What is a Safe Score for NEET 2025?

A safe score for the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) in 2025 varies depending on the candidate's category, state of residence, and the type of medical college they are targeting. Generally, a score of 580 or higher is considered safe for securing a seat in a reputable government medical college.

Due to the increased difficulty of the NEET 2025 exam, particularly in the Physics section, the safe score is expected to decrease by 20 to 50 marks across all categories compared to previous years.

NEET 2025 Safe Scores by Category for Government Colleges

A safe score is one that provides a high probability of admission into a government MBBS program. The expected safe scores for NEET 2025 differ by category:

• General Category: 610–650. A score of 650 or more is recommended for admission to the top government MBBS colleges in India. Aiming for a score above 630 is considered a worthwhile goal.
• OBC Category: 590–630. For top government colleges, OBC candidates should aim for a score of at least 550.
• SC Category: 500–550. A score of 350 or higher is generally required for admission to a top government MBBS or BDS college.
• ST Category: 450–500. Similar to SC candidates, a score of 350 or higher is needed for top government medical or dental colleges.

NEET 2025 Score Tiers and Admission Possibilities

Different score ranges in NEET 2025 can lead to different admission outcomes:

• Very Good (650–700): This range can secure a seat in India’s most prestigious medical institutions, such as AIIMS, JIPMER, and Maulana Azad Medical College.
• Good (500–649): A score in this range is likely sufficient for admission to a government MBBS or BDS college. Specifically, a score above 590 is expected to secure a place in a top state-level medical college under the state quota .
• Average (430–510): This score is generally sufficient for admission to some of India's top private MBBS and dental colleges .

NEET 2025 State-Wise Variations in Safe Scores

NEET cutoffs vary significantly between states due to factors like the number of applicants, seat availability, and state reservation policies 6. States with lower competition, such as those in the northeast, may have lower cutoffs . Conversely, states with high competition, like Delhi and Rajasthan, require higher scores .

The table below shows the expected minimum and maximum marks for MBBS admission in government colleges for various states :

NEET 2025 Qualifying Cutoff Scores

It is important to distinguish a "safe score" from the "qualifying cutoff score." The qualifying cutoff is the minimum score required to be eligible for the counseling process, which the National Testing Agency (NTA) releases with the results. These scores are percentile-based and are significantly lower than what is typically needed for admission to a government college.

The expected qualifying cutoff scores for NEET 2025 are:

• General/EWS: 720–164
• OBC/SC/ST: 163–129
• General-PH: 154–135