NEET-UG
Direct answer
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET-UG, is India's single national entrance examination for admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Preparing for it means building a firm grasp of the Class 11 and 12 syllabus in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and then converting that understanding into speed and accuracy through regular question practice, mock tests and revision.
About the exam
NEET-UG is conducted once a year by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in pen-and-paper (OMR) mode. It is the qualifying examination for admission to MBBS and BDS seats in government and private medical and dental colleges across India, and for AYUSH undergraduate courses such as BAMS, BHMS, BUMS and BSMS. Candidates who have studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology in Class 12, as well as those repeating the examination, take the test. The examination date, application window and admission schedule are announced by the NTA through its official information bulletin.
Exam pattern and marking
- Mode: pen-and-paper (OMR sheet), held on a single day at centres across India.
- Questions: 180 multiple-choice questions, all compulsory — 45 in Physics, 45 in Chemistry and 90 in Biology (Botany and Zoology combined).
- Marks: four marks for each correct answer, giving a total of 720; one mark is deducted for each incorrect answer; unattempted questions attract no penalty.
- Duration: three hours.
- Language: the paper is offered in English and Hindi, along with several regional languages listed by the NTA each year.
- Qualifying: results are declared as percentiles; the qualifying percentile for the general category has stood at the 50th percentile in recent years, with relaxations for reserved categories.
Syllabus overview
The NEET-UG syllabus is drawn from the Class 11 and 12 curriculum of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and NCERT textbooks are the base reference. In Physics, questions span mechanics, properties of matter, thermodynamics, oscillations and waves, electrodynamics, optics, and modern physics including dual nature of matter and nuclear physics. Chemistry is divided into physical chemistry (mole concept, chemical and ionic equilibrium, electrochemistry, chemical kinetics), inorganic chemistry (periodic trends, chemical bonding, coordination compounds, p-block and d-block elements) and organic chemistry (basic principles, hydrocarbons, biomolecules and named reactions of the syllabus). Biology carries half the total marks and includes diversity in the living world, structural organisation in plants and animals, cell structure and function, plant and human physiology, reproduction, genetics and evolution, biology and human welfare, biotechnology, ecology and environment. Question papers from previous years show that closely reading NCERT text, particularly in Biology and inorganic Chemistry, is rewarded directly.
How to prepare
- Build understanding first. Read the NCERT textbooks line by line for Biology and Chemistry, and pair theory in Physics with solved examples. Keep a separate notebook for formulas, reactions and diagrams.
- Practise questions chapter by chapter. After each chapter, attempt a bank of multiple-choice questions, including previous-year NEET questions, so that learning is tested in the exam's own format.
- Take full-length mock tests. From roughly six months before the exam, attempt timed, 180-question papers and fill OMR sheets exactly as you would on exam day. Analyse every mock: separate silly errors from conceptual gaps and fix the underlying cause.
- Revise in cycles. Use short notes, flow charts and error logs for repeated revision. In the final weeks, revise the whole syllabus more than once rather than studying new material, and maintain a steady routine of rest along with study.
Preparation with PrepElephant
PrepElephant supports NEET-UG preparation with previous-year question practice, question banks, mock tests and revision tools in the PrepElephant app, along with free guides and resources on this website. The examination itself is conducted by the NTA, and official notifications, admit cards and results should always be confirmed through NTA channels.
After the exam
After results, candidates are ranked by percentile and called for counselling. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) conducts counselling for All India Quota seats, central universities, deemed universities and other central institutions, while State Counselling Authorities fill state-quota seats in government and private colleges. Qualifying NEET-UG leads to admission to the MBBS, BDS or AYUSH course, after which graduates move on to internship and later postgraduate entrance examinations such as NEET-PG.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible to appear for NEET-UG?
Candidates must have passed (or be appearing in) Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English, securing the minimum aggregate marks prescribed by the NTA, with relaxation for reserved categories. They must also have completed 17 years of age by 31 December of the admission year.
Is there a limit on the number of attempts?
No. Under the current rules there is no cap on the number of attempts and no upper age limit, provided the candidate satisfies the eligibility conditions each year.
What is the marking scheme?
Each of the 180 questions carries four marks. One mark is deducted for every incorrect answer, and there is no penalty for leaving a question unattempted, so wild guessing is penalised while considered elimination is rewarded.
Which subject carries the most weight?
Biology, with 90 of the 180 questions and 360 of the 720 marks. Physics and Chemistry carry 45 questions and 180 marks each.
Is NEET-UG difficult?
The paper tests the standard Class 11–12 syllabus, but competition for seats is intense, so accuracy and time management matter as much as knowledge, and consistent preparation over one to two years is the usual approach.
Is the exam online or offline?
NEET-UG is a pen-and-paper examination in which answers are marked on an OMR sheet with a ball-point pen, at designated centres across India and abroad.
When is NEET-2027 held and how do I apply?
The date, application window and bulletin are announced by the NTA on its official website, typically some months before the examination. Applications are submitted online through the NTA portal.
How are results used for admission?
Candidates receive a percentile score and an All India Rank. Ranks are used by the MCC and State Counselling Authorities to allot seats during counselling rounds.
Does PrepElephant cover NEET-UG?
Yes. PrepElephant offers previous-year question practice, question banks, mock tests and revision tools for NEET-UG in the app, along with free guides and resources on this website.
Official sources
nta.nic.in mcc.nic.in
Practise this in the PrepElephant app
Question banks, previous-year questions, mock tests and revision tools — for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate). Free to start.