NEET 2026 exam carries negative marking for wrong answers. As per the NEET marking scheme 2026, 4 marks are awarded for each correct answer and 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. Check NEET negative marking, tips to avoid it in exam and know how to calculate NEET marks.
NEET Negative Marking Scheme 2026
The NTA NEET UG is a national-level exam conducted for admission to MBBS, BDS, BAMS, and other programs. The NEET UG question paper carries 180 questions and each question carries 4 marks. The exam carries a total 720 marks and there is negative marking for wrong answers. The National Testing Agency conducted NEET 2026 on May 3, 2026.
The NEET preparation 2026 plays a major role in avoiding negative marking in NEET 2026. Check the page to know about NEET 2026 marking scheme, negative marking, how to avoid negative marking and how to calculate marks.
| Know your AIIMS MBBS Admission Prospects using NEET Cutoff Rank- AIIMS MBBS Cutoff & Seats |
- NEET Negative Marking Scheme 2026: Highlights
- How to Calculate NEET Marks with Negative Marking?
- NEET Marking Scheme 2026: Subject-Wise Distribution
- How to Avoid Negative Marking in NEET 2026?
NEET Negative Marking Scheme 2026: Highlights
Have a look at the highlights of the NEET negative marking scheme based on the NEET exam pattern 2026 below-
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Total Questions |
180 |
| 720 |
|
| NEET Marking Scheme for Each Correct Answer |
+4 |
| NEET Negative Marking for Each Incorrect Answer |
-1 |
| NEET Marks for unattempted questions |
0 |
Also Read: NEET 2026 Passing Marks out of 720
| Which MBBS/ BDS College will you get based on your NEET 2026 Rank? Check last year's Institutes & Category-wise closing Rank? | |
| NEET MBBS CUT OFF | NEET BDS Cutoff |
Commonly asked questions
The NEET UG exam comprises Physics, Chemistry and Biology sections. There are a total 180 questions in the exam. The exam carries 720 marks. The section wise-wightage of these three sections is shared below-
NEET Physics- 45 questions (180 marks)
NEET Chemistry- 45 questions (180 marks)
NEET Biology (Botany & Zoology)- 90 questions (360 marks)
Candidates need to obtain the NEET exam pass marks to clear the exam. The minimum NEET cutoff percentile that candidates must obtain is shared below-
Category | NEET Cut off percentile |
|---|---|
UR/EWS | 50th |
OBC, SC, ST | 40th |
UR/EWS-PwD | 45th |
OBC/SC/St-PwD | 40th |
The NEET exam contains questions from Physics, Chemistry and Biology. As per the analysis of NEET question papers and feedback shared by candidates, the NEET Physics section as the difficult among the three.
Which is the most repeated question in NEET Biology?
There are various topics or questions which have been repeated the most in NEET Biology section. Have a look at the NEET Biology most repeated questions in past few years below-
- Respiratory system
- Digestive enzymes & hormones
- Sliding filaments theory
- Mendelian crosses
- Genetic disorders (Turner, Down, Klinefelter)
- Photosynthesis
- Food chains and ecological pyramids
- Cell organelles and functions
How to Calculate NEET Marks with Negative Marking?
As per the scheme, the NEET 2026 carries a total 720 marks. There are 180 questions in the exam and each is of four marks. For each correct answer, candidates get four marks and for each wrong answer, one mark gets deducted. Candidates can use this scheme to calculate the expected raw scores based on the NEET answer key 2026. Have a look at the process to calculate NEET 2026 marks with negative marking using the answer key-
- Tally the answers of your NEET OMR sheet with official answer key and count all the correct answers.
- Multiply the number of correct answers by 4.
- Now, count all the incorrect answers and multiply that number by 1
- Subtract the second number from the first and you get the NEET total marks.
Also Read: NEET Last 10 Years Question Papers with Solutions
NEET Marking Scheme 2026: Subject-Wise Distribution
The NEET UG 2026 exam is conducted offline in pen and paper mode. The exam comprises three subjects- Physics, Chemistry and Biology (Botany & Zoology). The questions are asked as per the prescribed NEET syllabus 2026. Have a look at the NEET marks distribution for these subjects below-
| Subject |
Number of Questions |
Marks Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Physics |
45 |
180 |
| Chemistry |
45 |
180 |
| Botany |
45 |
180 |
| Zoology |
45 |
180 |
| Total |
180 |
720 |
Also Read: How to prepare for NEET 2026 in 10 days?
Commonly asked questions
Students can obtain over 170 scores in NEET Physics with strategic preparation. Hard work along with smart work can help students score good marks in NEET UG exam. Use the given tips to perform well in NEET Physics section-
- Make a strict study schedule.
- Cover syllabus through best books.
- Understand the chapter-wise weightage.
