NEET UG Exam Guide
Pattern, Marks, Eligibility
NEET UG decides admission to MBBS and BDS across India. This guide covers the paper and the planned move to a computer test in 2027.
Start here
What NEET UG Is
NEET UG is the entrance exam for MBBS, BDS and several other medical courses in India. It is run by the National Testing Agency, the NTA. It is held once a year.
The paper tests Physics, Chemistry and Biology from the Class 11 and Class 12 syllabus. Biology carries half the marks. Most Biology questions come straight from the NCERT books.
We last checked this page in October 2026. Until 2026 the exam was written with a pen on an OMR sheet. In May 2026 the Education Minister said NEET UG will be a computer-based test from 2027. The NTA had not published the 2027 bulletin when we checked. Read it on neet.nta.nic.in before you apply.
Exam pattern
The NEET UG paper at a glance
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 45 | 180 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 180 |
| Biology (Botany and Zoology) | 90 | 360 |
| Total | 180 | 720 |
This is the pattern used in 2026. Every question is compulsory. A right answer gives 4 marks and a wrong answer takes away 1 mark. The paper is 3 hours long. The May 2026 exam was cancelled after a paper leak and held again in June, on the same pattern. The government has said the 2027 exam will be computer-based. News reports say it may run in several shifts, but the NTA had not confirmed this when we checked. The NTA bulletin on neet.nta.nic.in is the final word.
How to prepare
Four Habits for NEET Preparation
Keep these four habits through Class 11 and Class 12.
Read NCERT line by line
Biology and much of Chemistry come from NCERT. Read every line, every diagram and every table.
Solve questions every day
Reading is not enough. Solve objective questions on each chapter, the same week you study it.
Take full mock tests
Sit a full paper in 3 hours, often. The 2027 exam is planned on a computer, so practise on a computer too.
Study your mistakes
After each test, find out why each wrong answer was wrong. A wrong answer costs a mark, so learn when to leave a question.
Common mistakes
Common NEET Mistakes and Better Habits
Each wrong answer takes away a mark. So accuracy matters as much as knowledge.
Common mistakes
- Leaving NCERT for big guide books
- Guessing when you do not know
- Spending too long on Physics and rushing Biology
- Taking mock tests but never checking the mistakes
- Ignoring Class 11 chapters in the Class 12 year
What works better
- Knowing NCERT so well that small details are easy
- Leaving a question when you do not know the answer
- A fixed time plan for each subject in the paper
- A notebook of your own mistakes, revised often
- Class 11 and Class 12 revised together
NEET questions
Questions Students Ask About NEET
How many questions are there in NEET, and what are the total marks?
In the 2026 pattern, NEET UG has 180 questions and 720 marks. Physics has 45 questions, Chemistry has 45 and Biology has 90. All questions are compulsory. The paper is 3 hours long.
Will NEET 2027 be a computer-based test?
That is the plan. In May 2026 the Education Minister said NEET UG will move from pen and paper to a computer-based test from 2027. The NTA has told the Supreme Court the same. When we checked in October 2026, the NTA had not published the 2027 bulletin. The number of days and shifts was not final. Check neet.nta.nic.in for the official notice.
Can a Bihar Board student appear for NEET?
Yes. A Bihar Board student with Physics, Chemistry and Biology in Class 12 can apply. The NEET syllabus follows NCERT, which the Bihar Board also follows closely.
Is NCERT enough for NEET?
NCERT is the base, most of all for Biology. But reading it is not enough. You must also solve many objective questions and take full mock tests.
Is there negative marking in NEET?
Yes. A right answer gives 4 marks. A wrong answer takes away 1 mark. A question you leave gets zero. So it is better to leave a question than to guess blindly.
Who can apply for NEET UG?
In the 2026 rules, a student needed to pass Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English. The student also had to turn 17 by 31 December of the year of admission. There was no upper age limit. There is also a minimum mark in Class 12, which is lower for reserved categories. The rules are set in each year’s NTA bulletin.
Can I write NEET in Hindi?
Yes. NEET UG has been offered in 13 languages, including Hindi and English. You choose the language when you fill in the form.
Admissions Open 2026–27
Sit in a free demo class first
Want to prepare with a teacher, weekly tests and mock papers? See our NEET coaching, or call the admissions desk for a free demo class.