NEET Exam Pattern 2025 (Changed): Duration & Questions (Reduced), Mode (Offline), Single Shift, Marking Scheme, Total Marks, Distribution of Marks, Subjects

NEET or National Eligibility cum Entrance Test is a paper-pencil based test (PBT) of three hours or 180 minutes duration. There will be a total of 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), all of which will be compulsory to attempt. The syllabus of the exam consists of Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects. The Biology subject is segregated between Zoology and Botany. On the other hand, Chemistry subject is segragated into Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry. Unlike last year, the subjects will not be divided into two sections.

According to the marking scheme, each correct question carries 4 marks and there is a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer. No marks will be awarded or deducted for unattempted or extra attempted questions. The following table brings the structure of the NEET exam.

As per the NEET exam pattern, the examination will only have objective type multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Hence, there is no possibility of having descriptive questions in NEET. Moreover, given the fact that it is an entrance exam, there is not much significance of the descriptive questions or theoritical knowledge. Each question will carry four answer options and test-takers will have to select the correct answer option and mark it on the OMR sheet.

No, there is no time limit to solve a section in NEET. The total duration of the exam is 200 minutes, or three hours and 20 minutes. Hence, on an average, candidates will get around five minutes for each question. Candidates must keep a tab on the timing as NEET is a time-pressed exam.

Before the exam day, candidates are advised to prepare a time management strategy wherein a particular timing should be assigned for each section or subject. They must also note that they will not be given any extra time to complete the exam, nor will they be allowed to take breaks in between or leave before time.

The total number of questions in the NEET 2025 question paper will 180, all of which are compulsory. Physics and Chemistry will have 45 questions each, Biology subject will have 90 questions, 45 each from Botany and Zoology. The total number of questions has been reduced from 200 to 180. The optional questions have been removed this year. Moreover, each subject will have single section, with 45 questions. Each question will have four marks and in case of wrong answer, there will be negative marking of one mark for each wrong answer. 

The format for NEET exam is a total of 180 question with total 720 marks. Four marks will be awarded for a right answer and one mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. The questions will be objective type that is MCQ based. 90 questions will be from Biology including Zoology and Botany both, and 45 questions each from Physics and 45 Chemistry. Each subject will be divided into two sections. The syllabus will be that of Class 11 and Class 12 CBSE syllabus.

Yes, the NEET examination pattern suggests that there will be negative marking. For every incorrect answer, one mark will be deducted and 4 marks will be awarded for every correct answer. However, negative marking will not be applicable for the unattempted or extra attempted questions. Since there is a negative marking scheme for wrong answers, candidates must answer questions carefully and select the questions carefully which they are sure about the accuracy.

Candidates will get 3 hours or 180 minutes to solve the entire question paper of NEET. They can divide the time between the NEET subjects or sections as per their convenience. There is no sectional time limit in the NEET exam pattern. According to the experts, candidates should keep around 45 minutes for each subject and 15 minutes for revision. Candidates must prepare a fool proof time management strategy while taking mock tests. They must follow different approaches and then finalise on the most convenient one.

As per the NEET exam pattern, each subject is divided into two sections, Section A and Section B. Section A consists of 35 questions, wherein all questions have to be attempted. On the other hand, Section B carries 15 questions, out of which, any 10 questions have to be attempted. Hence, to answer your question, no, you cannot answer all questions from Section B of NEET question paper.

Even if you attempt all 15 questions in Section B, only the first 10 questions and answers will be marked. Hence, it is advised that attempt only 10 questions which you are confident of, and not all 10. Attempting extra questions will not only lead to wastage of time, but your efforts and focus as well. You can utilise that time in revising the attempted questions, or to increase your number of attempts in Section A. 

The NEET 2025 exam pattern has been changed as compared to last year. Although NEET will continue to be conducted in a paper-pencil-based-mode and in a single day and slot, the total number of questions and duration in minutes have been reduced from 200 to 180. The total marks of the exam is 720. Each question has four answer options. Each correct answer fetches four marks and there is one mark negative marking for each wrong answer. There is no negative marking for unattempted questions or extra attempted questions. 

