NEET 2024 Exam Day Guidelines:The Exam Schedule and Exam Pattern

Hello dear future doctors, I know that you guys are already aware about the exam pattern and have an idea about the schedule too. But, just so you don’t get scared or anxious during the exam, here’s a blog summarizing the two.

Just read through it quickly and try to follow all rules and instructions at the NEET centre. If you fail to follow rules, you might be called out for using unfair means. This can have a lot of consequences for you.

So lets go through everything for one last time before the big day is here. Ready?

Let’s start with an overview:

NEET exam overview:

NEET 2024 Exam Day Guidelines: Knowing the Schedule

The following table brings the exam day events and their timings so that candidates can plan their timing and travel accordingly.

NEET 2024 Exam Day Guidelines: The Exam Pattern

Here is a small run through on the important details about the NEET exam paper pattern to keep in mind. Just read through these points carefully.

Mode of the Examination: 

NEET 2024 will be conducted in a Pen & Paper-based Test. It has to be attempted on an OMR sheet using a BallPoint Pen, both are provided at the Centre.

Just fill in the details that they are asking you to fill in the OMR, any unfair practice with the OMR at any stage will lead to debarring of the candidate for 03 years. After the test is over, candidates will be allowed to carry the test booklet with them.

Duration of the examination: 

The duration will be three hours and twenty minutes.  Compensatory time of one hour five minutes to PwbBD [having a physical limitation to write] will be given.

Wristwatches are not allowed in the examination centre, so each exam hall will have a wall clock to help the candidates. Also, half-time will be indicated by a bell.

Medium of the examination: 

There are 13 language options for the NEET question paper.

Candidates opting for English/Hindi/Regional Languages would be provided a Test Booklet in English + Hindi + selected Regional Language. Of these, English, Hindi; Urdu are available at every exam centre in India.

In case of any problem or uncertainty in the translation of a question in the exam, its English version shall be treated as final version and the decision of NTA shall be final based on the English version only.

Marking scheme:

 Candidates must at all times keep in mind that NEET 2024 has a negative marking system. 

(a) For Section A (MCQs):

1. Correct answer or the most appropriate answer: Four marks (+4) 
2. Any incorrect option marked will be given minus one mark (-1). 
3. Unanswered: No mark (0). 
4. If more than one option is found to be correct then Four marks (+4) will be given to ONLY those who have marked any of the correct options. 
5. If all options are found to be correct then Four marks (+4) will be awarded to all those who have attempted the question. 
6. If none of the options is correct or the Question is found to be wrong or the Question is dropped, then all the candidates will be given four marks (+4) irrespective of the fact whether they have attempted the question or not.

(b) For Section B (MCQs): 

Candidates need to attempt any 10 Questions out of 15 Questions given. If you attempt more than 10 questions, only the first 10 attempted questions will be considered for evaluation. There WILL ALSO be negative marking for Section B. 

1. Correct Answer: Four marks (+4) 
2. Incorrect Answer: Minus one mark (-1) 
3. Unanswered: No mark (0). 
4. If more than one option is found to be correct then Four marks (+4) will be awarded to only those who have marked any of the correct options. 
5. If all options are found to be correct then Four marks (+4) will be awarded to all those who have attempted the question. 
6. If a question is found to be incorrect or the Question is dropped then Four marks (+4) will be awarded to all those who have attempted the question. The reason could be due to human error or technical error. (This is the only difference between the marking schemes of section A and section

Also, you are advised to do the calculations with the constants given (if any) in the questions.

Number of questions: 

The total number of questions in the exam will be 200 but candidates will have to answer only 180. Each subject will be divided into two sections, A and B which will have 35 and 15 questions respectively.

Candidates will have to answer only 10 questions in Section B. If you attempt more than 10 questions, only the first 10 attempted questions will be considered for evaluation. 

That’s it. That’s all you need to know about the exam schedule and pattern. Read the rest of the exam guidelines by clicking on the links below.
All the best, dear aspirant.