NEET (UG) is the only entrance exam in India for admission to medical courses like:
- MBBS
- BDS
- AYUSH (BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS)
- BVSc & AH
The exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
If you are preparing for NEET 2026, you must clearly understand how many questions are given vs how many you actually attempt — this is where most students get confused.
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern (Overview)
- Mode: Offline (Pen and Paper)
- Duration: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Total Questions in Paper: 200
- Questions to Attempt: 180
- Total Marks: 720
- Type: MCQs (OMR-based)
Subjects in NEET 2026
NEET includes 4 subjects/parts:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Botany
- Zoology
Biology = Botany + Zoology
Section-wise Question Pattern
Each subject has 2 sections:
Section A
- 35 questions
- All are compulsory
Section B
- 15 questions
- Attempt any 10 questions only
Total Questions vs Attempted Questions
This is the most important part:
- Each subject has 50 questions (35 + 15)
- But you only attempt 45 questions (35 + 10)
Since there are 4 subjects:
- Total questions in paper: 200
- Total questions to attempt: 180
This is why both numbers (200 and 180) are correct — they mean different things.
Subject-wise Table
| Subject | Questions Given | Questions to Attempt | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 50 | 45 | 180 |
| Chemistry | 50 | 45 | 180 |
| Botany | 50 | 45 | 180 |
| Zoology | 50 | 45 | 180 |
| Total | 200 | 180 | 720 |
Marking Scheme
- Correct Answer → +4 marks
- Wrong Answer → –1 mark
- Not Attempted → 0
Avoid guessing — negative marking can reduce your score.
Mode of Examination
- Offline exam (Pen and Paper)
- Answers marked on OMR sheet
- Ballpoint pen provided at centre
Duration of Exam
- Total time: 3 hours 20 minutes (200 minutes)
Time management is key due to long paper length.
Language Options
NEET 2026 will be available in 13 languages:
English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu
Important:
- Choose language during application
- Cannot be changed later
- English version is final in case of confusion
Expected Exam Date (NEET 2026)
- Expected in May 2026 (Sunday)
- Final date will be announced by NTA
Difficulty Level of NEET
- Biology → Mostly NCERT-based, direct
- Chemistry → Balanced (theory + numericals)
- Physics → Time-consuming and tricky
The real challenge is speed + accuracy, not just difficulty.
Preparation Tips for NEET 2026
- Focus on NCERT books (especially Biology)
- Solve previous year papers
- Take mock tests regularly
- Avoid blind guessing
- Practice time management
What Happens After NEET?
- NTA releases Answer Key
- Students can challenge answers
- Final result declared
- All India Rank (AIR) released
- Counselling begins
Quick Summary
- Total questions in paper: 200
- Questions to attempt: 180
- Total marks: 720
- Duration: 3h 20m
- Negative marking: Yes (-1)
- Mode: Offline (OMR)