According to the NEET exam pattern, a question for which more than one response is marked on the OMR sheet will be considered incorrect. For such questions, one mark would be deducted. Hence, candidates should be careful while answering on the OMR sheet. They should solve the questions separately on the space provided for rough work, and then shade the answer option on the OMR sheet to avoid such errors. Revision after completing the exam is also important.

According to the NEET exam pattern, there will be no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Such questions will not be taken into consideration while calculating the total marks of a candidate. Hence, if candidates are not sure about the answer of a question, it is better to leave it unattempted rather than doing a guess work, to avoid negative marking. Moreover, candidates will not get any marks for attempting extra questions in the Section B. Also, candidates are advised to revise the NEET exam sheet or OMR sheet thoroughly before submitting it to the invigilators.  

Yes, the NEET examination pattern suggests that there will be negative marking. For every incorrect answer, one mark will be deducted and 4 marks will be awarded for every correct answer. However, negative marking will not be applicable for the unattempted or extra attempted questions. Since there is a negative marking scheme for wrong answers, candidates must answer questions carefully and select the questions carefully which they are sure about the accuracy.

NEET OMR sheet refers to the answer sheet or the answer booklet wherein candidates have to mark or shade the correct answer option. The fullform of OMR is Optical Mark Recognition. Unless candidates mark answers in the OMR sheet properly, those would not be marked. NTA states the following instructions about marking NEET OMR sheets, which are stated below:

• The OMR sheets will have to be marked with blue or black ballpoint pen.
• If a bubble is semi-filled, it will not be considered a valid response. Such responses will not be graded
• The marking must be confined to the circle only. Smudging or overfilled circles will not be graded.
• The correct way to mark the response is to fill the entire bubble. This will be considered a valid response.

Along with the provisional NEET answer keys, NTA releases the NEET OMR sheets of the test takers. Candidates will be able to download those from the official website of NEET. Candidates will have to follow the steps given below to download the NEET OMR sheet:

1. Visit the official website of NEET, which is exams.nta.ac.in/NEET
2. Click on the link indicating NEET OMR sheet download
3. Enter the login credentials
4. Click on ‘OMR Challenge’ tab
5. Click on ‘Click here to view your OMR Answer Sheet’
6. Check the scanned image of the answer sheet uploaded by NTA
7. Download and save the NEET OMR sheet for future reference

After downloading the NEET OMR sheets, candidates must check carefully whether it is in the same condition as the one they had submitted. In case there is any discrepancy, they can submit challenges or objections. In case there is no discrepancy, they can calculate their estimated scores by tallying their responses with the NEET provisional answer keys. 

To solve the NEET paper and OMR answer sheet quickly and score above 680 marks, follow these tips:

1. Familiarise Yourself with the OMR Sheet: Understand the format and structure of the OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) answer sheet. Know how to correctly fill in the details such as your roll number, test booklet code, and question number. 
2. Time Management: Develop effective time management skills. During the exam, read the questions carefully, and if a particular question seems time-consuming, move on to the next one. Answer the easier questions first to maximise your attempt count. 
3. Practice with Mock Tests: Regularly practice solving mock tests and previous years' question papers under timed conditions. This will help you improve your speed and accuracy, get accustomed to the exam format, and understand which areas require more focus.
4. Learn to Skip and Come Back: If you encounter a challenging question, avoid getting stuck on it for too long. Skip it and move on to the next one. You can always come back to it later if you have time remaining. This strategy ensures that you attempt as many questions as possible.
5. Elimination Technique: Use the elimination method to rule out incorrect answer choices. Narrow down the options by eliminating the ones that are obviously wrong. This strategy increases your chances of selecting the correct answer, even if you are unsure.
6. Focus on Conceptual Understanding: Instead of rote memorisation, focus on understanding the concepts and principles behind the topics. This will help you apply your knowledge to a wide range of questions and solve them efficiently.
7. Improve Speed and Accuracy: Enhance your speed and accuracy through regular practice. Solve questions from different sources, and gradually increase your pace while maintaining accuracy. Time yourself during practice sessions to track your progress.
8. Revise Important Topics: Identify the high-yielding topics that carry more weightage in the NEET exam. Allocate more time to revise and practice questions related to these topics. Strengthening your grasp on these areas will boost your overall score.
9. Maintain Composure: Stay calm and composed during the exam. Nervousness can lead to careless mistakes. Take deep breaths, manage your time wisely, and focus on one question at a time.
10. Analyse and Learn from Mistakes: After attempting mock tests or practice papers, analyse your performance. Identify the types of questions you consistently get wrong and the areas where you face difficulties. Work on strengthening those weak areas to minimise errors in the actual exam. Remember that achieving a high score requires consistent effort, dedicated practice, and a thorough understanding of the concepts. Stay focused, maintain a positive mindset, and believe in your abilities. Best of luck for your NEET exam!

