NEET 2025 Exam Pattern Changed; Optional Questions Removed; Duration Reduced

NEET 2025 Exam Pattern Changed; Optional Questions Removed; Duration Reduced

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Sreetama Datta
Sreetama Datta Roy
Manager Content
New Delhi, Updated on Jan 25, 2025 22:00 IST

NEET 2025 exam pattern has been changed. 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. Know the detailed pattern here.

NEET 2025 Exam Pattern Changed

NEET 2025 Exam Pattern Changed

NEET 2025 exam pattern has been changed. It has been reversed to the pattern and structure which was followed in the pre-COVID era. 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.”

NTA has clarified that all 180 questions on the NEET 2025 question paper will be compulsory. The marking scheme is expected to remain the same as in previous years, which is four marks for each correct answer and a negative marking of one mark for each wrong answer. Candidates will get approximately one minute for each question.

NEET 2025 Exam Pattern

The following table brings the revised NEET exam pattern for 2025.

Subject

Number of Questions

Marks

Physics

45

180

Chemistry

45

180

Botany

45

180

Zoology

45

180

Total

180

720

NTA has further stated, “Candidates are advised to prepare accordingly and. regularly check the official NTA website neetnta.nic.in for further updates. For further clarificatión related to NEET (UG)-2025, contact 011-40759000 or email at neetug2025@@nta.ac.in.”

The official NEET 2025 notification, application form and information bulletin is expected to be released anytime soon. Earlier, NTA had released the final NEET 2025 syllabus, which has remained the same as last year. NEET 2025 exam will be conducted in a paper-pencil-based mode in a single day and shift.

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NEET 2025 to be Conducted in Paper Pencil Based Mode in Single Day and Shift

 

Q:   What is the exam pattern of NEET?

A:

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.

Sections Number of Questions Total Marks
Physics Section  45 180
Chemistry Section  45 180
Botany Section 45 180
Zoology Section 45 180

Q:   Will NEET 2025 have sectional time limits?

A:

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.

Q:   What are the changes expected to be introduced in NEET 2025?

A:

NTA has announced the change in the NEET 2025 exam pattern. The total number of questions and duration in minutes have been reduced from 200 to 180. The optional questions have been removed. The further changes in NEET 2025 will be announced along with the notification of the exam. NTA has announced that the NEET 2025 exam will be conducted in a paper-pencil-based mode and in a single day and shift, opposing the recommendations by the NEET expert committee, The other changes, based on the recommendations by the NEET expert committee expected to be introduced in the NEET 2025 exam are as follows:

  • Digital transport of the NEET question paper
  • Limiting the number of attempts
  • Introducing an upper age limit

However, the above-mentioned changes are tentative, and yet to be confirmed.

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About the Author
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Sreetama Datta Roy
Manager Content

Sreetama has over a decade of editorial experience in the higher education beat. A wanderlust by passion, she is also an avid reader and a music lover. Among friends, she is popular for her sense of humour.

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