NEET MDS Exam Pattern 2026: Check Time-Bound Sections, Negative Marking, Total Marks, No. of Questions

The NEET MDS exam consists of 240 objective type multiple choice questions (MCQs). Each question carries four answer options, out of which candidates have to select the correct answer option and mark it. Divided into two parts, the Part A of the question paper will have 100 questions and Part B of the paper will have 140 questions. 

Yes, the pattern of NEET MDS clearly states that penalty marks will be deducted for incorrect answers. Each correct answer will fetch four marks and for each wrong answer, there will be negative marking of one mark. Hence, the negative marking applied in the NEET MDS exam is 25 per cent. No marks will be awarded or deducted for unattempted questions. 

There are a total of 17 subjects or topics from which questions are asked in the NEET MDS exam. Each of the subject carries 14 to 15 questions. While all subjects carry 14 questions, there are two subjects, General Medicine and General Surgery, which carry 15 questions each. Candidates will not be provided any choice in terms of attempting the subjects or sections. Moreover, there is no time limit to attempt the subjects. Hence, candidates will have to divide the time accordingly in order to solve as many questions as possible within the three hours total duration. 

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), the exam conducting body has released the complete syllabus and pattern for NEET MDS. The topic or subject-wise weightage is given in the table below. 

There are a total of 17 topics which are covered under the NEET MDS exam syllabus. The topics are listed below.

1. General Anatomy including embryology and histology
2. General Human Physiology and Biochemistry
3. Dental Anatomy, Embryology and Oral Histology
4. General Pathology and Microbiology
5. General and Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics
6. Dental Materials
7. General Medicine
8. General Surgery
9. Oral Pathology and Oral Microbiology
10. Oral Medicine and Radiology
11. Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry
12. Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
13. Periodontology
14. Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge
15. Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
16. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
17. Public Health Dentistry

NBE, or the exam conducting body states, "The syllabus of the above topics shall be as per the latest Regulations for BDS courses notified by the Dental Council of India with prior approval of the Govt. of India."

NEET MDS is conducted in only one language, which is English. This exam, conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is held in a single language and window, in a computer-based test (CBT) mode.  Since BDS course is offered in English, it would not pose challenge to candidates in terms of attempting the NEET MDS exam in English. The exam will be conducted for a duration of three hours, from 2 PM to 5 PM in exam centres located in India. The syllabus and pattern and expected to remain the same as last year. 

NEET MDS is a computer-based exam of three hours duration with two time-bound sections. Part A was for 75 minutes and had 100 questions. Part B had 140 questions to be solved in105 minutes. The timing of the exam was 2 PM to 5 PM. There were a total of 240 objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from the NEET MDS syllabus. Each question has four marks and there will be negative marking of one mark for each wrong answer. The following table brings the overview and structure of the NEET MDS exam pattern. 

The NEET MDS 2025 exam pattern has been revised from last year. 

Oral Pathology & Oral Microbiology and Oral Medicine & Radiology are the two chapters/topics which carry the highest weightage of approximately 15 marks each in the NEET MDS entrance exam. Candidates must note that this is based on previous years' analysis. For the upcoming NEET MDS exam, the weightage may differ. Hence, students must give equal emphasis to all subjects or topics. 

The syllabus of NEET MDS exam is the same as what students have studied for their BDS course. There are a total of 17 subjects which are covered under the NEET MDS syllabus. According to NBE, the NEET MDS syllabus is as per the latest Regulations for BDS courses notified by the Dental Council of India with prior approval of the Government of India. It is expected that the NEET MDS syllabus will remain the same compared to last year. 

It is expected that the NEET MDS syllabus 2026 will be the same as last year. Last year also, there was no change in the NEET MDS syllabus. The syllabus of NEET MDS is based on the BDS curriculum, which they had studied while pursuing their undergraduate Dental course. Talking about the NEET MDS syllabus, the exam conducting authority NBE has stated, "The syllabus for the exam shall be that of BDS standard and shall cover all the subjects/syllabus taught during the BDS course as prescribed in the DCI Revised BDS Course Regulations, 2007 as amended from time to time."