The responses marked on the OMR Sheet of NEET are scanned and uploaded on the official website of NTA. The responses marked are read and captured by the machines, which can sometimes lead to smudging of the responses. Therefore, there can be errors in the scanned copy of NEET OMR sheet. If a student finds any such error in their OMR sheet, they have the provision to challenge them. Candidates have to pay a processing fee of INR 200 per response challenged. The steps for challenging the OMR sheet of NEET are given below:

1. Go to the official website of NTA NEET
2. Login using the NEET application number and password or date of birth
3. Click on “OMR Challenge”
4. You will see the questions in sequential order
5. Select Question (s) for which you wish to challenge the Recorded Response.
6. Once you select any Question for Challenge, you will see three options under the column ‘Candidate’s Claim’.
7. If you wish to challenge this option, you may use the Options given in the ‘Candidate’s Claim’ column.
8. After clicking your desired option, for Physics / Chemistry / Botany / Zoology for NEET (UG) - 2023, scroll down, ‘Submit’, and move to the next screen.
9. You will see a screen displaying your challenges.
10. Click on ‘Submit' and Pay Fee Finally’.
11. Select Mode of Payment and Pay a processing fee of INR 200 for each question/grade challenged. Make payment through Debit/Credit Card/Net Banking/Paytm.
12. After successful payment, download/print the Answer Key challenge receipt

According to NEET pattern, the question paper for the candidates who have chosen Hindi as the medium will be bilingual. The second language of the question paper will be English. In case candidates have any doubts regarding a particular question or term, they can refer to the English questions. Candidates choosing the NEET question paper medium as Hindi must ensure that they have received the Hindi language question paper in the exam hall. In case they receive English or any other regional language question paper, they must report the matter to the invigilator and get it changed immediately. In case they start solving the NEET question paper of a different language and report it later, it may be considered redundant.

You can choose any exam centre of NEET 2025. English is available at centres across the country. English is a universal language and medium of NEET question paper. The exam city selection option becomes limited once candidates choose a regional language, except Hindi. Apart from the medium of the question factor, the other factor that plays a role in the NEET exam centre city selection is the permanent and present address selected by candidates during the application process.

NEET will be conducted in 13 languages. Till 2020, NEET was held in 11 languages. NTA increased the number of languages or medium to 13 from 2021 onwards. Malayalam and Punjabi are the latest additions. The list of languages are as follows:

1. English
2. Hindi
3. Bengali
4. Urdu
5. Assamese
6. Gujarati
7. Marathi
8. Odia
9. Kannada
10. Tamil
11. Malayalam
12. Punjabi
13. Telugu.

Yes, the NEET 2025 exam pattern has been changed. NTA announced the change in the exam pattern on January 25, 2025, to enable candidates prepare accordingly. The optional questions have been removed. Instead of 200 questions, there will now be 180 questions. The total duration of NEET 2025 has been reduced from 200 minutes to 180 minutes or three hours now. Announcing the same, NTA has stated, “Aspirants are hereby informed that the question paper pattern and examination duration will revert to the pre-COVID format. where there will not be any Section B anymore. Hence, there will be a total of 180 compulsory questions (45 questions each in Physics and Chemistry and 90 in Biology) which will be attempted by the candidates in 180 minutes thereby removing any optional questions and extra time introduced due to COVID.”

There will be no sectional qualifying criterion for NEET 2025. NTA releases overall qualifying marks or cutoff marks for each category. The overall marks will be considered while preparing the rank list for NEET. But to ensure a good score, candidates must ensure a high number of attempt with full accuracy. A skewed performance might hamper the overall marks obtained in NEET.