NEET 2025: Marking Scheme and Exam Pattern Overview

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Author at PW

March 05, 2025

NEET Exam 2025:- The NEET 2025 exam is one of the most important tests for students aiming to pursue medical studies in India. Conducted by the NTA, it evaluates knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. To prepare well, it’s essential to understand the NEET paper pattern, which includes 200 multiple-choice questions, out of which students must attempt 180.

The exam follows a specific NEET marking scheme, where four marks are awarded for each correct answer, and one mark is deducted for every wrong one. The total score for the test is 720, making every answer significant for achieving a high rank.

Familiarity with the NEET exam pattern is crucial, as it gives students clarity on what to expect. With the total questions in NEET divided across sections, careful planning is key. A clear understanding of the syllabus, time management, and practice can greatly improve performance. Check out the below article to learn more about the NEET 2025 Exam pattern and NEET 2025 Marking Scheme.

Check out: NEET Previous Year Papers

NEET Exam 2025

The NEET 2025 exam will be held on 4th May 2025, organised by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is India’s biggest entrance test for students aiming to join undergraduate medical courses.

Clearing NEET 2025 is important if you want to get admission into top medical, dental, nursing, and other allied health programmes across the country. This exam is highly competitive, with thousands of students competing for limited seats.

Particulars	Details
Exam Mode	Offline
Type of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Total Marks	720
Duration	Three hours and twenty minutes (3.20 hours)
Total Questions	200 (180 to be attempted)
Negative Marking	Yes
NEET Subjects	Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany + Zoology)
Sections in Question Paper	3 (Two sections for each subject)
Section A	35 questions
Section B	15 questions (10 to be attempted)

Check out: NEET Test series

NEET 2025 Exam Pattern

The NEET 2025 exam carries a maximum of 720 marks, consisting of 180 questions, each worth 4 marks. A recent update to the NEET format includes Sections A and B, introducing slight changes in the question pattern. Overall, each subject like Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Zoology + Botany) contributes 180 marks, with Biology accounting for a combined total of 360 marks.

Section A: This section includes 35 questions each from Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, and Botany. All questions are mandatory, with no choices available. Both Sections A and B follow a negative marking system. In Section A, a total of 140 marks (35 questions × 4 marks each) can be scored for each subject.
Section B: This section allows candidates to attempt 10 out of 15 questions. If more than 10 questions are answered, only the first 10 will be evaluated. The maximum score in this section is 40 marks (10 questions × 4 marks).

NEET 2025 Marking Scheme

The total questions in NEET are 200, out of which candidates must attempt 180. The NEET total marks are 720, divided across the Physics, Chemistry, and Biology sections. Check out the NEET 2025 Marking Scheme below:-

As per the NEET marking scheme, each question in the exam carries 4 marks.
The NEET exam pattern includes negative markings for incorrect responses. For every correct answer, candidates are awarded +4 marks, while for every incorrect answer, 1 mark is deducted.
If multiple options are found correct after a key challenge, all valid responses will receive +4 marks, as per the NEET paper pattern.
Unanswered questions or extra attempts are not awarded any marks.
The NEET negative marking ensures that candidates must attempt questions carefully to maximise their score.

Aspect	Details
NEET Total Marks	720
Total Questions in NEET	200 (Candidates must attempt 180)
NEET Exam Pattern	Offline, with multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Marking for Correct Answer	+4
NEET Negative Marking	-1 mark for each incorrect answer
Unanswered Questions	0 marks
Extra Attempted Questions	0 marks
Multiple Correct Responses	If multiple answers are correct, +4 marks for each valid response after key challenge
NEET Paper Pattern	Divided into sections (Physics, Chemistry, Biology); Each subject has two sections (A & B)
Negative Marking in NEET	Yes, for every incorrect answer

Check out: NEET Question Banks

NEET 2025 Books

When preparing for NEET 2025, NCERT books should be your first priority. They form the base for understanding the essential concepts in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, and a large portion of the exam is directly related to the content covered in these books. Mastering NCERT will give you a solid understanding of the fundamental topics, and it's an absolute must for every NEET aspirant. But once you’ve gone through NCERT and feel confident, it's time to go beyond it.

This is where extra resources come into play. Physics Wallah has put together a range of high-quality NEET Exam Books designed specifically for NEET 2025 preparation. Whether you're looking for a NEET Previous Year Question (PYQ) book to get familiar with the exam pattern or a NEET 2025 Question Bank for extra practice, they've got you covered. These resources will help you go deeper into topics, practise the types of questions likely to appear on the exam, and refine your exam-taking strategies.

