NEET 2026 Exam pattern was changed last year and is likely to remain same this year. According to NEET exam pattern 2026, you will be required to solve a maximum of 180 questions, with 45 questions from Physics, 45 questions from Chemistry and 90 questions from Biology. There will bo no optional questions in NEET question paper 2026.
According to NEET 2026 question paper pattern, you will be allowed to solve NEET 2026 question paper in 180 minutes with an average duration of 1 minutes for each question. For each correct answer, you will get 4 marks added to your NEET total marks. However, for each incorrect answer, you will get -1 mark deducted for each incorrect answer.
You can score a maximum of 720 marks in NEET 2026 by answering each question of NEET 2026 question paper correctly.
Last year, the total marks in NEET were changed from 200 to 180, removing the optional questions from the question paper. Duration of NEET exam was reduced from 3 hours and 20 minutes (200 minutes) to 3 hours (180 minutes).
Related Articles
- NEET 2026 Exam Pattern for Physics
- NEET 2026 Exam pattern for Chemistry
- NEET 2026 Exam Pattern for Biology
Key Summary
- NEET Exam pattern will be published by NTA on the official website at neet.nta.nic.in.
- Total number of questions asked in NEET 2026 are 180.
- Section wise distribution of questions in NEET 2026 include 45 in Physics, 45 in Chemistry, and 90 in Biology.
- NEET 2026 total marks are 720 with 180 marks in Physics, 180 marks in Chemistry and 360 marks in Biology.
- Duration of NEET exam 2026 is 180 minutes (3 hours) with an average duration of 1 minute for each question.
- Last year, NEET exam pattern was changed removing optional questions, reducing the total number of questions from 200 to 180 and exam duration from 200 minutes to 180 minutes.
- What is NEET Exam Pattern?
- NEET Exam Pattern 2026
- NEET Exam Pattern 2026: Section-wise Weightage
- NEET Exam Pattern 2026: Marking Scheme
- Changes in NEET Exam Pattern 2026
- NEET Exam Pattern: Previous Year Papers PDF
6.1 NEET 2026 Question papers PDF
6.2 NEET 2024 Question Papers PDF
6.3 NEET Question Papers 2017-23
- NEET Exam Pattern: Mock Tests
- NEET Exam Pattern FAQs
What is NEET Exam Pattern?
NEET 2026 exam pattern includes the structure of NEET question paper, number of questions asked, section wise marks distribution, total marks, and so on. As per the NTA NEET exam pattern, there are a total of 180 MCQs asked in NEET 2026 out of these, 45 questions are from Physics, 45 from Chemistry and 90 questions from Biology.
Students will have to answer the NEET questions on an OMR sheet by shading the circles of respective options. For each correct option chosen by candidate, 4 marks will be awarded,a nd for each incorrect option, -1 mark will be deducted. Maximum marks that students can score are 720.
Last year, NEET exam pattern has been brought back to pre Covid era scrapping optional questions and reducing the duration of examination. Section B from each section of NEET question paper has been removed reducing the total number of questions from 200 to 180.
NEET Exam Pattern 2026
As per the NEET Exam Pattern released by NTA, the NEET question paper will comprise 3 sections, namely Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Physics and Chemistry each will carry 45 questions, and Biology alone will carry a total of 90 questions.
For each question in the NEET 2026 question paper, there will be 4 options, and only 1 option will be correct. Each correct answer will get you 4 marks, and a -1 mark will be deducted from your overall NEET score for each incorrect answer.
Candidates with all 180 questions answered correctly will get a maximum of 720 marks. Students can check below an overview of the NEET exam pattern 2026.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Examination | Offline- pen and paper-based |
| Number of Sections in NEET 2026 | 3 sections |
| NEET 2026 Sections |
|
| Type of Questions in NEET 2026 | MCQs |
| Number of Questions in NEET 2026 | 180 |
| NEET Section-Wise Number of Questions |
|
| NEET Total Marks | 720 |
| NEET Section-Wise Marks |
|
| NEET 2026 Exam Duration | 3 hours (2:00 PM to 5:00 PM) |
| NEET 2026 Marking Scheme |
|
Source- NEET official brochure
Ques. Where can I check the NEET 2026 exam pattern?
Ans. NTA releases NEET exam pattern along with the NEET official brochure on the official website at neet.nta.nic.in. once released for 2026, you can visit the official website and download the official brochure and check NEET 2026 exam pattern.
Ques. What is the exam duration of NEET 2026?
Ans. Exam pattern for NEET 2026 is expected to be same as last year. As per the latest NEET exam pattern, the exam wil be conducted for a duration of 3 hours 180 minutes. On average, students will get 1 minute for each question.
