It is difficult but definitely possible, says Dr. Toshib G A (AIIMS PG Rank 21)

PrepLadder congratulates Dr. Toshib G A on securing Rank 21 in AIIMS May 2018. We wish him all the best in his career and future ahead.

In this exclusive interview with PrepLadder, he shares the plan that worked best for him to help you achieve your dream PG seat.

Hello, please tell us something about yourself. 

Hi, I am Dr. Toshib G A. I graduated from Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute and I’ve secured Rank 21 in AIIMS May 2018.

What do you think is the correct approach to study for AIIMS PG?

Every entrance exam is different, not just in the pattern but also in what concepts are going to be tested. In my opinion, AIIMS entrance test the basic concept in 1st and 2nd year MBBS subjects and certain twists revolving those subjects to estimate how good your basics are, so the best way to tackle these subjects is to go back to standard textbooks, so that you have the correct information. As for clinical subjects they usually check for correct and updated protocols of management of conditions (this can include common and rare conditions).

When should the preparation ideally be started? 

I strongly believe that no time is too late and, no time too early to begin. I know this is not specific at all but firstly you have to decide what you want and once that is clear, there is no turning back.

Please list the books you studied for each subject. 

Anatomy - Review of Anatomy (Kaushal), McMINN Clinical Atlas of Human Anatomy (actual images not drawings), notes.
Physiology - Ganong, notes.
Biochemistry - Review of Biochemistry Rebecca James, Harper’s (reference only), notes.
Pathology - Concepts in Pathology Devesh Mishra (notes and images), Robbin’s Pathology (tables and images), notes.
Microbiology - Review of Microbiology, Essentials of Medical Microbiology, notes.
Pharmacology - Review of Pharmacology (Gobind and Sparsh), notes, Katzung(recent updates only).
Forensic - Arvind Arora
PSM - Review of PSM by Vivek Jain, notes.
ENT - ENT for entrance Exams (EEE) Manisha Sinha Budhiraja
Ophthalmology - SOCH simplified Ophthalmology Conceptual Handbook by Dr. Utsav Bansal.
Medicine - Notes and Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.
Surgery - notes, Surgery Essence -Pritesh Singh.
OBG - Smart study series Obstetrics & Gynecology by Punit Bhojani, notes.
SARP for short subjects.

Have you attempted any PG exam previously?

NEET Jan 2018 - Rank 19k.
PGI MAY - Rank 179.
The main difference was my attitude towards the exams, and most important the goal. One needs to be very clear as to what they want, or it's easy to lose direction and efforts will be misdirected. This is a "need" based examination, only if you need it that bad, will you be willing to put in the effort and only if you put in the effort, you'll get the results. Believe me when I say that anyone can crack this exam, but the only question is "How badly do you need it?"

How big is the role of practice and revision while preparing for AIIMS PG and how much time should be dedicated to it?

Revision will play a big part in how accurately one answers the questions and how quickly can it be done. I really didn't have much time for revision and so only revised the most important subjects (Pathology, Microbiology, biochemistry, PSM, Medicine, Surgery).

Did PrepLadder play a part in your success? If yes, how? 

Yes, PrepLadder is a really good platform to assess your progress and also to find your weak topics. It has helped me to focus on important subjects and helped me get a different outlook to approach difficult questions and prepare for them.

Did you use a timetable/study plan to keep your preparation on track? 

Yes, I did follow a strict schedule. About 10-12 hours for studying, 3-4 hours for breaks, walks, and 8 hours sleep (please don't cut back on sleep, because it is an important part in memory formation. Don't oversleep either). The truth about timetables is they will change, that is how you know it is working. If your timetable is static, it means you are not pushing yourself (I took a lot of time to figure this out).

Were you a topper or a mediocre student during MBBS? 

I was not a topper. Just a regular student.

List the most difficult and easiest subjects for you. 

Anatomy, Pathology, Microbiology, Surgery, Dermatology, are my relatively easy subjects. Biochemistry (enzyme names), Pharmacology, Paediatrics were my difficult subjects.

One mistake that you believe everyone must avoid while preparing for AIIMS PG. 

Don't lose hope, just because someone told you it's difficult. It is difficult but definitely possible. Entrance exams don't just test your knowledge but also your attitude and commitment ( in every exam there is about 15-20% of questions which is not answered by the topper too, there is a reason for these questions).

What was your exam taking strategy? How many questions did you attempt in AIIMS PG? 

I had a good sleep a week before the exam (8-9 hours ), the key is to stay calm. Because there are few questions for which you can derive the answer from the question itself, but it will be difficult to analyze any question if you are stressed out. So relax and believe in yourself.

Some last tips for our readers preparing for PG? 

Take things one day at a time, it's easy to be overwhelmed by this phase but keep yourself calm and no matter what the situation, DON'T GIVE UP.
 
We thank Dr. Toshib G A for sharing his success story.
 

Best Wishes for PG entrance
With Love, Team PrepLadder