NEET 2025 Preparation Tips

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a crucial exam for students aspiring to pursue undergraduate medical courses. The NEET exam pattern is based on three main subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Understanding the NEET exam marks structure and focusing on important areas will help you score better. Below are some essential tips to help you prepare for NEET 2025 effectively.

1. By Heart Your NCERT

The first and most important step in NEET preparation is to thoroughly study NCERT textbooks. NCERT is the foundation for all your NEET preparation, especially for Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. A large number of questions in the exam are directly based on concepts found in these books. Whether it’s a theory-based question or a practical problem, you will find that most answers are derived from NCERT. Make sure to focus on the chapters, diagrams, and concepts given in detail. For subjects like Biology, where diagrams are frequently asked, make sure you understand them well.

2. Know the NEET Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

Understanding the NEET exam pattern is crucial. The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), but only 180 questions need to be attempted. These questions are divided into three sections: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Biology has a bigger weightage as it contains 360 marks out of a total of 720.

Here’s a simple breakdown of the NEET exam marks:

Physics: 180 marks (45 questions)
Chemistry: 180 marks (45 questions)
Biology: 360 marks (90 questions)

Each correct answer in the exam is awarded 4 marks, while an incorrect answer results in a deduction of 1 mark. This is important to keep in mind as NEET negative marking can impact your overall score. To avoid losing marks, ensure that you only attempt the questions you are confident about.

3. Master Important Topics in Each Subject

It’s essential to focus on the important topics in each subject. Not all topics carry the same weightage, so it’s good to prioritise the most frequently asked ones.

Physics: Some of the most important topics include Mechanics (laws of motion, work, energy, and power), Thermodynamics, Optics, and Electrodynamics. Practising numerical problems from these areas will help you score well in the exam. Make sure to pay attention to the formulas and the application of concepts.
Chemistry: Focus on Organic Chemistry (like reactions and mechanisms), Inorganic Chemistry (periodic table, chemical bonding), and Physical Chemistry (stoichiometry, thermodynamics, and chemical equilibrium). These areas are significant in the NEET exam, so be sure to understand the reactions and concepts rather than just memorising them.
Biology: Biology holds the maximum marks in NEET. Focus on topics like Genetics, Human Physiology, Plant Physiology, Ecology, and Reproduction. A thorough understanding of these topics, combined with practising diagrams and concepts, will help you score high in Biology.

4. Focus on the NEET Paper Pattern

There is a recent modification in the NEET format. As there is a negative marking in NEET, aim for accuracy rather than attempting all the questions randomly. The NEET paper pattern is designed to examine your knowledge and analytical skills. It’s divided into two sections:

Section A: Contains 35 questions, and you must answer all of them.
Section B: Contains 15 questions, of which you need to answer at least 10.

5. Practice Regularly with Mock Tests

Taking regular mock tests is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the NEET exam. Mock tests help you become familiar with the NEET exam paper pattern and give you a clear idea of how to manage time during the actual exam. They also help you build confidence and reduce anxiety on exam day. As the exam is three hours and 20 minutes long, you need to be able to solve questions quickly and accurately.

6. Focus on Time Management

Time management is one of the key factors that can make or break your NEET preparation. As the NEET total marks are divided across different sections, you need to allocate enough time for each subject during your revision. For example, spend more time on Biology since it carries more marks, but don’t ignore the other subjects. Use a timer when practising questions to get a feel for how long each section might take during the exam.

7. Be Mindful of Negative Marking

As mentioned earlier, negative marking in NEET plays an important role in the marking scheme. For every incorrect answer, 1 mark is deducted. Therefore, avoid guessing answers if you’re unsure. It’s better to leave a question unanswered than to risk losing marks.

This is where knowing the NEET marking scheme helps. You should focus on attempting the questions you're confident about, and leave the difficult ones if you’re unsure.

8. Use Previous Year’s Papers

One of the right ways to prepare for NEET is by solving NEET previous year’s question papers. This will help you get a sense of the type of questions asked, the difficulty level, and how to approach them. By solving these papers, you will also become more familiar with the total questions in NEET and how they are divided across subjects.

9. Stay Consistent with Your Study Schedule

Consistency is crucial when preparing for a competitive exam like NEET. Make a daily study schedule and stick to it. It’s better to study regularly for a few hours every day than to cram everything in one go. Allocate time for all subjects and revise daily. Break down large topics into smaller chunks so that you don’t feel overwhelmed.