Exam reference
NEET-UG: the one exam that decides every MBBS seat in India.
Exam pattern, subject-wise syllabus, marking, qualifying cutoffs, a month-by-month prep timeline, and what happens after your result.
At a glance
What is NEET-UG?
NEET-UG is the only entrance exam for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS, and BSc Nursing courses in India. Over 2 million candidates take it every year.
Run by the National Testing Agency (NTA) once a year (usually May or June), it's an offline pen-and-paper OMR exam. Your score is used for over 610 MBBS colleges, plus dental, AYUSH, and nursing colleges across the country.
The exam tests Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology) from the NCERT Class 11 and 12 curriculum. It's offered in 13 languages and is mandatory for Indian students seeking MBBS admission, whether in India or abroad.
National Testing Agency (NTA)
Offline: Pen & Paper (OMR)
Once a year (May / June)
10+2 with PCB + English. Minimum 50% PCB aggregate (General). Age ≥ 17 years.
English, Hindi + 11 regional languages
No limit
Exam structure
Subject-wise question pattern and marking.
The exam has 200 questions (180 to attempt) across 4 subjects. Each subject is split into Section A (35 mandatory) and Section B (15, attempt any 10).
| Subject | Sections | Total Q | Max Marks | Suggested Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | Section A (35) + B (15) | 50 (35 + 10) | 180 | ~50 min |
| Chemistry | Section A (35) + B (15) | 50 (35 + 10) | 180 | ~50 min |
| Botany | Section A (35) + B (15) | 50 (35 + 10) | 180 | ~50 min |
| Zoology | Section A (35) + B (15) | 50 (35 + 10) | 180 | ~50 min |
| Total | 4 subjects × 2 sections | 180 to attempt | 720 | 200 min |
How it's marked
- Correct: +4 marks
- ✕ Wrong: –1 mark
- - Unattempted: 0 marks
Rules to know
- Attempt only 10 of the 15 questions in each subject's Section B.
- If you attempt more than 10 in Section B, only the first 10 count.
- OMR responses are final. No re-checking or re-evaluation.
- Use only the black ballpoint pen provided at the centre.
Subject syllabus
NCERT Class 11 and 12 is the foundation.
The NTA prescribes the syllabus based on the NCERT curriculum for Classes 11 and 12. Below is a topic-level summary for each subject.
Physics
Class 11
Physical world and measurement, kinematics, laws of motion, work, energy and power, motion of system of particles and rigid body, gravitation, properties of bulk matter, thermodynamics, behaviour of perfect gas and kinetic theory, oscillations and waves.
Class 12
Electrostatics, current electricity, magnetic effects of current and magnetism, electromagnetic induction and alternating currents, electromagnetic waves, optics, dual nature of matter and radiation, atoms and nuclei, electronic devices, communication systems.
Chemistry
Class 11
Some basic concepts of chemistry, structure of atom, classification of elements and periodicity in properties, chemical bonding and molecular structure, states of matter: gases and liquids, thermodynamics, equilibrium, redox reactions, hydrogen, s-block elements, some p-block elements, organic chemistry: some basic principles and techniques, hydrocarbons, environmental chemistry.
Class 12
Solid state, solutions, electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, surface chemistry, general principles and processes of isolation of elements, p-block elements, d and f block elements, coordination compounds, haloalkanes and haloarenes, alcohols, phenols and ethers, aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids, organic compounds containing nitrogen, biomolecules, polymers, chemistry in everyday life.
Biology
Class 11
Diversity in living world, structural organisation in animals and plants, cell structure and function, plant physiology, human physiology.
Class 12
Reproduction, genetics and evolution, biology and human welfare, biotechnology and its applications, ecology and environment.
The above is a topic summary. Candidates must refer to the full NTA NEET-UG syllabus document for detailed sub-topics, which is available on the official NTA NEET website.
Qualifying criteria
Percentile cutoffs for eligibility.
