
NEET Exam Pattern 2026: The NTA published the exam pattern for NEET UG 2026 in the information bulletin. Candidates preparing for the exam can check here the NEET 2026 exam pattern to understand the number of questions in the exam, total marks, exam duration, marking scheme and negative marking.
The NEET 2026 question paper pattern remains the same as last year's. The exam will be held offline in pen and paper mode. The NEET marking scheme is such that candidates get 4 marks for each correct answer, and there is negative marking of -1 for each wrong answer. The NTA will conduct the NEET exam on May 3, 2026.
The NEET exam consists of three subjects- Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The NEET Physics and Chemistry sections carry 45 questions each and NEET Biology section alone carries 90 questions, that is, 45 each in Botany and Zoology. The NEET total marks allotted to the exam are 720.
- NEET Exam Pattern 2026: Highlights
- NEET 2026 Exam Pattern: Subject-Wise Weightage & Exam Duration
- NEET 2026 Total Marks & Marking Scheme
- NEET 2026 Exam Pattern: How to Attempt Question Paper?
- NEET Exam Pattern 2026: Language Options of Question Paper
- FAQs on NEET Exam Pattern 2026
NEET Exam Pattern 2026: Highlights
Have a look at the highlights of the NEET exam pattern 2026 below.
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of the examination |
Offline |
| Duration of the examination |
Three hours |
| Exam timing |
2 PM to 5 PM (as per Indian Standard Time) |
| Type of questions |
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| How Many Questions are there in NEET? |
180 |
| NEET Total Marks |
720 |
| NEET Negative marking |
Yes |
| NEET Marking Scheme |
+4 for each correct answer -1 for each incorrect answer 0 for unattempted questions |
| Total sections in the question paper |
4 (45 questions for each subject) |
| NEET Subjects |
Physics (45 MCQs), Chemistry (45 MCQs) and Biology (90 MCQs) |
| NEET Question Paper Mediums or Languages |
13 - English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam |
Commonly asked questions
The NEET 2026 exam pattern has been released. The NTA mentioned the pattern in the information bulletin. There is no change in the NEET pattern. The NTA changed the NEET question paper pattern in 2025. The NTA removed the optional questions and the exam duration was reduced by 20 minutes.
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)
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.
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern: Subject-Wise Weightage & Exam Duration
Students aiming to appear for NTA NEET must familiarise themselves with the exam pattern while preparing. According to the pattern, the NEET question paper carries 180 questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology and each question is of 4 marks. Read further to know about the NEET pattern in terms of subject-wise weightage, total marks and exam duration.
NEET 2026 Subject-Wise Weightage
Have a look at the NEET subject-wise weightage and distribution of marks below.
| Subject |
Number of Questions |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics |
45 |
180 |
| Chemistry |
45 |
180 |
| Botany |
45 |
180 |
| Zoology |
45 |
180 |
| Total |
180 |
720 |
NEET Exam Duration 2026
The NEET exam time is 2:00 to 5:00 pm. Students get 3 hours to attempt the NEET question paper during the exam. There is no sectional timing in the exam.
Commonly asked questions
The 80/20 rule in NEET is applible in case when candidates have limited time to study for the exam. The rule implies rather than covering the entire syllabus, candidates should focus on 20% of the high-value topics that are likely to form about 80% of the NEET question paper.
The Biology section has the highest number of questions in the NEET examination. There are 360 questions in the NEET UG exam and of these, 90 questions are alone from Biology, which is further divided into Botany and Zoology, each containing 45 questions.
No, marks are not deducted for unanswered questions in NEET. However, the NTA applies negative marking of 1 mark for each incorrect answer in the NEET UG examination.
NEET 2026 Total Marks & Marking Scheme
Have a look at the details of the marking scheme and total marks of NEET 2026 exam.
NEET Total Marks 2026
The total marks allotted to NEET 2026 are 720. Candidates need to score qualifying cutoff scores out of NEET total marks to clear the exam.
