‘Physics was fun': Pune's Krishang Joshi bags AIR 3 in NEET UG 2025
Notably, this year's cut-off marks have also seen a decline across all categories. For the General (UR/EWS) category, the cut-off dropped from 720-162 last year to 686-144. The cut-off for OBC, SC, ST, and UR/EWS PwBD candidates stands at 143-113, while for PwD candidates from OBC, SC, and ST categories, it is 126-113.
While many aspirants described the Physics paper of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2025 as lengthy and challenging, Krishang Joshi, securing an All-India Rank (AIR) of 3, held a different perspective.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Joshi, a student from Mahavir School in Pune, acknowledged that the paper was lengthy this year, but nothing out of the ordinary. He said, 'The physics paper was time-consuming if one wasn't mentally prepared. However, it was not exceptionally difficult.'
'I like Physics because you don't need to memorise it. Once you read it and understand the concepts, it stays. You just need to practice questions,' Joshi further said, adding that conceptual clarity matters far more than rote learning in Physics.
Started preparing in Class 10
The AIR-3 rank holder started his NEET journey as early as Class 10, initially joining Aakash Institute for board preparations. There, he was introduced to competitive tests and began solving NEET-level questions alongside his curriculum. 'The All India Tests held in Class 10 sparked my interest,' he said.
He won a 100 per cent scholarship through ANTHE (Aakash National Talent Hunt Exam), securing a rank of 11, and continued his preparation from Aakash's Pune branch. In this year's CBSE Class 12 exams, he scored 94.8 per cent.
Tackling boring chapters and staying motivated
Talking about his preparation strategy, Joshi said that not every part of the preparation was enjoyable. He added, 'The toughest part was studying chapters I didn't find interesting, especially when there was little time before a test.' His solution? Focus on mock-test results and ranks as motivational checkpoints.
'Even when I didn't enjoy the chapters, scoring well and seeing my rank go up kept me going,' he said. He also leaned on his family and friends for emotional support. Though he had hobbies like cooking and playing the guitar, Joshi consciously put them on hold during NEET preparation.
Topper's tips for beginners
For aspirants starting NEET prep in Class 11, Joshi advised not to spend too much time on the initial chapters. 'People waste months on easy topics like kinematics and units, and then rush through difficult ones like waves and oscillations,' he said. His tip: maintain balance and ensure the entire syllabus gets covered.
He also suggested that NCERT becomes crucial only from Class 11 onwards, and isn't necessary for younger students just exploring competitive exams. 'In Class 10, focus on concepts. NCERT revision is useful once your real preparation starts,' he said.
Sharing his strategy for those who might fear the physics section, the NEET UG topper urged future aspirants to shift from formula-memorising to concept-based understanding. 'Derive the formulas yourself. Know why a concept works. That's what truly helps during the exam,' he said.
Coping with pattern changes and expectations
This year's NEET exam returned to the pre-Covid pattern, removing optional questions and reducing the overall exam duration by 20 minutes. Joshi admitted this made the exam more time-intensive, though it impacted all candidates equally.
Interestingly, the removal of optional questions worked in his favour. 'I usually attempt everything. So, the uniformity helped me gain an edge,' he said.
What's next?
Joshi has his eyes set on AIIMS Delhi, the top medical institute in the country. When asked about specialisation, he said he is drawn to surgical disciplines. 'I'd prefer something invasive over diagnostic. I like hands-on work,' he explained.
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