NEET Current Exam Pattern: Marking Scheme, and Difficulty Level

Dear NEET aspirants, are you gearing up for the NEET 2025 exam? Then you definitely need a quick refresher on the NEET exam pattern! Here, we are providing you with all the details you need to brush up and stay ahead of the game. Let's break down the expected NEET test pattern. 

The NTA has not released a new exam pattern for 2025 yet. So, let’s understand the latest NEET exam pattern.

For starters, you can expect questions from three core subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Each subject is divided into two sections. Section A includes 35 questions, while Section B features 15 questions. This structure will give you a total of 50 questions per subject.

The NEET exam is conducted offline and lasts for 3 hours and 20 minutes. You’ll need to tackle 180 out of 200 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (which includes both Botany and Zoology). 

NEET follows a negative marking scheme. This means that a certain number of marks will be deducted for every wrong answer. Here’s a detailed, easy-to-follow explanation of the NEET exam marking system:

• Correct Answer: +4 marks for choosing the correct answer.
• Incorrect Answer: -1 mark for marking an incorrect option. 
• Unanswered Question: 0 marks for leaving the question unanswered.
• Multiple Correct Options: +4 marks are awarded to those who select any of the correct options if multiple options are correct.
• All Correct Options: +4 marks are given to all candidates who attempt the question when all options are correct. 
• Dropped/Invalid Question: If none of the options are correct or the question is wrong/dropped, +4 marks are awarded to all candidates, whether or not they attempted the question.

As a NEET candidate, you must be aware of the distribution of total marks the exam overall consists of. The exam is out of 720 marks, with 180 questions worth 4 marks each. Parts A and B are new additions to the NEET format. Also, both Sections A and B have negative marking. Below we have mentioned NEET total marks subject-wise distribution.

Section A: This section includes 35 questions each in Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, and Botany, with no choices—you must answer every question. This section is worth a total of 140 marks (35 questions × 4 marks each).

Section B:  In this section, you are given 15 questions, but you only need to answer 10. This section of the NEET exam question pattern 2025 can give up to 40 marks (10 questions × 4 marks each). Each subject—Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, and Botany—has a total possible score per subject of 180 marks: 140 marks from Section A and 40 marks from Section B. In total, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Zoology + Botany) together add up to a maximum of 720 marks. Biology alone is worth 360 marks, as it includes both Zoology and Botany.

The NEET exam will be held in 13 different languages across all the exam centres. Just keep in mind that the language you can choose will depend on your specific exam centre. Additionally, there are some key factors mentioned below to remember while choosing the language for your NEET exam:

• You can choose the question paper medium from the languages mentioned below:
  • English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, or Punjabi.
• You choose your language medium while filling out the form. After you make your selection, you can't change it later.
• The particular selected language will be mentioned in the NEET exam.
• If you choose the English language, then you will receive an English booklet.
• If you choose Hindi language, then you will receive a bilingual test booklet in Hindi and English.
• If you go for vernacular languages, then you will get a bilingual test booklet. One in the chosen language and the other in English.
• If there’s any uncertainty in the translation of any question, then the English version will be considered as the final reference.

You must take the following factors into consideration while selecting the medium of the NEET exam in 2025:

• You must select your preferred language medium while filling out the application form.
• The particular selected language will be mentioned in the NEET exam.

As a NEET aspirant, you must be familiar with some basic instructions that are strictly guided by the NTA. We have jotted down these for you below:

• You must read the instructions on the OMR sheet carefully. 
• You must ONLY use a ballpoint pen to mark all the answers in the NEET exam. Therefore, ballpoint pens will be provided inside the exam hall. 
• You are required to mark the test booklet code on your OMR sheet.
• Once you’ve marked the answers on the OMR sheet, you are not allowed to change or erase your answers. In fact, it’s a punishable offense to do so. Also, you should not use whiteners or correction pens to correct your answers since it may hinder the process of scanning and evaluation. 
• Any kind of rough work must be ONLY done on the test booklet. That’s why you should avoid doing any rough work on the OMR sheet and must keep it clean. You can only write on the OMR sheet in the designated areas for your name, roll number, registration number, etc. Also, be careful not to make any marks outside these areas, as it can cause issues during scanning.
• Do not fold the OMR sheet while submitting it.
• The circular bubble to mark your answers on the OMR sheet must be darkly filled neatly and completely to avoid any kind of cancellation by the answer-checking software.
• Do not mark more than one answer on the OMR sheet.
• Make sure to put your thumbprint and signature in the designated boxes on the OMR sheet before you begin answering the questions. 
• Ensure the invigilator has signed your OMR sheet. 
• Do not forget to fill in your Name, Roll Number, Paper Code, Registration Number, and Question Booklet Series. If these are missing, your answer sheet won’t be assessed.

The existing NEET exam pattern has a negative marking system. For one incorrect answer, 1 mark gets deducted. Take a look at these general tips that could help you avoid common mistakes and the NEET negative marking system:

• Avoid guessing answers in the NEET exam.
• If you don’t know an answer, skip it—wrong answers won’t get you any marks, but they also won’t lead to deductions.
• Read each question carefully before you choose your answer to avoid negative marking.
• Practising multiple mock tests helps you develop your NEET exam strategy, reduce last-minute stress, and answer questions more carefully.
• Once you mark an answer, it’s final. Marking another option can confuse the answer-checking software and lead to negative marking in NEET.

This section of the blog about the NEET test pattern is designed to give you a clear understanding of how much each topic matters in NEET across all subjects. It is based on an analysis of the past 13 years of exams and will help you identify areas with higher weightage that need extra focus, enabling you to plan your studies more effectively.

When you’re preparing for NEET Physics, it’s important to keep the topic-wise weightage in mind. This weightage is based on analysis from past exams, showing which topics are more important. You can check the table below to see how much each subject topic contributes to the overall exam. This will help you focus on the areas that matter most!

As per the NEET exam pattern 2024, the time duration of the NEET exam is 3 hours and 20 minutes long. The total NEET exam duration is for all subjects combined, with no separate time for each subject. You can choose the order in which you want to attempt the NEET questions.

The NEET exam pattern includes questions from three main subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Each subject has two sections. Section A has 35 questions, and Section B has 15 questions. This means you'll tackle a total of 50 questions for each subject.

As per the experts and candidates, the difficulty level of the question paper in the NEET 2024 exam ranged from moderate to tough. The analysis of the NEET 2024 question paper revealed that it followed a predictable format—featuring familiar question types similar to those from the previous year, with no unexpected surprises. Here’s a brief overview of the NEET 2024 Exam.

The NEET 2025 exam schedule is expected to be released soon. Aspiring candidates can refer to the table below for important dates.

Are you aware that last year the National Medical Commission (NMC) released the updated syllabus for the NEET UG Exam on its official website? The updated syllabus of NEET features new topics and some removals, distinguishing it from previous versions. As a NEET 2024-25 aspirant, it’s essential to familiarise yourself with these updates to shape your study plan. Hence, we have discussed these changes in further detail in our NEET Updated Syllabus 2024-25 blog. These changes aim to improve your grasp of important concepts, helping you prepare effectively for a future in medicine.

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