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NEET (UG): the exam, explained

What the paper actually asks, how it is marked, who can sit it, and how to prepare for it — written by someone who solves these papers, and kept up to date rather than posted and forgotten.

Exam

NEET exam pattern and marking scheme, explained properly

180 questions, 720 marks, three hours — four sections of 45, no optional section since the 2025 reversion, and a marking scheme where Biology alone is half the paper.

5 min readupdated 7 Sept 2026

NEET eligibility and age limit, and what's actually settled

The academic eligibility (10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology) is stable. The age limit has been changed and litigated more than once — here's what's fixed, and what to verify before you plan around it.

5 min readupdated 7 Sept 2026

NEET or JEE — how are they actually different, and can you prepare for both?

Different exams for different degrees, overlapping subjects, and a real cost to preparing for both at once — what the overlap actually covers and where it runs out.

4 min readupdated 7 Sept 2026

Syllabus

NEET syllabus, chapter by chapter

82 chapters across Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology, drawn from NCERT Class 11 and 12 — the complete unit-by-unit breakdown, with what actually carries the marks.

6 min readupdated 7 Sept 2026

Preparation

How to prepare for NEET: a realistic, subject-weighted plan

Biology is half the marks and most candidates under-allocate time to it. A study plan shaped by the actual marks split, not by how many subjects there are.

6 min readupdated 7 Sept 2026

Which books to actually read for NEET Physics, Chemistry and Biology

NCERT is not optional supplementary reading for NEET — it's the primary source the questions are drawn from. What that means for how to use reference books alongside it.

4 min readupdated 7 Sept 2026

Common questions

What does NEET stand for?
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test — the single entrance exam for MBBS, BDS and other undergraduate medical courses in India, conducted by the NTA.
What is NEET UG, and is that different from NEET PG?
NEET UG is the undergraduate exam — this site's entire scope. NEET PG is a separate exam for postgraduate medical seats, for candidates who already hold an MBBS degree; nothing here covers it.
What is the NEET exam pattern?
180 compulsory questions for 720 marks in 180 minutes: 45 each from Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology. +4 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong one, 0 left blank. There's no optional section to skip — every question counts.
Is NEET's Biology section really two sections?
On paper, yes — NTA prints Botany and Zoology together under one "Biology" label, but sets and counts them as two separate 45-question sections. This site follows the same split, since that's how the 720 marks actually divide.
Who conducts NEET, and who regulates the seats it leads to?
The NTA (National Testing Agency) conducts the exam; the NMC (National Medical Commission) regulates the medical education and seats it admits into.
NEET or JEE — how are they different?
Different exams for different degrees. NEET tests Physics, Chemistry and Biology for medical and dental admission; JEE tests Physics, Chemistry and Maths for engineering. Overlapping subjects, unrelated careers.

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