NEET Marking Scheme 2026
NEET 2026 marking scheme and negative marking formula with 720 total marks in India is used by the NTA. Check below the NEET marking scheme-
| Response Type |
Marks awarded |
|---|---|
| Correct answer |
+4 |
| Incorrect answer |
-1 |
| Question with more than one response |
-1 |
| Unanswered question |
0 |
Also Read: NEET 2026 Preparation Strategy for Class 11 & 12 Students
NEET Negative Marking 2026
The NEET exam carries a penalty of negative marking for each wrong answer marked by candidates. There is a NEET negative marking of 1 mark for every incorrect answer.
Commonly asked questions
No, the NEET exam or NEET question paper does not have any optional questions. Although there used to be 20 optional questions in total in between the years 2022 and 2024, but 2025 onwards, the optional questions in NEET were removed as part of the revision or change in the NEET exam pattern as per the pre-COVID era. Hence, the NEET 2025 question paper will not carry any optional questions, and will have 360 mandatory questions from Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
The mode of the NEET exam is offline or paper-based mode. Candidates are handed over hardcopy of NEET question paper and OMR sheets to answer the questions. The NEET UG exam has always been conducted in paper-pencil-based mode. Despite the expert committee recommendation to conduct the NEET exam in onlne or computer-based mode, the National Medical Commission (NMC) announced that the NEET 2025 exam will be conducted in offline or paper-pencil-based mode.
The NEET exam carries negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer. Candidates should mark their answers carefully in the exam to avoid the penalty.
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern: How to Attempt Question Paper?
According to the NEET exam pattern 2026, the candidates need to use the given process to submit their responses on the NEET OMR sheet-
- Mark the answers using a ballpoint pen, which is provided at the exam centre.
- Candidates cannot change the answers.
- Erasing any information on the OMR sheet is punishable.
- Rough work to be done on the test booklet.
- Do not forget to mark the test booklet code on the OMR sheet.
- Candidates must ensure that the NEET question paper code matches the one given on the OMR sheet.
Also Read: NEET Answer Key
Commonly asked questions
NEET syllabus is not tough, but a bit challenging due to its vastness. The syllabus of NEET exam is vast, with 20 chapters from Physics, 20 from Chemistry and 10 from Biology. The syllabus is based on the Class 11 and 12 NCERT curriculum. Hence, candidates should cover the complete syllabus to crack the exam.
There will be no sectional qualifying criterion for NEET 2025. NTA releases overall qualifying marks or cutoff marks for each category. The overall marks will be considered while preparing the rank list for NEET. But to ensure a good score, candidates must ensure a high number of attempts with full accuracy. A skewed performance might hamper the overall marks obtained in NEET.
The responses marked on the OMR Sheet of NEET are scanned and uploaded on the official website of NTA. The responses marked are read and captured by the machines, which can sometimes lead to smudging of the responses. Therefore, there can be errors in the scanned copy of NEET OMR sheet. If a student finds any such error in their OMR sheet, they have the provision to challenge them. Candidates have to pay a processing fee of INR 200 per response challenged. The steps for challenging the OMR sheet of NEET are given below:
- Go to the official website of NTA NEET
- Login using the NEET application number and password or date of birth
- Click on “OMR Challenge”
- You will see the questions in sequential order
- Select Question (s) for which you wish to challenge the Recorded Response.
- Once you select any Question for Challenge, you will see three options under the column ‘Candidate’s Claim’.
- If you wish to challenge this option, you may use the Options given in the ‘Candidate’s Claim’ column.
- After clicking your desired option, for Physics / Chemistry / Botany / Zoology for NEET (UG) - 2023, scroll down, ‘Submit’, and move to the next screen.
- You will see a screen displaying your challenges.
- Click on ‘Submit' and Pay Fee Finally’.
- Select Mode of Payment and Pay a processing fee of INR 200 for each question/grade challenged. Make payment through Debit/Credit Card/Net Banking/Paytm.
