NEET Tie-Breaking Policy 2025 (Changed): Check Latest Policy and Rule

National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test 2026 ( NEET )

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Sreetama Datta
Sreetama Datta Roy
Manager Content
Updated on Oct 14, 2025 17:18 IST
NEET 2025 tie-breaking policy have been changed as compared to last year. A new factor of a random process has been introduced this year. This article of Shiksha discusses in detail the NEET 2025 tie-breaking criteria, and also analyses the policies of the past few years and how the factors have changed over the years.

NEET 2025 tie-breaking policy have been changed as compared to last year. A new factor of a random process has been introduced this year. This article of Shiksha discusses in detail the NEET 2025 tie-breaking policy, and also analyses the policies of the past few years and how the factors have changed over the years.

NEET Tie-Breaking Criteria

NEET Tie-Breaking Criteria

NEET 2025 tie-breaking policy have been changed as compared to that of last year. It is one of the many changes in NEET 2025 that has been introduced this year. Tie-breaking refers to the mechanism deployed to determine the ranks of two or more candidates in the NEET merit list, in case all of them score the same marks in the exam.

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According to NEET marking scheme, every question is worth four marks. NEET 2025 exam will have total score of 720. -1 mark is deducted for negative marking for every wrong answer. If you do not attempt the question, then there will be no negative marking in the NEET question paper.
Q:   What are the languages in which NEET will be conducted?
A:

NEET will be conducted in 13 languages. Till 2020, NEET was held in 11 languages. NTA increased the number of languages or medium to 13 from 2021 onwards. Malayalam and Punjabi are the latest additions. The list of languages are as follows:

  1. English
  2. Hindi
  3. Bengali
  4. Urdu
  5. Assamese
  6. Gujarati
  7. Marathi
  8. Odia
  9. Kannada
  10. Tamil
  11. Malayalam
  12. Punjabi
  13. Telugu.
Q:   Has NTA removed any city from the NEET 2025 exam city list?
A:

Yes, NTA removed five cities from the NEET 2025 exam city list in India. The total number of NEET 2025 exam cities outside India as remained the same, which is 14. Since NTA limits the state and city choice as per the present address, applicants need not think for long to select the right exam city choices. The five cities, which have been removed from the list are Surampelam (Andhra Pradesh), Deoghar (Madhya Pradesh), Basar (Arunachal Pradesh), Mamit (Mizoram) and Kiphrie (Nagaland).

Q:   What is the timing of the NEET examination?
A:

The duration of NEET exam is three hours. The exam timing is 2 PM to 5 PM. Test takers needed to report to the exam centre latest by 1 PM. They could not leave the exam hall before 5 PM. 

Also Read: NEET Total Marks 2025: Check Exam Pass Marks and Marking Scheme

The NEET tie-breaking policy is dynamic and changes every year. This article by Shiksha.com analyses the NEET tie-breaking policy over the past few years.

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Table of contents
  • NEET 2025 Tie-Breaking Policy
  • NEET 2024 Tie-Breaking Criteria
  • NEET 2023 Tie-Breaking Criteria
  • NEET 2022 Tie-Breaking Criteria
  • NEET 2021 Tie-Breaking Criteria

NEET 2025 Tie-Breaking Policy

The following points explain the NEET 2025 tie-breaking policy for candidates:
  • Obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by,
  • Obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Chemistry in the Test, followed by,
  • Obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Physics in the Test, followed by,
  • With less proportion of the number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in all the subjects in the Test,
  • With less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by
  • With less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Chemistry in the Test, followed by
  • With less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Physics in the Test, followed by

In case, the first seven criteria are exhausted and the tie still persists, it will be resolved through a random process with the guidance of an independent expert committee.

NEET 2024 Tie-Breaking Criteria

Upon the release of the NEET 2024 application form and information bulletin on February 9, 2024, it was seen that the NEET 2024 tie-breaking criteria had been changed. In this, the final factor was a computerised draw of lots, which replaced the subject-wise accuracy proportion of candidates, that was followed in the previous years. Later, the factor of the computerised draw of lots has been replaced with a subject-wise accuracy proportion.

The revised NEET 2024 tie-breaking criteria are given below.

