One paper, once a year, 720 marks, pen-and-paper OMR — and Biology alone is worth as much as Physics and Chemistry combined.
For NEET score-to-college mapping, see our Medical hub. This page covers exam mechanics — pattern, marking, and exactly where the marks come from chapter by chapter.
| Subject | Section A | Section B | Total attempted | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 35 Qs (compulsory) | 15 Qs (attempt any 10) | 45 | 180 |
| Chemistry | 35 Qs (compulsory) | 15 Qs (attempt any 10) | 45 | 180 |
| Botany | 35 Qs (compulsory) | 15 Qs (attempt any 10) | 45 | 180 |
| Zoology | 35 Qs (compulsory) | 15 Qs (attempt any 10) | 45 | 180 |
Duration: 3h20m. Marking: +4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 unattempted — this negative marking applies in BOTH Section A and Section B, unlike JEE Main's no-penalty numerical section.
| Subject | Highest-weight areas | Approx. questions (of 45) |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | Human Physiology (complete) | 10–12 |
| Biology | Genetics + Evolution | 10–12 |
| Biology | Reproduction (Plant + Human) | 8–10 |
| Physics | Mechanics (1D/2D motion, NLM, Work-Energy, Rotation) | 12–14 |
| Chemistry | Organic Chemistry (mechanisms, named reactions, polymers) | 12–15 |
| Chemistry | Inorganic (periodic table, bonding, s/p/d/f-block) | 12–15 |
| Category | Qualifying percentile | Approx. qualifying score (720) | 2024 AIQ cutoff (Govt MBBS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (OC) | 50th percentile | ~140–160+ | ~600+ (AIIMS level: 680+) |
| OBC/SC/ST | 40th percentile | ~115–130+ | ~540–580 (state quota varies) |
| PwD | 45th percentile | ~130–145+ | Horizontal reservation, same pool |
| TN Govt MBBS — OC (state quota) | — | — | ~540–560 |
| TN Govt MBBS — BC/MBC (state quota) | — | — | ~500–540 |
| TN Govt MBBS — SC (state quota) | — | — | ~430–480 |
Critically, NEET Section B questions ARE MCQs with negative marking — unlike JEE Main's NVQs, which have zero penalty for wrong answers. You get 15 questions per subject in Section B and attempt any 10; choose your most confident ones and skip the rest entirely, since a wrong guess here does cost you a mark.
The 2024 cycle saw unusually high scores due to a paper-leak controversy and subsequent re-tests, which shifted the competitive distribution. Cutoffs fluctuate meaningfully year to year based on paper difficulty — plan for a score 20–30 marks above the "safe" cutoff to build in a comfortable margin.
A structured plan protects your highest-value section first.