Every test taught me something: NEET AIR 9 Gaurav Singh shares success formula

Gaurav Singh, son of Indian Army personnel Rajesh Kumar, secured All India Rank 9 with 705 out of 720 marks in NEET UG examination 2026, turning years of disciplined preparation into one of the country's finest performances. His next goal is clear: studying at AIIMS Delhi.NEET UG results 2026 were declared on July 16. Aryan Gupta from Punjab and Panshul Bansal of Haryana have emerged as the toppers with 715 marks.He belongs to Gaduwas village in Rajasthan's Alwar district. For Gaurav, the journey was never about shortcuts. It was about following a routine every single day."I attended classes daily and studied the NCERT textbooks multiple times. I maintained continuous revision and took tests with utmost seriousness," he said. A SISTER'S SUCCESS BECAME HIS MOTIVATIONMedicine was already part of the family's dream. Before Gaurav, his elder sister Anuja prepared for NEET at ALLEN Kota and is now pursuing MBBS at ESIC Medical College, Alwar.Watching her succeed convinced him that he wanted to wear the doctor's coat too. "Her hard work, consistency, discipline and success always motivated me, and I, too, dreamt of becoming a doctor." His mother, Seema Devi, played an equally important role. She stayed in Kota with both children throughout their preparation, ensuring they could focus completely on studies while providing emotional support whenever needed."My family has played a pivotal role in my success. My mother stayed with us in Kota and boosted our morale in every situation," he added.NCERT, REVISION AND LEARNING FROM MISTAKESGaurav had been a regular classroom student at ALLEN Career Institute for seven years. Outside coaching hours, he devoted seven to eight hours every day to self-study. Rather than chasing too many resources, he repeatedly returned to NCERT and focused on strengthening concepts through revision.His biggest learning, however, came after every mock test. He said, "I believe that analysing mistakes after every test and rectifying them is the key to success."That habit of reviewing errors, instead of simply checking scores, became one of the strongest pillars of his preparation.DISCIPLINE OVER DISTRACTIONSLike most teenagers, Gaurav used a smartphone, but says discipline made the difference. "I used a smartphone but never misused it," he said.He also ensured studies did not become mentally exhausting. Cricket became his preferred way to unwind before returning to his books with a fresh mind.Looking back, Gaurav credits consistency more than brilliance. He says he simply trusted his teachers, revised regularly and kept improving after every test, saying, "I simply followed what the faculty said."His story is a reminder that top ranks are often built through ordinary habits repeated consistently: attending classes, revising NCERT, learning from mistakes and staying disciplined even when no one is watching.For the soldier's son from Alwar, those habits have now opened the doors to the country's best medical colleges, with AIIMS Delhi firmly in his sights.- EndsPublished By: Princy ShuklaPublished On: Jul 17, 2026 10:00 IST