- Prepare formula sheets and notes for quick revision.
- Practice with question papers and mock tests.
- Regular revision.
The NEET syllabus is huge. The 80/20 rule in NEET means that students should study smarter by focusing on 20% of the high-value topics which may form 80% of the NEET question paper.
The NEET exam is conducted offline in pen and paper mode. The NEET exam pattern is as such-
- There are 180 MCQs.
- 45 are from Physics, 45 from Chemistry and 90 from Biology (Botany and Zoology).
- Each question is of 4 marks.
- The total marks are 720.
- The exam duration is 3 hours.
Aspirants should start solving the NEET question papers at least six months prior to the exam. Prior to solving the previous years NEET question papers, they should complete the NEET syllabus completely. Students may also solve sectional portions from the NEET question paper after completing the preparation for each subject. Ideally students should solve the NEET question paper in the exam timing, from 2 PM to 5 PM, without any break. This would help them get adjusted to the exam taking environment. Moreover, the test should be taken without any break. It must also be ensured that they take the test in a quite environment either alone or with a group of fellow NEET aspirants. Creating a simulated test-taking experience is important. The above factors must be followed to get the best out of the NEET question paper.
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How to Avoid Negative Marking in NEET 2026?
Now that you know the NEET negative marking and its impact on scores, you must answer the questions carefully during the exam. Have a look at how students can avoid negative marking in the NEET exam below.
- Read the NEET question paper carefully and understand what the question asks.
- Check the given options and use logic while answering.
- Avoid guesswork and answer the question with accuracy.
- Time management is the key.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
Here is the table below showing some of the top BSc Nursing college without NEET in Delhi NCR, along with their tuition fees.
| Top Colleges | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Amity University, Gurugram | INR 7.52 lakh |
| Sharda School of Nursing Science & Research | INR 11.08 lakh |
| SGT University, Gurgaon | INR 13 lakh |
| Holy Family College of Nursing | INR 2.4 lakh |
| SVSU - Swami Vivekanand Subharti University | INR 9.95 lakh |
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
In many cases, yes. Some sources say NEET is not compulsory for BPT in Karnataka. Many private colleges admit students on 12th marks. Government and counselling seats may follow a different process. Rules change every year, so read the latest notice before you apply.
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Not always. While NEET is common, several Karnataka colleges also accept KCET scores, and some even offer direct admission based on 12th marks. This is different from MBBS, where NEET is compulsory everywhere. So if you missed NEET or didn't score well, you still have other routes into a good nursin
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The Kerala NEET UG Counselling Round 3 was conducted from September 16 to September 26. The deadline for candidates to report and join their allotted college/seat was October 1.
S
Beginner-Level 4
Answered a week ago
Yes, NEET UG is compulsory for any MBBS admission in India, including Bhopal. There is no other entrance exam or backdoor route allowed legally. After NEET, admission happens either via AIIMS-specific counselling or MP state counselling. Management quota seats also require a valid NEET score first.
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Hi.
Yes. You can do many paramedical/allied-health courses in Chennai without NEET.
For Tamil Nadu, the Directorate of Medical Education and Research has a separate admission process for Allied and Healthcare (AHS) UG degree courses, distinct from MBBS/BDS admission. The 2026–27 admission notification
h
Scholar-Level 17
Answered a week ago
Students need to attain a rank of at least 1746 in the NEET exam if they belong to the General AI category. The AIIMS Bathinda NEET Cutoff 2026 is released in the form of ranks. Candiates can check the table below to know the maximum rank required for other categories.
| Category | AIIMS Bathinda NEET Cutoff 2026 |
|---|---|
| General | 1746 |
| OBC | 2185 |
| SC | 18819 |
| ST | 28998 |
| EWS | 2928 |
| PwD | 118549 |
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Most B.Sc Nursing programmes in Uttar Pradesh do require a NEET UG score for admission. Some diploma-level or Post Basic Nursing programmes may accept students through separate state entrance tests instead. Private colleges sometimes have their own entrance criteria too. It's best to check each coll
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Possibly yes, if your college accepts the separate MH B.Sc Nursing CET exam. Not every student needs to clear NEET to get a nursing seat in Maharashtra. Some private institutes rely purely on this state-level test. So a weak NEET score doesn't automatically close the door on nursing.
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
Admission to medical and dental courses (like MBBS and BDS) in India is strictly based on your NEET rank and score not on your 12th grade board exam marks.
When you qualify for NEET and attend the counseling process you must carry the following documents in original along with photocopies:
NEET Admit
S
Contributor-Level 10
With MA in English, Rupali has more than 15 years of editorial experience. At Shiksha.com, a subsidiary of Info Edge (India) Limited, she creates content and make prep guides for students preparing for competitive e
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