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NEET Exam Pattern 2024: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) has been conducted for admissions in medical courses since 2013, except for 2014 and 2015, when AIPMT was held instead. It resumed again in 2016. CBSE used to conduct this examination earlier, but since 2019, NTA has been the nodal agency for conducting this examination. The NEET examination pattern hasn’t changed since 2016. All medical aspirants who wish to appear for NEET 2024 must be aware of the exam pattern and the syllabus, as it will help them make an appropriate preparation strategy. Moreover, it will help the students manage their time during the exam if they already know the paper pattern. Being familiar with the exam saves the students from a lot of last-minute hustle. Let’s have a look at the exam pattern and the syllabus.
NEET Exam Pattern
NEET examination is taken in offline mode. It is a pen and paper-based test. The candidates are given a question booklet and an OMR sheet to fill in the answers.
- The duration of this exam is 3 hours.
- There are 200 questions in the NEET paper, and students have to solve only 180 questions.
- Twenty questions are optional, consisting of 5 questions from each subject.
- The questions are from 4 subjects- Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, and Botany.
- Each subject comprises two sections, i.e., section A and section B.
- Section A of each subject has 35 compulsory questions.
- Section B of each subject has 15 questions. From this section, students have to solve only ten questions.
Thus, students have to answer 45 questions from each subject. Each subject has a weightage of 180 marks. The question type and marking scheme of the exam is as follows –
- The questions are multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Each question has four options.
- Each correct answer accounts for four marks, whereas one mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.
- No marks are given for unattempted questions.
- The question paper for NEET is 720 marks in total.
If we look at the exam duration and no. of questions to be attempted, we will find that the students will have 1 minute per question, on average.
| Subject | Sections | No. Of Questions | Total Marks |
| Physics | Section A | 35 | 180 |
| Section B | 15 | ||
| Chemistry | Section A | 35 | 180 |
| Section B | 15 | ||
| Botany | Section A | 35 | 180 |
| Section B | 15 | ||
| Zoology | Section A | 35 | 180 |
| Section B | 15 | ||
| Total | 720 Marks | ||
Medium of Question Paper
Students can attempt the NEET exam in their preferred language. The NEET examination paper 2024 will be available in 13 language mediums to choose from English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. However, the students shall keep in mind that the choice of the regional language will depend on the location of the exam center. The question papers in English, Hindi, and Urdu will be available at all exam centers, irrespective of their location. While filling out the application form, students should keep the following things in mind-
- The language option for the medium of examination should be chosen carefully while filling out the NEET application form. This option cannot be changed later.
- Candidates choosing the medium of examination as English will get the NEET question booklet in English only.
- Candidates opting for Hindi or Urdu will get a bilingual question booklet in English and Hindi or English and Urdu.
- Candidates opting for any of the regional languages will also get a bilingual question booklet. The questions will be in their selected regional language and English. The English version will be deemed final if ambiguity arises in the translated questions.
Instructions for filling up the OMR sheet
- The candidates must fill out the OMR sheet using a black/blue ballpoint pen.
- Usually, ballpoint pens are provided to the students at examination centres for the same purpose.
- The candidates should carefully fill in the question booklet codes and other required details in the OMR sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions on NEET Exam Pattern 2024
How many questions are asked in the NEET paper?
There are a total of 200 questions asked in the NEET paper, out of which the students have to answer only 180 questions. 20 questions are optional,5 questions from each subject.
How many questions are asked from each subject in the NEET examination, and what is the weightage of marks for each subject?
From each subject, 50 questions are asked, out of which the students have to answer only 45 questions. Each subject accounts for 180 marks.
Is there a negative marking in the NEET examination?
Yes, there is a penalty of 1 mark for each incorrect answer.
What is the importance of being familiar with the exam pattern?
If you're about to appear for the NEET examination, it is necessary to be aware of the examination pattern and the syllabus. The reason is that it helps you make an appropriate strategy for the preparation and helps in time management. If you want to excel in this exam, an unfailing strategy and time management are very crucial.
