NEET-UG retest: All India Rank 2 holder shares his strategy after exam cancellation shock

Faridabad, Haryana: Panshul Bansal, a student from Faridabad, secured All India Rank (AIR) 2 in the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination held on June 21. He now aims to specialise in surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.

The original NEET-UG exam, conducted on May 3, was cancelled after allegations of a paper leak and large-scale irregularities. The cancellation forced candidates to prepare for a retest, which Bansal described as a significant setback.

“It was a disheartening experience because anyone who has dedicated three years to a single goal would feel as though their hard work had simply vanished in a day,” he said.

Instead of dwelling on the setback, Bansal quickly shifted his focus to the retest. “Since the situation was beyond my control, the best path forward was to simply cope and begin studying again to secure a better rank,” he explained.

A student of Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave, Bansal decided to pursue medicine while in Class 4, driven by an interest in biology and science. His preparation focused on mastering basics rather than relying on multiple study materials. “NCERT is essentially the bible for this examination. Even if a student chooses to ignore the most famous reference books, mastering NCERT is mandatory because it serves as the backbone of the entire paper,” he said. He read the Biology and Chemistry NCERT textbooks at least five times each.

In the final phase of preparation, Bansal solved around 400 to 500 mock test papers. On coaching days, he attended classes from 8.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. before revising in the evening. On other days, he divided his study schedule into three sessions covering the morning, afternoon and evening. “Sticking to a single coaching module along with previous years’ question papers is more than enough,” he said.

To avoid mental fatigue, he continued extracurricular activities such as badminton, skating, speedcubing and video games. He has also completed Grade 2 in piano under the Trinity College London curriculum. Bansal said he used social media in moderation. “I continued to use social media and watch YouTube quite often, but I made sure it only happened during its own dedicated time,” he said.

He emphasised that staying focused on his goal helped him avoid distractions. “If a student possesses the inner strength and a genuine desire to become a doctor, they will develop an intrinsic feeling that prevents them from being distracted during their studies,” he said.