NEET UG Exam Details, Dates & Counselling Guide
NEET UG Exam Details, Dates & Counselling Guide
The NEET 2025 exam was held on May 4, 2025, from 2 PM to 5 PM. Following the exam, reactions from candidates and expert analysis from top coaching institutes have been shared. The general consensus is that the difficulty level of NEET 2025 was higher compared to the previous year. Among the three sections, Physics emerged as the most challenging, with Chemistry and Biology also presenting significant hurdles for candidates.
Experts have said that the NEET 2025 exam needed an analytical and practical approach, so just memorizing textbooks or notes wasn't enough. The Physics section had many numerical questions, while Chemistry was more focused on theory. Biology was easier overall, but some questions were tricky. Students found the removal of the extra 20 minutes especially tough, particularly for Physics. Another surprise was the use of four numeric question paper codes—45, 46, 47, and 48—replacing the alphanumeric codes like A1, B2 used in previous years. After the exam, candidates will need to stay updated for NEET UG Counselling, which will begin after the results are announced.
This year, NEET returns to its pre-COVID pattern. The total number of questions is now 180 (earlier 200), and the duration has been reduced to 180 minutes (3 hours). The marking scheme remains unchanged — +4 for correct answers and -1 for incorrect ones.
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Table of Contents |
What is NEET Exam?
NEET, or National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, is the only national-level entrance exam for admission to undergraduate medical and paramedical courses in India. It serves as the gateway to courses such as MBBS, BDS, BSc Nursing, BAMS, BHMS, Veterinary, and other allied health sciences. The exam is conducted once a year by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in offline (pen-and-paper) mode, and from NEET 2025 onwards, it will follow a 3-hour (180-minute) duration with a total of 180 questions—60 each from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany + Zoology). The earlier provision of optional questions has been discontinued.
From NEET 2025 onwards, the exam will be 3 hours long with 180 compulsory questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The option to skip questions has been removed
With over 20 lakh candidates appearing annually, NEET is one of India’s largest exams. MBBS remains the top choice, followed by BDS and BSc Nursing. NEET is also mandatory for Indian students seeking MBBS admission abroad, as per NMC rules and the Supreme Court's directive.
NEET 2025 Exam Dates: Complete Schedule (Tentative & Official)
Here is the updated NEET UG 2025 schedule with key dates released by NTA, along with tentative timelines for the result and counselling process.
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Date |
Event |
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26 April 2025 |
NEET 2025 City Intimation Slip Release |
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30 April 2025 |
NEET 2025 Admit Card Release |
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04 May 2025 |
NEET 2025 Exam Date |
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May 2025 |
Provisional Answer Key Release (Tentative) |
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May – June 2025 |
Answer Key Challenge Window (Tentative) |
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14 June 2025 |
NEET 2025 Result Declaration (Expected) |
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June 2025 |
Final Answer Key Release (Tentative) |
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August – November 2025 |
NEET UG 2025 Counselling Rounds (Tentative) |
NEET UG 2025 Highlights: Key Information at a Glance
Here are the latest and updated highlights for the NEET UG 2025 exam:
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Exam Name |
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) |
|
Conducting Body |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
|
Exam Level |
National-level Undergraduate (UG) Entrance Test |
|
Exam Frequency |
Once a year |
|
Total Registrations |
24,06,079 (as per NEET 2024 data; may increase in 2025) |
|
Exam Mode |
Offline (Pen and Paper-Based Test) |
|
Courses Offered Through NEET |
MBBS, BDS, BSc Nursing, BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, BVSc & AH |
|
Exam Fees |
Rs.1,700 (General), Rs.1,600 (OBC), Rs.1,000 (SC/ST/PwD), Rs.9,500 (Foreign Nationals) |
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Exam Duration & Timing |
3 hours (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM IST) |
|
Subjects & Total Marks |
Physics – 180, Chemistry – 180, Biology – 360 → Total: 720 marks |
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Total Questions |
180 (All Compulsory) |
|
Marking Scheme |
+4 for correct, -1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted |
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Number of Exam Cities |
552 in India, 14 abroad |
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Language/Medium of Exam |
13 languages – English, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Assamese, Gujarati, Marathi, Odia, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Punjabi |
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Accepting Colleges |
1,613 medical colleges across India |
|
Total Seats Available |
MBBS – 1,17,950; BDS – 27,868; BAMS – 52,720; BVSc & AH – 603 |
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NEET Helpline Numbers |
011-69227700, 011-40759000 |
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NEET Email ID |
neetug2025@nta.ac.in, neet@nta.ac.in |
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Official Website |
NEET 2025 Exam Pattern: Revised Format
The NEET UG 2025 pattern has been officially revised to the pre-COVID format. The exam will be held in offline (pen-and-paper) mode for 3 hours, with 180 compulsory MCQs — no optional questions this year.
Section-wise Breakdown:
|
Subject |
Questions |
Marks |
|
Physics |
45 |
180 |
|
Chemistry |
45 |
180 |
|
Botany |
45 |
180 |
|
Zoology |
45 |
180 |
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Total |
180 |
720 |
Candidates must mark answers on an OMR sheet using a blue/black ballpoint pen. All questions are compulsory and carry equal weightage.
