How to fill your NEET OMR?

NEET exam is the only national medical entrance examination that leads to admissions in courses like MBBS, BDS, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, etc. It is a highly competitive examination where close to 20-25 lac students compete for 1 lac MBBS seats.

To get an MBBS seat in India is a very tough task. And, this requires a lot of practice, good guidance and determination.

NEET Pattern

NEET is an MCQ-based paper with a total mark of 720. There are 4 subjects – Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology. There are 200 questions out of which only 180 questions have to be solved. Each question is of 4 marks. If you get it right you get +4 and if you get it wrong, you get a score of -1.

What will happen if you do not fill your OMR sheet correctly ?

NEET is a pen and paper based exam which is conducted in the offline mode. You have 200 minutes to complete the 200 questions. Out these 200 questions you only to tick 180 questions. Each question is of 4 marks thus, making the total marks equal to 720 marks.

NEET exam is an offline paper. You are given a pen with which you circle bubble in a sheet (OMR Sheet – Optical Mark Recognition Sheet). The problem with NEET exam is that once you have marked a question, you cannot change it.

And for every wrong answer you get a -1 as a score. And these days, a 1 mark difference can lead to a shift in your rank by at least 1000s, if not more.

The NEET Nightmare

The worst mistake you can make is that you make one wrong bubble and then you continue to do so. Let me explain.

Imagine, that you have the habit of filling your OMR when you finish the paper or when you complete the physics section. So, you start filling the bubble and you decide to leave out one or two questions in between because they are tough and you will do it later on.

Now, it might happen that you were going to fill the bubble for question no 22 and you were going to skip question number 21.

YOUR MISTAKE? You will forget that you skipped 21 and you will fill the answer of 22 in the bubble of question no 21.And then, without noticing you will continue to fill the wrong answers for THE ENTIRE OMR!!.

This is because the sequence went wrong after question no 21. So then, you will continue to fill the answer for 23 in 22, 24 in 23 and so on. The entire OMR sheet is filled one answer ahead, so it’s all wrong after 22.

Do you understand what it means? Losing out on your MBBS seat and then taking a drop year. Because of ONE SMALL BUBBLING ERROR.

Official rules for OMR filling by NTA (Scroll down if you already know them)

Before Filling OMR Sheet, the candidate should remember one thing that OMR sheets are evaluated by computer software. This software is very sensitive and can only read properly filled black coloured bubbles. Do not tamper or scratch the OMR sheet. Only provide the required information in the OMR sheet.
Specific spaces or boxes are provided in the OMR sheets to fill the required information like Roll Number, Test Booklet No. and Test Booklet Code and do not write anything else on the OMR sheets or do not make any specific symbol or sign. This can lead to the rejection of the OMR Sheet. a. The candidate has a 10 digit Roll Number. Roll Number will be mentioned in the Admit Card.
The Candidate should ensure that 7 digit Test Booklet No. has been filled and marked correctly
In the OMR Sheet, write the Candidate’s Name, Father’s Name, and Mother’s Name (in running handwriting) in the Name column as given in the following box
Do not fill in more than one option for any of the questions because there is only one answer, which is the most appropriate for all the questions.
The candidates are required to sign with time (in running handwriting) in the declaration column.
Make sure that the CODE printed on the OMR Answer Sheet is the same as that on the Test Booklet. In case of discrepancy, the candidate should immediately report the matter to the Invigilator for replacement of both the Test Booklet and the Answer Sheet.
In case of any discrepancy for a particular language, only the English version will be considered as the final version.

You will be given two OMR sheets- both attached to each other and a carbon copy in between them. So when you fill out your OMR with a ball point pen, similar impression forms on the second OMR using the carbon copy paper.

Both the OMR sheets (the entire set) – one is Original copy that is put under the machine to generate your score and the other is the carbon copy (Office copy).

The office copy is uploaded on the NTA website and displayed to you to cross check your answers some days before the result is released. Even if the bubbles are misplaced on the office copy because of the misplaced carbon paper in between, do not worry. Only your Original copy is used to generate your score.

Remember to submit both the OMR sheets. Do not tear them apart.

The important instructions on the official OMR of NEET are:

This answer sheet consist of two copied, the Original copy and the Office copy. Do not attempt to tear or displace them while recording informations/ answers.
Use only blue/ black ball point pen to darken the appropriate circle .
Please darken the complete circle.
Darken ONLY ONE CIRCLE for each question as shown below:
Answer once marked cannot be changed.
Please do not mark any stray marks (do not marks anywhere except inside the circles) on the Answer sheet. Incorrect marks/ stray marks may be read by the OMR scanner.
No rough work must be done on the answer sheet.
Mark you answer in the appropriate space in the answer sheet against the number corresponding to that question.
The candidate is not allowed to carry the original or office copy of OMR response sheet with him/ her on conclusion of the exam. Both the OMR’s have to be submitted.

Our Advice

1. Before the exam

A. Check your OMR

The invigilator will tell you to check your OMR. Ensure that it is not torn, unmarked and free from any errors.

Ensure your text booklet code is same as the text booklet code mentioned on the OMR.

Go to this link to see how the NEET OMR will look like.

Get some OMR sheets printed out. Try to get the OMR which is same as the official NTA OMR and practice on that.

You might feel these little things do not matter. But your brain works best and most efficiently when you have already practiced in familiar conditions as the exam. In this case, if your practice on an OMR which is same as the one you will get in NEET exam, you are less likely to make any silly mistakes.

How to practice Mock Tests for NEET 2024 at home? READ HERE.