Ques. Is NEET MCQ or written?
Ans. NEET 2026 will be conducted with MCQ type questions. There will be a total of 180 MCQs asked in NEET exam 2026.
Also Read: NEET Paper Analysis
NEET Exam Pattern 2026: Section-wise Weightage
As per the NEET 2026 exam pattern published by NTA on the official website, you will face a total of 180 questions. 45 questions will be asked from Physics, 45 questions from Chemistry, and 9-0 questions from Biology.
With 4 marks allotted to each question, you can score 180 marks in Physics, 180 marks in Chemistry and 360 marks in Biology. You can score a maximum of 720 marks in NEET 2026 by answering each question correctly.
| NEET Section | Number of Questions in NEET | Marks for Each Question | Marks in NEET |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 45 | 4 | 180 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 180 | |
| Biology | 90 | 360 | |
| Total | 180 | - | 720 |
Ques. How are 720 marks for NEET divided?
Ans. 720 marks in NEET are divided between 3 sections including Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Physics carries 180 marks, chemistry carries 180 marks, and Biology carries 360 marks.
Ques. How many marks are there in NEET 2026?
Ans. In NEET 2026, there are a total of 170 questions. For each question students can score a maximum of 4 marks and in NEET 2026, students can score a maximum of 720 marks.
Also Read:
NEET Exam Pattern 2026: Marking Scheme
According to the NEET question paper pattern 2026, for each correct answer, you will score 4 marks. However, you will get -1 mark deducted for each incorrect response from your NEET overall score.
There will be no negative marking if you leave questions unanswered in the NEET question paper 2026.
| Answer Type | NEET Marking Scheme |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +4 |
| Wrong Answer | -1 |
| Unattempted Questions | 0 |
Ques. How is NEET Marking done?
Ans. NEET marking is done based on the NEET marking scheme. 4 marks are awarded for each correct answer and 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer. 0 marks will be there for unattempted questions.
NEET Language Options and Centre Availability
As per the NEP (National Education Policy, NEET 2026 will be conducted in 13 languages including English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
- Candidates opting for English will get NEET question booklet in English Language only.
- Candidates opting for Hindi language will be provided with NEET question booklet in Hindi and English language.
- Candidates who opt for regional languages will be provided question booklet in English+Selected regional language.
Source: @NEET official brochure
The optional regional languages will be available as per the table below.
| Medium of Question Paper | Examination Centres |
|---|---|
| English | All Examination Centres |
| English and Hindi | All Examination Centres in India |
| English and Assamese | Examination Centres in Assam |
| English and Bengali | Examination Centres in West Bengal, Tripura, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| English and Gujarati | Examination Centres in Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli |
| English and Kannada | Examination Centres in Karnataka |
| English and Malayalam | Examination Centres in Kerala and Lakshadweep |
| English and Marathi | Examination Centres in Maharashtra |
| English and Odia | Examination Centres in Odisha |
| English and Punjabi | Examination Centres in Punjab, Chandigarh, and Delhi/New Delhi (including Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Noida/Greater Noida) |
| English and Tamil | Examination Centres in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| English and Telugu | Examination Centres in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana |
| English and Urdu | All Examination Centres in India |
Source: @NEET official brochure
Changes in NEET Exam Pattern 2026
Last year, NTA revised the NEET exam pattern on behalf of the National Medical Commission. As per the changes made by NTA in the NEET Exam pattern, the question paper pattern was reverted to the pre-COVID format, scrapping Section B from the NEET Question paper.
- There will no longer be access to optional questions from section B of the NEET question paper as the section has been removed.
- There will be a maximum of 180 questions in NEET 2026.
- The duration of NEET 2026 will be 3 hours (180 minutes).
Before the exam pattern was changed last year, each subject had 2 sections: Section A (35 questions) and Section B (15 questions). In Section A, all questions were compulsory, whereas in Section B, 15 questions were compulsory. There were a total of 200 questions out of which 18-0 were compulsory and 20 were optional questions. Time allotted to solve the NEET question paper was 3 hours and 20 minutes (200 minutes).
| Particulars | NEET Exam Pattern During COVID (till 2024) | NEET Exam Pattern 2025 onwards |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 200 | 180 |
| Section-Wise Number of Questions | Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, and Botany
|
|
| Number of Optional Questions | 20 | 0 |
| Time Allotted | 200 minutes (3 hours 20 minutes) | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
Ques. Is the NEET pattern changed for 2026?
Ans. Ther are no changes notified by NTA for NEET 2026 as of now. The NEET exam pattern is likely to be the same as last year with 180 questions for 720 marks with time duration of 3 hours.