The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile needed to be eligible for counselling. It is NOT the college admission cutoff: that varies widely by college and category.
| Category | Minimum Percentile | Approx Marks Range |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50th percentile | 715 – 213 |
| OBC / SC / ST | 40th percentile | 212 – 177 |
| General – PwD | 45th percentile | 212 – 177 |
| OBC/SC/ST – PwD | 40th percentile | 193 – 177 |
The marks range is indicative and based on past years. Actual cutoffs shift with exam difficulty, candidate numbers, and seat matrix. Qualifying doesn't guarantee a seat: college cutoffs at top institutions are much higher than the qualifying line.
Preparation plan
A 12-month prep timeline.
This is a framework, not a script. Adjust it around your school schedule, coaching, and how your mock scores are tracking.
Finish Class 11 NCERT reading for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Get the concepts solid before you touch problem-solving. Start a subject-wise error log and actually use it.
Start Class 12 topics alongside school. Solve NCERT back-exercises. One chapter-wise test per week. Review errors and loop back to weak areas.
Finish the remaining Class 12 syllabus. Start full-syllabus revision of Class 11. One full-length mock every 2 weeks. Break down performance by subject and topic.
One full mock per week. Nail the timing: Physics and Chemistry should each take ~50 min. Revisit your error log. Solve the last 5 years of NEET papers under timed conditions.
Two mocks a week. Focus on high-weightage topics: Genetics, Ecology, Human Physiology, Organic Chemistry, Electrostatics. Stop learning anything new. It's all revision and test-taking strategy now. Relax the day before.
After the exam
Qualifying is step one. Counselling is step two.
A lot of families get the sequence wrong. Here's exactly what happens after NEET-UG results come out.
NTA releases the provisional answer key 7-10 days after the exam. You can challenge answers you think are wrong. The final answer key and result (scorecard with AIR) come out ~4-6 weeks later.
You need to register separately on the MCC portal (for AIQ/Deemed/Central institutes) and/or your state counselling portal (for State Quota). Registration means paying fees, uploading documents, and choosing your quota.
List colleges and courses in order of what you actually want. This is the single most important decision in the whole process. The order affects your allotment across every round.
MCC and state authorities run multiple rounds of allotment based on rank, category, preferences, and seat availability. Results go up online. Download your allotment letter immediately.
Report to your allotted college within the window. Bring original documents, fees, and your allotment letter. Don't show up? You lose the seat. You may still be eligible for later rounds if the rules allow it.
Common questions
Questions people ask about NEET-UG.
These answers give you a starting point. Always check the current NTA bulletin and MCC notices: rules change.
How many times is NEET-UG conducted in a year?
Once a year, usually May or June. No second attempt, no supplementary exam. You sit the single exam for that admission session or you wait until next year.
Is there negative marking in NEET-UG?
Yes. +4 for correct, –1 for wrong. Unattempted questions don't cost you anything. So don't guess blindly: if you can eliminate two options, the odds tip in your favour. If you're throwing darts, skip it.
What is the minimum qualifying percentile?
General/EWS: 50th percentile. OBC/SC/ST: 40th percentile. General-PwD: 45th percentile. The actual marks these map to shift every year with exam difficulty and how the cohort performs.
Can I take NEET-UG after Class 11?
No. You need to have finished or be appearing for Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English. If you're sitting Class 12 the same year as NEET-UG, you're eligible: but you still need to meet the qualifying criteria when results come out.
Is NCERT enough for NEET-UG preparation?
NCERT is the foundation. Most NEET-UG questions come from NCERT content, especially Biology. But for top ranks, most successful candidates add reference books for deeper concept work, more practice, and mock tests. NCERT alone won't get you a top rank in Physics and Chemistry.
How does counselling work after NEET-UG?
After results, you register separately on the MCC portal for All India Quota seats and/or your state counselling portal for state quota seats. Then it's registration, document verification, choice filling, and multiple rounds of seat allotment. You report to the college you're allotted. The whole process takes 2-3 months.
What is the difference between qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff?
Qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile you need just to be eligible for counselling. The admission cutoff is the actual rank at which a specific college offered a seat in a given year. Admission cutoffs are always higher, and they vary wildly by college, category, and seat type. Qualifying doesn't mean you get a seat.
How many attempts are allowed for NEET-UG?
No limit on attempts, as long as you stay within the age criteria in the current NTA bulletin. You can retake it as many times as you want.
Need personal guidance?
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