NEET UG 2025 Exam Pattern Changed: Game Changer or Score Breaker?
Get the latest updates on NEET UG 2025 exam pattern changes, key dates, marking scheme, OMR guidelines, cutoff impact & counseling schedule. Stay informed!
NTA this time has made some major changes in the NEET UG Exam Pattern 2025. This impacts the number of toppers in NEET UG 2025. According to the predictions made by experts, the changed exam pattern will lower the scores and cutoffs. So, find out whether the change in the NEET UG exam pattern is a Game changer or Score breaker.
NEET UG 2025 Exam Pattern Changed
Candidates who will take the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2025 have only 39 days left as their test date is scheduled for May 4. According to the NTA new rules for NEET 2025, modifications were made to the NEET UG 2025 paper pattern this year. As per the experts, the new changes in the exam pattern could affect both the total scores and the number of top-ranking contestants. The reduced scores will lower the NEET UG 2025 cut off.
The official notice shows that the examination now lacks option-based questions as one of its major changes. The previous design of NEET-UG consisted of two Section A and Section B blocks for every subject. The question allocation for NEET-UG candidates was 35 questions across Part A and 15 questions in Part B with selection freedom for 10 questions. The option that allowed candidates to choose ten questions from a block of fifteen became available only during the COVID-19 pandemic before finally being eliminated.
The examination now consists of 180 questions instead of 200 since the revision was implemented. Under the new organization the NEET-UG presents 45 questions for Physics and Chemistry followed by 90 combination questions between Botany and Zoology in the Biology section.
The NEET UG 2025 examination now has a shorter duration time of about 20 minutes less. The candidates used to have 3 hours and 20 minutes to finish the exam during the last five years.
The examination period now amounts to 180 minutes instead of the previous 3 hours. Students now receive exactly one minute to respond to each question in the exam.
Click Here to Check the Official NEET UG Exam Pattern Notification.
NEET UG 2025 Exam Pattern Highlights
Understanding the exam pattern is equally important as knowing the NEET UG 2025 syllabus. As both will impact the overall performance of the candidates. Here are the highlights of the NEET UG exam pattern 2025.
- Mode of Exam: Offline (Pen and Paper-Based Test)
- Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes)
- Question Type: Objective (Multiple Choice Questions - MCQs)
- Total Questions: 180
- Total Marks: 720
| Subject | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 45 | 180 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 180 |
| Botany | 45 | 180 |
| Zoology | 45 | 180 |
| Total | 180 | 720 |
Read More: NEET Dress Code 2025 for Male and Female Candidates
NEET UG 2025 Exam Overview
Students who want complete details on NEET UG 2025 at a glance should check out the table below:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) |
| Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Level | Undergraduate (UG) – National Level |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Mode of Examination | Offline (Pen and Paper-Based Test) |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Exam Timing | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (IST) |
| Total Number of Questions | 180 |
| Subjects and Marks Distribution | Physics – 180 marks (45 questions) Chemistry – 180 marks (45 questions) Biology (Botany + Zoology) – 360 marks (90 questions) Total Marks: 720 |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for each correct answer -1 for each incorrect answer |
| Expected Registrations | Around 25 lakh (as per NEET 2024 data) |
| Courses Offered | MBBS, BDS, BSc Nursing, BAMS, BVSc & AH |
| Exam Fees | ₹1,700 (General) ₹1,600 (OBC) ₹1,000 (Reserved category) ₹9,500 (Foreign nationals) |
| Number of Exam Cities | India: 557 Abroad: 14 |
| Available Languages | 13 languages – English, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Assamese, Gujarati, Marathi, Odia, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Punjabi, Telugu |
| Total Accepting Colleges | 1,613 colleges |
| Total Seats Available | MBBS: 1,17,950 BDS: 27,868 BAMS: 52,720 BVSc & AH: 603 |
| Contact Details | Phone: 011-69227700, 011-40759000 Email: neetug2025@nta.ac.in |
| Official Website | www.neet.nta.nic.in |
Read More: Check the NEET Reservation Criteria 2025 for SC / ST / OBC / EWS / PwD Categories
How to Fill NEET 2025 OMR Sheet: Key Guidelines to Follow
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has developed particular guidelines that candidates must follow when filling out their NEET 2025 OMR sheet to prevent errors during the examination. The following instructions must be strictly followed by candidates.
- Answers need to be marked with the ballpoint pen that the examination hall provides.
- The marking process becomes permanent after you select an answer as there exists no modification capability. The OMR sheet does not permit any modifications of responses by test takers.
- Every attempt to wipe out or change the printed OMR sheet components constitutes a punishable violation.
- Candidates must perform all their rough work either by writing it down in the test booklet or in the notebook.
- Test booklet code marking requires candidates to write the correct booklet identification in the OMR sheet.
- Candidates must verify that the question paper code printed on the test booklet matches exactly with the code on their OMR sheet.
The correct implementation of this guidance enables candidates to avoid mistakes which guarantees proper answer recording during NEET 2025 testing.
NEET UG 2025 Important Dates
Analyzing the previous pattern of the NEET UG exam, we have made a table of the tentative dates of the upcoming events of the NEET UG 2025 exam.
| Event | Tentative Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| NEET UG 2025 Exam Date | May 4, 2025 | Offline pen-and-paper test |
| Release of Provisional Answer Key | May 3rd/4th Week, 2025 | NTA publishes the initial answer key for candidates to review |
| Objection Window for Answer Key | May 3rd/4th Week, 2025 | Candidates can challenge the provisional answer key |
| Final Answer Key Release | June 1st Week, 2025 | NTA releases the final, revised answer key after reviewing objections |
| NEET UG 2025 Result Declaration | June 1st/2nd Week, 2025 | Results are announced on the official NTA website |
| Release of Scorecards | June 2nd Week, 2025 | Individual scorecards become available for download |
| NEET UG 2025 Rank List Announcement | June 2nd/3rd Week, 2025 | All India Rank (AIR) and category-wise rank lists are released |
| Counseling Registration Begins (AIQ/State Quota) | June 3rd/4th Week, 2025 | MCC (for AIQ) and respective state authorities begin counselling registration |
| First Round of NEET UG Counseling | July 2025 | Choice filling, seat allotment, and document verification |
| Second Round of NEET UG Counseling | August 2025 | Additional seat allotment for remaining vacancies |
| Mop-Up & Stray Vacancy Rounds | September-October 2025 | Final rounds for unfilled seats in medical colleges |
| Academic Session Begins | October/November 2025 | Classes commence for medical courses in various institutions |
Students should also visit the NTA official website timely, to know the latest updates and modifications on NEET UG 2025. Otherwise you can also check our recent posts to get the latest news and updates. For more information on NEET UG, Click here.
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