NEET Exam Pattern 2026: Difficulty level
Last year’s NEET question was difficult than previous years' NEET question papers. Considering the difficulty level of NEET examination, the Ministry of Education will first analyse the level of NEET question paper and only then will it be considered final.
The committee prescribed by the Government of India will first analyse the NEET question paper. If the question paper for NEET 2026 aligns with the NCERT class 12 curriculum, only then will the question paper be considered for NEET 2026 examination.
This action has been taken to align the entrance exam with the school's learning outcomes. Coaching dependency for NEET 2026 will be reduced, and students can prepare for NEET 2026 based on what they have studied in classes 11th and 12th. This year, NEET is expected to be of a moderate difficulty level.
NEET 2026 Safe Attempt Strategy for 650+/700+
NEET question paper must be solved with a proper strategy and efficient time management. Mismanagement of time across sections can lead to failure in NEET examination. Students can follow the NEET 2026 paper-solving strategy as below.
- Start with the NEET Biology section as it is more theoretical based. Students often find NEET Biology section easier than any other section of NEET question paper.
- After the Biology section, move to the NEET Chemistry section as the maximum number of questions in NEET Chemistry section are theory-based.
- Finally, solve the NEET Physics section. This section includes numerical-based questions, which are often time-consuming.
- Solve the easier questions first and mark difficult questions for review.
- Among the difficult questions, solve only those you are confident in to reduce the chances of negative marking.
NEET 2026 Section Wise Time Management
You must have a proper strategy to solve the NEET 2026 question paper. Students who manage time effectively while solving NEET question paper have higher chances of scoring higher in the examination. Students can follow the time management strategies as mentioned below.
- For OMR filling, it takes around 5 seconds to fill one circle, and for 180 questions, it will take you 15 minutes.
- Keep another 15 minutes for unexpected situations while solving the NEET question paper..
- Distribute the remaining 150 minutes between Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.
- Biology will take less time as it carries mainly theory-based questions. You can assign around 50 minutes to answer NEET Biology questions.
- Most of the questions in Chemistry are also theory-based; however, some questions may include calculations. You can assign around 50 minutes to solve NEET Chemistry questions.
- NEET Physics carries questions involving calculations and consumes the maximum time among the sections. You can assign around 60 minutes to answer questions in NEET Physics.
| Particulars | Time Allotted |
|---|---|
| OMR Filling | 15 minutes |
| Unexpected Situations/Reviewing Difficult Questions | 15 minutes |
| Biology | 40 minutes |
| Chemistry | 50 minutes |
| Physics | 60 minutes |
NEET Exam Pattern: Previous Year Papers PDF
To understand the NEET exam pattern before actually appearing for NEET exam 2026, you must solve previous years’ papers. You can check the table below for NEET previous years’ papers.
NEET 2026 Question papers PDF
| Paper Code | Question Paper PDF | Solutions PDF |
|---|---|---|
| NEET 2025 Question Paper Code 45 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| NEET 2025 Question Paper Code 46 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| NEET 2025 Question Paper Code 47 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| NEET 2025 Question Paper Code 48 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
NEET 2024 Question Papers PDF
| Paper Code | Question Paper PDF | Solutions PDF |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| R2 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| R3 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| R4 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| R5 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| R6 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| Q1 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| Q2 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| Q3 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| Q4 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| Q5 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| Q6 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| T1 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| T2 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| T3 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| T4 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| T5 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| T6 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| S1 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| S2 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| S3 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| S4 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| S5 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| S6 | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
NEET Question Papers 2017-23
| NEET Exam Year | NEET Question Papers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Check Here |
| 2022 | Check Here |
| 2021 | Check Here |
| 2020 | Check Here |
| 2019 | Check Here |
| 2018 | Check Here |
| 2017 | Check Here |
Also read:
NEET Exam Pattern: Mock Tests
You must also appear for NEET Mock tests to understand the NEET 2026 exam pattern, improve accuracy in solving questions, and improve time management. You can attempt subject-wise NEET Mock tests below.
| Subject | NEET Mock Test |
|---|---|
| Physics | Attempt Here |
| Chemistry | Attempt Here |
| Biology | Attempt Here |
Also Read:
NEET Exam Pattern FAQs
Ques. How to write NEET exam?
Ans. NEET 2026 exam will be conducted in offline/pen-paper mode. Students will be provided with question booklet and an OMR sheet. On the OMR sheet, options will be listed in the form of circles and students will have to shade the circles of respective options to answer each question.
Ques. What is the highest score in NEET?
Ans. As per the NEET 2026, there are 180 questions asked in NEET 2026. Students can get highest score in NEET of 720 marks, with 4 marks are awarded for each question.
Ques. How many hours NEET exam?
