats studying 12 hours inconsistently. Discipline creates confidence.

Practice MCQs every single day

Daily MCQ practice shaping confidence around can i crack NEET as an average student. — *Practicing MCQs every day helps a NEET student improve accuracy and slowly overcome fears about whether NEET is hard to crack.*

Practicing MCQs daily is one of the most effective ways to improve NEET performance, especially for average students.

Create a habit of solving MCQs daily from topics you studied, as it helps you understand which areas you struggle with early on.
Focus on accuracy before speed; you will need to make sure the answers you write are correct before making sure you can finish it under the time limit.

MCQ practice trains your brain to think like NEET expects. Without it, even strong concepts fail during the exam.

Give mock tests regularly and seriously

Regular and serious mock tests help a NEET student track progress and understand if cracking NEET is easy or difficult over time.

Mock tests are your rehearsal for the real NEET exam.

Treat mocks like an actual NEET based on timing since it is a time-bound exam.
Overcome the fear of taking mock tests
Make sure to track your progress after every mock test to see which part you are lagging behind.

Analyze mistakes thoroughly

Thorough mistake analysis helps a NEET student understand weak areas and reduces fear about whether NEET is hard to crack over time.

Attempting tests without analyzing them is wasted effort. Every wrong answer should tell you why you made that mistake.

After completing each mock test, make sure to:

Identify wherever you made mistakes, whether major or minor.
Make sure to note your recurring mistakes so that you do not make the same mistakes again in the future.
After getting an idea of which chapter you lag, make sure to revise that chapter until you improve on it.

Prioritize mental health

Focusing on mental health helps a NEET student stay balanced and maintain clarity while preparing to crack NEET.

NEET is like a marathon; prepare for it in the long term. While studying for it is absolutely necessary, make sure you do not destroy your mental health along the way. You need to make sure to:

Sleep adequately; make sure to get at least 7-8 hours of quality deep sleep, because without sleep, your brain will refuse to function and suffer memory retention and brain fog.
Take short breaks

A calm, healthy, and focused mind performs far better than an exhausted one. So, burnout reduces performance more than lack of intelligence.

Common mistakes that you must avoid as an average student

Most average students don’t struggle with NEET because they are incapable. They struggle because they unknowingly make a few common mistakes during preparation and blame themselves instead of fixing the system. Recognising these mistakes early can save you months of confusion, stress, and self-doubt.

Switching/buying books frequently

Frequently changing or buying new books often distracts a NEET student and increases doubts about whether an average student can crack NEET consistently.

Students usually make the mistake of switching or buying books for NEET preparation frequently. Lots of students preparing for NEET fall into the trap of assuming that the more books, the better. If anything, it will only backfire at you by making you even more confused.

The reason being, every book that you switch will have a different explanation methodology, which is time-consuming as well as breaks the continuity flow. Focus on the quality of the materials rather than the quantity aspect of it.

Not doing enough mock tests

Skipping regular mock tests can limit progress for a NEET student and reinforce beliefs that NEET is hard to crack.

Not prioritizing mock tests and not practicing enough times can be a costly mistake for you to make. It is understandable that students fear low marks, but you need to understand that it will help you get familiar with the pressure and time management and expose weak areas.

Avoiding difficult topics instead of fixing weak areas

Ignoring weak areas instead of fixing them often holds a NEET student back and fuels uncertainty around is NEET hard to crack.

A common mistake is repeatedly studying only “comfortable” chapters while avoiding weak ones like physics numericals or organic chemistry reactions.

This creates an imbalance in preparation. You will need to prioritize weak areas regardless of how difficult the topics are. NEET is not based on selective strength. Progress comes from facing weaknesses early and improving them one by one.

Relying on motivation rather than execution

Depending only on motivation without consistent execution can slow progress for a NEET student and increase doubts about cracking NEET.

Students sometimes feel that they “need” motivation in order to study. I will be frank with you; if you think that is the case, then you will not be consistent with studying on time. Because motivation comes and goes, it is not consistent; relying on it is a poisonous mindset, and you need to shift your mindset from it.

NEET demands discipline, not motivation. A student who studies consistently regardless of their mood will be the one who will outperform the student who solely relies on motivation.

Studying for long hours without proper breaks

Lack of proper breaks during long study hours often leads to burnout for a NEET student and affects consistent performance over time.

Yes, I did mention that we need to study consistently, but also you need to be smart about it. You will need to give your mind some breaks from time to time when studying.

Because studying continuously for long hours without planned breaks might look like dedication, but it often leads to burnout. Due to burnout, you can encounter slow learning capability, an inability to concentrate, and an overall effect on mental health.

So, can an average student crack NEET?

Here’s the honest truth: yes, an average student can crack NEET. But not by hoping or waiting for motivation to happen, or overworking randomly.

What actually makes the difference is in the structure, consistency, and timely guidance. NEET does not reward labels like “average” or “below-average.” It rewards students who fix their mistakes early on, follow a system, and show up every day with intent.

While it is possible to self-learn, it is helpful and quite handy to learn A-Z with the help of a mentor who is experienced in these subjects, which is time efficient rather than you trying to figure it all out by yourself, which can be exhausting because there are multiple lessons to cover.

Chaitanya’s Academy is one of India’s best coaching institutes for NEET preparation.

Chaitanya’s Academy can help you with enrollments, whether you are in Grade XI, Grade XII, or a dropout. We are a group of professionals with strong expertise in mentoring.

We provide lessons based on the latest syllabus.

We conduct regular mock tests to track progress.

We also offer student support whenever it is needed.

All of these are essential for success in the NEET exam. We can help you come up with a personalized guide and a study timetable.

👉 Get your free counseling now to move from an average student to a NEET cracker!