C. Practice filling out sample OMR sheets

I am not joking about this. Just take some OMR sheets and practice bubbling them the correct way. Put a timer and try complete 50 bubbles in 10 minutes. When I used to be completely exhausted from practicing questions, and I just wanted to listen to some music, I would just engage in some mindless OMR bubbling practice.

How to Fill NEET OMR Sheet?: Use your Index Finger for Coordination.

Take any NEET mock question paper and keep it with you when practicing bubbling. You do not have to solve the paper. But just keep it in front of you with the OMR.
Now, put your left index finger one Question number 1 in the NEET mock paper and just take any option to be the correct option, for eg the answer is C. Slide your left index finger across to the OMR sheet and find “Questions number 1” on the OMR sheet.
Now, follow the bubbles with your left index finger and come to the third bubble , cross check the option “C” on the sheet.
Voila, you are the right place.
Now, put your pen (right hand) to any point on the boundary of the circle, and start filling the bubble from outside to inside.

This method may feel to be time consuming, but with practice and speed you will realise that it is the sure shot way to fill an OMR. You’ll need to practice atleast 20 OMR filling before you get a good speed and accuracy. This way you are free from any OMR filling errors.

This method is the sure shot method to train your eyes on how to fill the OMR. It will take time

2. During the exam

A. Fill in personal details accurately

Please use the index finger method above to fill your roll number properly. You will have to first write the application number in the box above and then fill all the bubbles below each number.

Fill you test booklet code properly. Do it in the same manner as you will fill you roll number.
Fill you Roll number the right way and correctly.
Fill in the right test booklet code.
Fill in your name, you father’s name and your mother’s name in running handwriting.
Left thumb impression on the OMR is required. THe invigilator will come with a stamp pad. ENSURE TO WIPE OFF THE INK OFF OF YOUR HAND. Do not forget to do this please. You may stain your OMR sheet very bad and some of your answers may not be read.

POINTS TO REMEMBER.

A. Don’t make a mistake in filling the roll number and other details properly. When you are practising filling the OMR sheet start from the roll number and not directly from the questions.

B. Even if you make a mistake in this, do not worry. Calm yourself down during the paperand remember reading this article. Your paper will be checked. You will get a NEET score. Your hard work will not go to waste.

What Will Happen if I fill the wrong Application Number in my OMR?

Please do not make this mistake. Do not write the wrong application number or bubble the wrong roll number. The moment you realise this mistake, you will get instantly nervous and that may lead to a lot of worry and you making more mistakes.

Some of my friends made this mistake and they were worried till the result was not announced. They had to call up NTA several times to ensure their OMR was not rejected. Although, at the end most of them got into very good government colleges.

If you mention the roll number correctly in the box above but make a mistake in bubbling, the machine will not read your OMR. But, the operator of the machine will check it out and enter your roll number manually into the system.

B. Mark answers clearly and completely

You will be given a pen by NTA. You do not have to bring your own pen.
Check that the pen is working by using it first on the rough section in the question paper. DO NOT WRITE ANYTHING ON THE OMR SHEET. DO NOT MAKE THIS MISTAKE.
Then fill the roll number and other details.
If the pen stops working in between the exam, again go to the rough section of the question paper and scratch the pen’s nib there.
If you are shaking the pen, do it away from your NEET OMR. Please take care of these little things. You may not even remember these as these may not feel important but you might end up making this same mistake. This can easily ruin your NEET paper and NEET rank.
DO NOT USE WHITENER OR SCRATCH THE BUBBLE TO CHANGE THE ANSWER.

How to fill the NEET OMR Sheet/ Bubble in the Correct way ?(Outside to Inside)

Fill the bubble completely. See the image below to understand the right way.

Bubble from Outside to Inside. Practice this method on rough OMR sheets to gain speed and accuracy.

3. After the exam

A. Double-check all answers are filled in

Check that all bubbles are filled properly.
If any bubbles are not completed filled, fill them.
Do not use any unfair means by cutting or tampering with the OMR.
DO NOT SCRATCH THE OMR.
Do not use Whitener or scratch the OMR.
Ensure the sequence is correct
Check that all the bubbles you wanted to bubble. Leave out bubbling the answers you want to leave or have doubt in.

B. Avoid any stray marks on the OMR sheet

Ensure there are no stray marks on the OMR sheet. Any stray marks can be picked up by the machine and can lead to loss of marks. OR WORSE, YOUR OMR CAN BE REJECTED.

C. Submit the OMR sheet as instructed by the invigilator

Even if you have less time to complete the questions and are not able to complete the paper, do not enter into a brawl with your invigilator. WHAT if you OMR tears up? What will you do then?

GIVE UP THE PAPER, DO NOT RESIST.

V. Conclusion

OMR filling and paper attempting strategy is more important for NEET now.

As the syllabus is restricted to the NCERTs, you do not have to stray far away from the NCERT’s.

Now your accuracy and speed matters more. Filling the OMR the right way is necessary. T

THINK ABOUT IT? WHAT IS THE POINT OF LEARNING SO MUCH AND THE COMING TO THE RIGHT ANSWER ONLY TO FILL THE OMR INCORRECTLY? Kitna bura lagega? DO NOT DO IT.

SO, PRACTICE ALL THESE THINGS. 25 LAC STUDENTS ARE SITTING FOR THIS NEET? IF YOU ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE SAME STRATEGIES AS EVERYBODY ELSE, HOW ARE YOU GONNA DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF AND COME TO THE TOP 40,000 STUDENTS?