Ans. NEET 2026 will be conducted for a duration of 3 hours (180 minutes). Students will get 1 minute to solve each question of NEET 2026.
Ques. How are NEET marks calculated?
Ans. NEET marks are calculated based on NEET marking scheme as below.
- 4 marks are add for each correct answer.
- 1 marks wil be deducted for each incorrect answer.
- 0 marks for unanswered question.
- 0 marks if candidates selected multiple options for single question.
Ques. How do optional questions in NEET 2026 impact your strategy?
Answer- Optional questions in Section B of NEET 2026 provide flexibility. They can impact your strategy in the following ways:
- Focus on Strengths: Prioritize topics you’re confident about to improve accuracy in Section B.
- Time Management: Skip up to 5 questions per subject in Section B to save time for challenging sections.
- Strategic Preparation: Emphasize high-weightage topics, as optional questions may focus on them.
- Avoid Guesswork: Carefully select 10 questions per subject to minimize negative marking.
Ques. How does negative marking affect your NEET 2026 score?
Answer- Negative marking significantly impacts your score in NEET. Here’s how:
- Scoring Scheme:
- Correct Answer: +4 marks.
- Incorrect Answer: -1 mark.
- Unanswered: 0 marks.
- Impact: Guessing answers may lead to score deductions, especially for borderline cases.
- Strategy: Attempt only questions you’re confident about to minimize score loss.
Ques. Is NEET only MCQ-based?
Answer- Yes, NEET is entirely MCQ-based. The question paper includes:
- 200 questions, of which candidates must attempt 180.
- Four options for each question, with only one correct answer.
- Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany & Zoology).
This format ensures standardization, objective evaluation, and time-bound testing.
Ques. Can I crack NEET in 15 days?
Answer- While 15 days is a short time, focused preparation can yield results. Here’s how:
- Prioritize High-Weightage Topics: Focus on Modern Physics, Human Physiology, and Inorganic Chemistry.
- Revise NCERT: Review Biology diagrams and Chemistry reactions thoroughly.
- Solve Previous Papers: Practice mock tests daily to improve speed and accuracy.
- Time Management: Use short, intensive study sessions with regular breaks for better focus.
While cracking NEET in 15 days is challenging, a strategic approach can improve your score.
Question 5. What are the passing marks for NEET 2026?
Answer- Passing marks for NEET vary by category:
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | NEET 2024 Cutoff (Marks) |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 50th Percentile | 720-137 |
| OBC/SC/ST | 40th Percentile | 136-107 |
| General-PwD | 45th Percentile | 136-121 |
| OBC/SC/ST-PwD | 40th Percentile | 120-107 |
Ques. What is NEET exam duration and timing?
Ans. NEET exam duration is 3 hours. Students must solve all 180 questions in NEET 2026 within the 180-minute time limit. The timing of NEET 2026 is likely to be from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM as per the trends from previous years.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| NEET Exam Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| NEET Exam Timing | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
Ques. Is section B removed in NEET?
Ans. Yes, section B has been removed from NEET question paper. Now, there are only 180 questions in NEET 2026 instead of 200 questions, and all 180 questions are compulsory. Sectional distribution of NEET questions is 90 for Biology, 45 for Physics, and 45 for Chemistry.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Section B | Removed |
| Total Questions | 180 |
| Time Allotted | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
Ques. How is NEET marking calculated for wrong, unattempted, and dropped questions?
Ans. NEET marking is done based on NEET exam pattern and marking scheme. As per the latest NEET exam pattern, for wrong answers, -1 mark is deducted. However, for unattempted and dropped questions, students will get no negative marking penalty.
Ques. Do PYQs still match the latest NEET pattern and difficulty?
Ans. As far as previous papers are concerned, NEET previous years' papers do not match the structure of the question paper; however, the difficulty level and type of questions are similar. The difficulty level of NEET exam keeps changing every year and does not depend on the NEET exam pattern prescribed by NTA.
Earlier, before 2025, NEET question papers included 200 questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology combined. Each section was split into Section A and Section B. Section A was compulsory; however, Section B included optional questions.
As of now, 2025 onwards, NEET is conducted for 180 questions without any optional questions in NEET question paper. There is no Section B in the NEET question paper.
Check NEET Previous Year Cutoff (2024 - 2025)
| College | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
47 | 48 | |
151 | 103 | |
141 | 132 | |
16404 | 215 | |
87672 | 260 | |
374 | 392 | |
73045 | 559 | |
510 | 634 | |
778 | 690 | |
655 | 785 | |
731 | 816 | |
676 | 889 | |
953 | 1030 | |
1010 | 1126 | |
826 | 1129 |
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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