NEET 2025 Syllabus PDF: No Changes from Last Year
The NEET UG 2025 syllabus has been officially confirmed by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and remains unchanged from 2024. The Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), an autonomous body under NMC, announced that the finalized syllabus aims to align with Class 11 and 12 syllabi of various State Boards to ensure uniformity.
Earlier changes—like the removal and addition of select topics—still apply. In Chemistry, content is divided into Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry. Students can download the official syllabus PDF from the NMC or NTA website.
How to Prepare for NEET 2025
NEET is a highly competitive exam, so aspirants should ideally start preparing right after Class 10, dedicating 1–2 years for thorough preparation. The first step is to understand the exam pattern and syllabus, followed by choosing the right study materials, especially NCERT books for all three subjects.
A well-structured timetable is key for time-bound preparation. Regular mock tests, PYQs, and sample papers help identify strengths and weaknesses. Since all subjects hold equal weightage, focus on each section equally to maintain a balanced score.
Smart planning, consistency, and early preparation are crucial to cracking NEET UG 2025 with a good rank.
NEET 2025 Admit Card
The NEET UG admit card 2025 will be released by May 1, 2025, on the official NTA NEET website. Only registered candidates can download it using their application number and date of birth. The admit card will include important details like the exam date, time, center address, photo, and signature.
Without the admit card, entry to the exam hall will be denied. If any errors are found, candidates must immediately contact NTA for corrections. Prior to this, the city intimation slip will be released by April 26, 2025.
NEET 2025 Application Form & Eligibility
The NEET UG application form was released on February 7, 2025, and the registration window remained open till March 7, 2025. NTA may consider reopening the application window based on student requests. Despite the introduction of APAAR ID, around 45% of applicants reported not having it.
The correction window was open from March 9 to 11, 2025, allowing candidates to edit specific details. For changes like category or international exam city, an additional fee was applicable, which is non-refundable.
NEET 2025 Eligibility Criteria
The NEET 2025 eligibility remains the same as last year. Students who studied Biology/Biotechnology as an additional subject and those from Open Schools or private candidates are also eligible, as per NMC and the Supreme Court’s guidelines. Candidates must meet specific age, academic, and nationality requirements to appear for the exam.
NEET 2025 Eligibility Summary
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Criteria |
Details |
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Nationality |
Indian Citizens, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs & Foreign Nationals |
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Minimum Age |
17 years (born on or before Dec 31, 2008) |
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Upper Age Limit |
No upper age limit |
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Educational Qualification |
Must have passed Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotech, and English individually |
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Qualifying Marks |
General: 50% |
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Open School Eligibility |
Candidates from Open Schools and private candidates are eligible |
NEET 2025 Result and Scorecard
The NEET UG 2025 result will be released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on its official website in PDF format. To qualify, candidates must secure the minimum cutoff marks as per their category. Individual scorecards can be downloaded by logging into the candidate portal using the application number and date of birth. The result is valid only for the current academic year and must be preserved for the counselling process.
Steps to Check NEET 2025 Result:
- Visit the official NTA NEET website – neet.nta.nic.in.
- Click on the ‘View NEET UG 2025 Result’ link.
- Enter your Application Number, Date of Birth, and Security Pin.
- Your NEET UG scorecard will appear on the screen.
- Click on ‘Print’ to download and save it.
- Retain a hard copy of the result for admission and counselling rounds.
Note: The scorecard is mandatory for NEET 2025 counselling.
NEET 2025 Cutoff
The NEET 2025 cutoff will be announced by the NTA along with the result. It represents the minimum marks required out of 720 to qualify for the exam. The cutoff varies by category and is based on percentile criteria set by the NMC.
Below is the expected NEET 2025 cutoff based on the previous year’s data:
|
Category |
Cutoff Percentile |
NEET 2024 score Range |
|
UR / EWS |
50th |
720 – 162 |
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SC / ST / OBC |
40th |
161 – 127 |
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UR / EWS - PwD |
45th |
161 – 144 |
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SC / OBC - PwD |
40th |
143 – 127 |
|
ST - PwD |
40th |
142 – 127 |
Note: Last year, the cutoff was revised due to re-evaluation of scorecards, leading to a minor drop in the qualifying marks.
NEET 2025 Counselling
Expected Timeline: August 2025 – November 2025
The NEET UG counselling is expected to begin around one month after the result declaration, tentatively from August 2025. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will manage the All India Quota (AIQ) counselling, while respective state authorities will conduct the State Quota (SQ) counselling.
Eligibility: Only candidates who meet the NEET 2025 cutoff criteria will be eligible to participate in the counselling process.
There are two types of counselling:
- 15% AIQ Seats – Managed by MCC for government colleges and deemed universities.
- 85% State Quota Seats – Managed by state counselling authorities for local colleges.
NEET Counselling Process Steps:
- Online Registration
- Choice Filling & Locking
- Seat Allotment Result Announcement
- Reporting to Allotted College/Institute
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NEET UG Application Form
The National Testing Agency (NTA) released the NEET 2... .jpg)
NEET UG Admit Card
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released th... 