- After successful payment, download/print the Answer Key challenge receipt
NEET Exam Pattern 2026: Language Options of Question Paper
As per the NEET 2026 information bulletin, the exam will be conducted in 13 languages. The NTA will prepare the question paper as per the NEET syllabus 2026 in all 13 mediums. The table indicates the NEET languages and the centres/cities where they will be available.
| Medium |
Availability in the NEET exam centres |
|---|---|
| English |
Available at all exam cities/ centres |
| Hindi |
Available at all exam cities/ centres |
| Urdu |
Available at all exam cities/ centres |
| English |
Available at all exam cities/ centres |
| Marathi |
Available at exam centres in Maharashtra |
| Bengali |
Available at exam centres in West Bengal |
| Gujarati |
Available at exam centres in Gujarat, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli |
| Tamil |
Available at exam centres in Tamil Nadu |
| Telugu |
Available at exam centres in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana |
| Kannada |
Available at exam centres in Karnataka |
| Oriya |
Available at exam centres in Odisha |
| Assamese |
Available at exam centres in Assam |
| Punjabi |
Available at exam centres in Punjab, Chandigarh and Delhi |
| Malayalam |
Available at exam centres in Kerala and Lakshadweep |
As per the data released by NTA after the NEET result declaration, after English and Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali and Tamil are the most opted-for regional language choices of candidates.
Read More:
Commonly asked questions
The NEET exam is conducted from 2.00 to 5.00 pm. Have a look at the NEET exam timing 2026 below-
| Events | Timing |
|---|---|
| Exam Centre Entry Begins | 11.00 AM |
| Exam Centre Last Entry | 1.30 PM |
| Sitting on the Exam Hall | 1.15 PM |
| Announcement of Important Instructions | 1.15 PM to 1.30 PM |
| Distribution of NEET Test Booklet | 1.45 PM |
| Writing of particulars on the NEET Test Booklet | 1.50 PM |
| NEET Exam Timing | 2 PM to 5 PM |
According to NEET pattern, the question paper for the candidates who have chosen Hindi as the medium will be bilingual. The second language of the question paper will be English. In case candidates have any doubts regarding a particular question or term, they can refer to the English questions. Candidates choosing the NEET question paper medium as Hindi must ensure that they have received the Hindi language question paper in the exam hall. In case they receive English or any other regional language question paper, they must report the matter to the invigilator and get it changed immediately. In case they start solving the NEET question paper of a different language and report it later, it may be considered redundant.
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:
- English
- Hindi
- Bengali
- Urdu
- Assamese
- Gujarati
- Marathi
- Odia
- Kannada
- Tamil
- Malayalam
- Punjabi
- Telugu.
FAQs on NEET Exam Pattern 2026
Read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the NEET 2026 exam pattern.
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 |
NEET exam can be a little tough for average students, given the competition and difficulty level. However, average students can crack the NEET UG exam with disciplined and consistent efforts. Such students should cover the syllabus and practice more and more question papers and NEET mock tests. Check here the NEET 2026 Preparation Plan for Average Students.
The full form of NEET is National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. It is a national-level entrance exam for admission to undergraduate medical and para-medical courses in India. The exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency. It is held once a year in a paper-pencil based mode.
Candidates can get 700+ scores in NEET exam by preparing well in advance. Have a look at the NEET preparation tips to score high marks in the exam-
- Master the syllabus through NCERT books.
- Study the high-weigtage topics in detail.
- Practice the NEET mock test and sample papers.
- Solve last 5 years question papers of NEET UG.
- Revise regularly.
Along with the provisional NEET answer keys, NTA releases the NEET OMR sheets of the test takers. Candidates could download those from the official website of NEET. Candidates had to follow the steps given below to download the NEET OMR sheet:
- Visit the official website of NEET, which is neet.nta.nic.in
- Click on the link indicating NEET OMR sheet download
- Enter the login credentials
- Click on ‘OMR Challenge’ tab
- Click on ‘Click here to view your OMR Answer Sheet’
- Check the scanned image of the answer sheet uploaded by NTA
- Download and save the NEET OMR sheet for future reference
After downloading the NEET OMR sheets, candidates must check carefully whether it is in the same condition as the one they had submitted. In case there is any discrepancy, they can submit challenges or objections. In case there is no discrepancy, they can calculate their estimated scores by tallying their responses with the NEET provisional answer keys.
Yes, the NEET 2025 exam pattern was changed. NTA announced the change in the exam pattern on January 25, 2025, to enable candidates prepare accordingly. The optional questions were removed. Instead of 200 questions, there were 180 questions. The total duration of NEET 2025 was reduced from 200 minutes to 180 minutes or three hours now.
