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Unconventional Journey: Meet Aakash, the NEET topper who secured AIR 34 without coaching

Securing this rank through his own efforts was challenging, as it demanded thorough revision of the NCERT textbooks -- a total of 30 times.

Aakash Joon scored a rank in top 50 in NEET UG 2023 result

For Aakash, a minor hurdle emerged when the National Testing Agency (NTA) released the provisional answer key for NEET 2023. (Express image)

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Written by Ishita Roy

In an era when front-page newspaper ads and billboards of coaching institutes make tall claims of churning out toppers year after year, it may seem improbable for someone to achieve such remarkable success in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) without the aid of tutorials.

But Akash Joon is an exception to this trend.

Last week, the 18-year-old from Delhi made his mark by securing a spot among the top 50 rankers out of the 20 lakh candidates who took the test — all without ever taking coaching. The Indian Express spoke to 38 out of the top 50 NEET rankers last week to find that all, except Joon, had relied on coaching.

Securing a position in the top 50 through his own efforts was challenging, as it demanded thorough revision of the NCERT textbooks — a total of 30 times. “You really have to use your brain… By the time my exams came, I had already revised all my NCERTs [books] at least thirty times,” he told this newspaper.

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Although Joon’s test preparation journey is unorthodox, he initially followed the conventional path by enrolling with a renowned coaching institute’s Rohini branch, just like his peers. However, he decided to go his own way by choosing not to attend classes. “I realised I could cover a topic in just two hours, whereas it would take a whole week at the institute. I didn’t find it beneficial for my learning,” he explained.

While many students these days start preparing for their medical career as early as Class 6, Aakash’s decision came much later, towards the end of tenth grade. This is because he had different aspirations earlier. Aakash dreamt of becoming a professional footballer during his younger years. “He had ambitions of playing for international clubs!” recalls his father, Mukesh Joon, a cardiologist practising in Delhi.

Aakash Joon decided to become a doctor after Class 10.

So, what prompted Joon’s shift towards medicine? The Covid-19 pandemic inspired him as he witnessed his father dedicating long hours to saving lives. “I was always aware of the importance of doctors. But during the pandemic, when I saw my dad attending to patients, it influenced my decision,” he said.

Having parents who are practising doctors, Aakash had the opportunity to spend significant time in and around the hospital during his upbringing.

“There were times when his father was already at work, and I would get an emergency call from the hospital at night. So, I would take him to work,” says Aakash’s mother, an obstetrician, gynaecologist, and associate professor at Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini.

In fact, being surrounded by doctors served as the most valuable form of education for Joon. “Being surrounded by doctors, I was already exposed to numerous concepts at a very young age,” Joon explained.

Aakash Joon with his family. His parents are doctors, which inspired him to choose this field.

Science-based discussions with his father further fueled his passion for learning. “Once, while taking a stroll in the park, my dad asked me, ‘What would be the height of a tree if it was on Jupiter?'” Aakash reminisced. “And while watching football, he would explain the science behind different kicks, including the banana kick using the Magnus effect.”

With relentless dedication over two years, Aakash had meticulously revised the syllabus more than thirty times. His efforts paid off as he performed exceptionally well in the NEET examination.

However, a minor hurdle emerged when the National Testing Agency (NTA) released the provisional answer key for NEET 2023. “The provisional key contained two incorrect answers,” claimed Joon’s father, “so I lodged a challenge and raised a grievance.”

On the day of the NEET 2023 result, Aakash eagerly awaited the correction of the two incorrect answers. Fortunately, the NTA rectified the official answer key. “I was so happy that I did not lose out on marks. The first thing I did was to tell dad because he had not slept for a week ever since the provisional answer key was out. My excitement was at its peak, I could not sleep that entire night.”

Beyond academic accomplishments, what lies ahead for Joon?