Both brilliant and aspirational, Riya and Sameer sat side by side in their coaching lesson, dreamers of breaking NEET 2025. Without a clear strategy, Riya spent hours stuffing NCERT textbooks, completing arbitrary question banks, and juggling several study materials. Conversely, Sameer routinely examined his mock tests, concentrated on high-weightage subjects, and adhered to a set schedule. When the scores came months later, Sameer placed first and Riya was left wondering where she went wrong. This is the narrative of millions of NEET applicants who, despite diligent effort, fall short because of common preparation errors, not just their own.