The NMC has released the syllabus for NEET 2026 examination. The NMC NEET UG syllabus 2026 is published on the website of the National Medical Commission (NMC) - nmc.org.in. Candidates can download the NMC syllabus for NEET 2026 here - https://www.shiksha.com/medicine-health-sciences/neet-exam-syllabus
You can choose any exam centre of NEET if you have opted for English medium question paper. English is available at all centres across the country. English is a universal language and the NEET question paper medium. The exam city selection option becomes limited once candidates choose a regional language, except Hindi. Apart from the medium of the question factor, the other factor that plays a role in the NEET exam centre city selection is the permanent and present address selected by candidates during the application process.
The NEET exam carries negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer. Candidates should mark their answers carefully in the exam to avoid the penalty.
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:
- English
- Hindi
- Bengali
- Urdu
- Assamese
- Gujarati
- Marathi
- Odia
- Kannada
- Tamil
- Malayalam
- Punjabi
- Telugu.
NEET Exam
Student Forum
Answered Yesterday
Yes, you can get the BHMS course with a rank of 300 if you belong to the OBC AI category. This category had the overall cutoff range between 93201 and 74967. Hence, getting a seat for this course with a rank of 300 can be achievable. Students who want admission to the Nehru Homoeopathic Medical Coll
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
The required marks in NEET would depend entirely on the category you belong to. For the General AI category, the needed rank was 46875. Please remember that the cutoff for other categories will vary.
To know the required rank for other categories, see the table below.
| Category | Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital cutoff 2025 |
|---|---|
| General | 46875 |
| OBC | 74967 |
| SC | 230221 |
| ST | 288873 |
| EWS | 66693 |
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
The marks required in NEET to qualify for the AYUSH counselling process depend on the category the student belongs to. For the General AI category, students need to secure a rank of at least 46875 to be eligible for a seat. Different categories will have different cutoffs. To know the Nehru Homoeopa
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
NEET is not mandatory for CG BSc Nursing. Admisison to the BSc Nursing courses in Chhattisgarh is based on the CG Nursing entrance test conducted by CG Vyapam.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Desh Bhagat University NEET cutoff 2025 was concluded with the release of the final round of seat allotment for the BDS course. The cutoff was released for both the AI and HS quotas.
For all AI quota categories, the overall cutoff varied between 627176 and 1311773 for admission to the BDS course. St
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
No, NEET-UG is not listed as a compulsory entrance exam for Oriental College of Pharmacy BPharma admissions. The selection of candidates is based on the scores obtained in Class 12 board exams. Thus, candidates can apply for BPharm at Oriental College of Pharmacy as soon as they get their Class 12 b
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
Candidates can carry any one of the given original photo ID proof to the NEET exam centre on the day of examination-
- Aadhaar Card
- Indian Passport Number
- DigiLocker
- PAN Card Number
- Any other valid Government-issued Photo ID Card
NRIs or foreign nationals need to carry their passports as identity proof to t
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, LPU in a tie-up with Emversity BSc offers a great opportunity for students who may not have secured an MBBS seat through NEET. While millions compete for limited medical seats, this programme provides an alternative route into the healthcare sector. Admission is based on class 12 marks rather t
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
No there are no entrance test or interview required for admission to St. Peter's IHER, Chennai Powered by Emversity BSc course. But please note that a mandatory counselling is conducted to check the candidate's interest and the best course fit. Also no NEET score is required, the institute looks for
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Admission to St. Peters IHER, Bangalore Powered by Emversity BSc course doesn't include any test or interview, but yes, a mandatory counselling is conducted to check the candidate's interest and the best course fit. While it doesn't require a NEET score, the institute looks for students with a stron
R
Contributor-Level 9
2328 Institutes accepting NEET
Varanasi • Public
- ₹ 2.32 Lakh
- 66 months
- |
- Full Time
West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences
Kolkata • Public
- ₹ 18,000
- 66 months
- |
- Full Time
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi
Gautam Nagar, Delhi • Public
- ₹ 6,075
- 66 months
- |
- Full Time
Christian Medical College, Vellore
Vellore • Private
- ₹ 15,000
- 66 months
- |
- Full Time
Exam On - 3 May '26
Can I get BHMS with 300 rank in NEET for OBC?