NEET 2024 Tie-Breaking Criteria: Understanding with examples.

When 25 lakh aspirants appear for a 720 mark paper, discrepancies based on rank are bound to happen. We all know that there are going to be more than just 5 or 10 aspirants scoring the same marks in the exam. As we go down the marks gradient, the number of aspirants having the same keeps increases. There are thousands of students with the same score. How is the rank decided then? Are they randomly allotted or is there a systematic approach? Let’s find out.

The New Tie-Breaker for NEET 2024

For the first time in history, NTA will be using a randomized draw to allot ranks to candidates scoring the same marks.

Here is the detailed NEET 2024 Tie-Breaking criteria

1. Candidate obtaining higher marks in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by,
2. Candidate obtaining higher marks in Chemistry in the Test, followed by,
3. Candidate obtaining higher marks in Physics in the Test, followed by,
4. Draw of lots by using the computer or IT with no human intervention.

Let’s understand this with the help of some examples.

In this example, there are 2 students: Tanmay and Pranav, their scorecards are given above. According to the scorecard, both have an overall score of 550. For NTA to break the tie between these two students, they would follow the official criteria.

Firstly, NTA would look at the Biology scores. Since both Tanmay and Pranav have scored equal in Biology, the tie does not resolve. So, NTA moves on to the next criteria

Next, they will look at the Chemistry scores. Here, Tanmay has scored more than Pranav. The tie resolves.

Tanmay will be ranked higher than Pranav.

In the next example, both Mahima and Ishika have scored 500 in NEET 2024. NTA uses the official criteria to break the tie between these too.

The first, second and third criteria fail to resolve the tie, as both Ishika and Mahima have scored the same marks in all the three subjects. 

So, using the fourth criteria, NTA will ask the computer to pick one of the two using a system similar to lottery allotment. It is totally random and based on pure luck. It ensures that both the candidates are equal in terms of score and that both get an equal chance at being ranked higher.

NTA assures that no human intervention will be done in the computer based tie breaker. It will be just and fair.

Now that we have discussed the new criteria, let’s look at its evolution from the previous Tie-Breaker criteria.

NEET 2023 Tie-Breaking Criteria

Similar to the NEET 2024 criteria, the performance in Biology, Chemistry and Physics was assessed step by step. But, the next criteria took into account the proportion of correct answers to the negative marking. Here is the Tie-Breaking criteria for 2023.

1. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by,
2. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Chemistry in the Test, followed by,
3. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Physics in the Test, followed by,
4. Candidate with less proportion of the number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in all the subjects in the Test, (Candidate with lesser negative markings)
5. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, (Candidate with lesser negative markings in Biology) followed by
6. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Chemistry in the Test, (Candidate with lesser negative markings in Chemistry) followed by
7. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Physics (Candidate with lesser negative markings in Physics) in the Test.

NEET 2022 Tie-Breaking Criteria

The criteria is the same as that of NEET 2023 except for an additional 2 categories, which were age and application number.

1. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by
2. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Chemistry in the Test, followed by,
3. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Physics in the Test, followed by,
4. Candidate with less proportion of the number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in all the subjects in the Test, (Candidate with lesser negative markings)
5. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, (Candidate with lesser negative markings in Biology) followed by
6. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Chemistry in the Test, (Candidate with lesser negative markings in Chemistry) followed by
7. Candidate Older in Age is given preference, followed by
8. Application Number in ascending order.

NEET 2021 Tie-Breaking Criteria

The NEET 2021 tie-breaking criteria had only three factors, which are given below:

1. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by,
2. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Chemistry in the Test, followed by,
3. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in all the subjects in the Test.

It is clear that the pattern has undergone several changes since the start. The only constant criteria are the first three criteria.