  1. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by,
  2. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Chemistry in the Test, followed by,
  3. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Physics in the Test, followed by,
  4. Candidate with less proportion of the number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in all the subjects in the Test,
  5. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by
  6. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Chemistry in the Test, followed by
  7. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Physics in the Test.
The original NEET 2024 tie-breaking criteria were as follows for the candidates:
  • Obtaining higher marks in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by,
  • Obtaining higher marks in Chemistry in the Test, followed by,
  • Obtaining higher marks in Physics in the Test, followed by,
  • Draw of lots by using the computer or IT with no human intervention.
Q:   Will NEET 2026 important dates be scheduled as per last year?
A:

The NEET 2026 dates have not been announced yet. However, it is likely that the NTA will hold the NEET exam 2026 events as per the previous years' trends. On the other hand, the NEET 2025 dates were almost scheduled in the same timeline as that of its last year. The exam was held on May 4, 2025, in a similar trend to the last couple of years. The NEET 2025 result was declared on June 14, 2025. On the other hand, NEET 2024 result was scheduled for June 14, 2024, but was preponed to June 4, 2024, 10 days ahead of the scheduled date. 

Q:   What is the date of NEET 2026?
A:

NTA announced the NEET 2024 exam date on September 19, 2023. NEET 2024 exam was conducted on May 5. The result of NEET 2024 was declared on June 4, 2024. After the result declaration, several irregularities and anomalies were found in the result and the scoring system. Hence, NTA is reconducting NEET 2024 on June 23, 2024, for 1,563 candidates who were awarded grace marks. The result will be declared on June 30, 2024. The NEET 2024 counselling process for the 15 per cent All India Quota (AIQ) seats is likely to be conducted from July 6, 2024 onwards. 

The NEET 2024 application process was conducted from February 9, 2024, to March 16, 2024. The last date of application was extended from March 9, by a week. The application and correction windows were reopened in April. While the NEET exam dates were scheduled in September and July a couple of years ago owing to the pandemic situation, it took a toll on the medical admission schedule. To bridge this gap, NTA conducted NEET in May last year. The trend is being continued for NEET 2024 as well. 

Q:   When will the NEET 2026 notification be released?
A:

The NTA is likely to release the NEET UG 2026 notification in February 2026. The notification will be released with the information bulletin containing the exam dates and details. Students need to go through the notification before filling out the NEET UG form 2026.  

Now, let us take a look at the NEET tie-breaking criteria for the previous years.

NEET 2023 Tie-Breaking Criteria

The NEET 2023 tie-breaking criteria is mentioned in the following points given which focuses on the candidates’ performance in each of the subjects in the order of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. After that, the proportion of accurate responses in each of the subjects was tallied.

  1. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by,
  2. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Chemistry in the Test, followed by,
  3. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Physics in the Test, followed by,
  4. Candidate with less proportion of the number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in all the subjects in the Test,
  5. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by
  6. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Chemistry in the Test, followed by
  7. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Physics in the Test.

NEET 2022 Tie-Breaking Criteria

NEET 2022 tie-breaking criteria and 2023 criteria are same. Except there are two additional criteria, which are the age of test-takers and NEET application numbers. The complete criteria for NEET 2022 tie-breaking is the same for candidates.
  • Obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by
  • Obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Chemistry in the Test, followed by,
  • Obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Physics in the Test, followed by,
  • Less proportion of the number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in all the subjects in the Test,
  • Less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by
  • Less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Chemistry in the Test, followed by
  • Less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Physics in the Test, followed by
  • Candidate Older in Age, followed by 
  • Application Number in ascending order.

NEET 2021 Tie-Breaking Criteria

NEET 2021 tie-breaking criteria was based on only three factors for candidates:
  • Obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by,
  • Obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Chemistry in the Test, followed by,
  • Less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in all the subjects in the Test.
In NEET 2021, the Physics score was not considered for tie-breaking, except for the calculation of the proportion of correct answers attempted.
As can be seen from the NEET tie-breaking criteria over the past few years, the factors have undergone several changes over the years. However, the factors that have remained constant are the performance in the subjects, in the order of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Read More:

NEET 2025: Know Major Changes Introduced This Year

List of Documents Required for NEET 2025 Application Form, Document Size and Formats

NEET 2025 Eligibility Criteria: Upper Age Limit, Number of Attempts, Qualification

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About the Author
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Sreetama Datta Roy
Manager Content
Sreetama Datta Roy is a journalist working in the Education beat, with over 15 years of work experience. A postgraduate in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. At Shiksha, s
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