NEET Exam Pattern 2024

NEET Exam Duration Time

NEET has replaced the AIPMT for medical school admissions. There have been a lot of changes in the NEET Exam Pattern.

The Supreme Court has also ruled that NEET results are the exclusive criterion for admission to graduate and postgraduate medical schools nationwide.

Exams last 3.20 hours, or 200 minutes (2–5.20 pm).

Every medical student should know the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) test pattern to plan their preparation. Thus, knowing the exam format is crucial before taking any exam.

Just like understanding the map of the place you’re exploring, you should all know the exam pattern inside out.

Question Format

Candidates choose one correct answer from four possibilities for each question in NEET’s standardized multiple-choice (MCQ) format. (Tick one of the four alternatives). This is the only correct option.

You have to carefully analyze the 4 choices and select the most accurate answer. (Yes, sometimes 2 options might seem correct, but you have to choose the more accurate of the two.)

This format tests your factual knowledge and real-world application.

Believe us when we say it, attempting the NEET paper is an art that you learn over the two years of preparation. And it’s as important as your knowledge, if not more.

NEET Exam Pattern and Instructions For OMR Sheet

NEET candidates should know how to fill out the NEET 2024 OMR form accurately. Use these recommendations to fill out the NEET OMR form correctly:

• As per the guidelines issued by NTA, use a ballpoint pen to mark all the answers in the NEET exam.
• The authorities provide the ballpoint pen inside the exam hall.
• All candidates must mark the test booklet code on the NEET OMR sheet 2024.
• Once the answers are marked on the OMR sheet, they cannot be erased.

NEET Exam Pattern 2024 Marking System

The NEET marking scheme 2024 is as follows:

• Each question has 4 marks.
• For each question, the right response earns 4 marks.
• For each wrong response, 1 mark is deducted.
• If more than one option is determined to be accurate after a key is challenged, any/all of the highlighted multiple correct possibilities will receive 4 marks.
• If a question is not attempted or answered, no marks are given.
• 4 marks will be given to everyone who attempted the question if all of the options are determined to be accurate.

The NEET exam uses a specific marking scheme to calculate the final score. For every correct answer, candidates get +4 marks. For every incorrect answer, however, a negative marking of -1 is applied. This ensures that you stay away from guessing.

Considering that you get only 1 minute for each question, you need to be excellent at quick decision-making (a skill you’d use as a doctor in emergencies). This quality can set you apart from the competition. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and more PRACTICE. To learn more about how to attempt the paper, click here.

Language Options

NEET lets candidates choose their exam language. This prevents language barriers from affecting performance. Exams are given in English, Hindi, and regional languages.

English, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Assamese, Gujarati, Marathi, Odia, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Telugu.

This is very helpful for those who studied regional language subjects in school. Don’t worry whether you’re from a Hindi Medium or State Board school.

Hence, everyone has the comfort of their mother tongue and equal scoring chances.

Important- The English version of the question will be considered correct , If there’s an error in a question in some regional language,

So, choose a paper that has both your language and English.

Usually if you choose a paper in regional language- you get a booklet in Hindi, English and Regional Language.

Click here to learn more about which language medium to use and what the official NTA website says.

NEET Exam Pattern 2024 and Total Marks

A maximum of 720 marks are required for the NEET exam 2024, which consists of 180 questions worth a total of 4 marks each. Parts A and B represent a recent modification to the NEET format.

• Section A: Under Section A, 35 questions are asked for Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, and Botany. This part has no choice; students must respond to every question. Sections A and B both have negative markings. A total of 140 marks—35 times 4—can be earned in this section.
• Section B: Out of the 15 questions offered, candidates may attempt any 10 of them. So, Only the first 10 questions a candidate attempts will be considered if they have attempted more than 10.
  The maximum number of points that may be earned in this segment is 40, or 10*4 points. Thus, each section—Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Zoology—can be passed with a total score of 140 + 40 = 180. Each of the 180 marks for the Physics, Chemistry, and Biology sections is combined with the 360 marks for Biology.

Moving on to the total marks and duration. NEET is a 720-mark OMR-based examination. Every correct answer contributes to the total score, and the cumulative score from all questions determines the candidate’s rank and eligibility for medical admissions.

The duration of the exam is 3.20 hours, equivalent to 200 minutes.

So, Candidates have to tackle all 200 questions across the three subjects, out of which only 180 questions need to be attempted.

These 3.20 hours teach you the importance of time management in an exam like NEET.

The exam comprises many topics and questions, so time management is essential to answer all questions.

Thus, Time management becomes a challenge for most candidates. Allocating time to each section based on its weight and your comfort level is the key to successfully attempting the NEET paper.

NEET 2024 Exam Difficulty Level

The NEET question paper is designed to assess candidates’ depth of understanding and application skills. Questions are curated to span a spectrum of difficulty levels, ranging from relatively easier questions to those that challenge even the most adept students. This ensures that the exam evaluates candidates’ conceptual clarity and problem-solving abilities.

IS NEET 2024 GOING TO BE DIFFICULT?

Syllabus of NEET 2024.

There have been some changes in the syllabus of NEET 2024.

UPDATED NEET BIOLOGY SYLLABUS 2024. (READ HERE)

UPDATED NEET PHYSICS SYLLABUS 2024. (READ HERE)

UPDATED NEET CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS 2024. (READ HERE)

The syllabus for NEET is based on the curriculum of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for the 11th and 12th standards.

Encompassing an extensive array of topics across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, the syllabus necessitates a comprehensive understanding of concepts to tackle the wide-ranging questions effectively. About 99% of the questions are from the NCERT textbooks.

Strategy for Attempting Questions

This is a very important part of your paper attempting strategy. You have to be excellent at attempting questions and managing time. Your one aim of attempting the NEET paper is to Maximise your NEET score. A good score means you will get a good medical college.

Attempting questions has 3 major aspects- Time management, accuracy, and knowledge.

Have the proper knowledge of your subject, know how to attempt a question faster, and know how to reach an accurate answer quickly.

By practicing the question format, marking scheme, and subject distribution, you can make a meticulous study plan and approach the exam with confidence.

Consistent preparation, judicious time management, and a strong grasp of concepts are the cornerstones of success in the NEET examination.

Conclusion

Therefore, understanding the pattern of the NEET exam is crucial for successful preparation.

No matter how much you study, if you’re not attempting the paper correctly, your efforts are worthless.

You need to know how to attempt the paper – which subject to start with, how much time to allocate to each subject, etc.

And the best part is, there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy. You can create your way of attempting the paper.

And how will you develop this strategy? Read our blogs regularly, practice tests regularly, make MISTAKES, and repeat.