NEET Exam Pattern 2026 – In the previous edition, the NTA had revised the exam pattern of NEET. As per the revised format, the NEET (UG) 2026 exam will be conducted as per the pre-COVID pattern.
The NEET 2026 exam pattern will be outlined in the Information Bulletin.
The NEET 2026 question paper will have 180 compulsory questions which must be attempted in 180 minutes. In the old pattern, the NEET exam included 200 questions, out of which the candidate had to attempt only 180 questions.
Optional questions have been removed in the new pattern.
Go though the detailed NEET 2026 exam pattern to get insights into the NIFT 2026 question paper structure, including the mode and duration of the exam, types of questions asked, number of questions, marking scheme, etc.
NTA will conduct the NEET 2026 exam in an offline mode. The candidate will be provided with OMR sheets where they have to mark their answers using a ball-point pen. Questions will be asked from three subjects – Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Also, refer to the NEET 2026 exam syllabus to prepare for the exam.
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Table of Contents
NEET Exam Pattern 2026
| Particulars | Description |
| Mode | Pen & Paper-based Test The candidate has to mark their answers on the specially designed 16 machine gradable OMR sheet using Ball Point Pen is provided at the Centre |
| Duration | Three (03) hours |
| Exam timing | 2 pm – 5 pm |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Sections | Physics – 45 questions Chemistry – 45 questions Biology (Botany & Zoology) – 90 questions |
| Total number of Questions | The question paper will have 180 compulsory questions. In the old pattern, the question paper had have 200 questions. Out of these, the candidate had to attempt 180 questions. |
| Total Marks | 720 |
| Negative marking | Yes |
| Marking Scheme | Correct Answer: Four marks (+4) Incorrect Answer: Minus one mark (-1) Unanswered: No mark (0) |
| NEET Question Paper Mediums or Languages | 13 – English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam |
| Download | Official NEET 2025 (UG) Exam Pattern PDF |
This is the revised NEET exam pattern as given in the information bulletin
NEET Marking Scheme 2026
The marking scheme for the NEET 2026 exam has been explained in more detail below.
| STATUS | NEET 2026 Marking Scheme |
| Correct Answer | Four marks (+4) |
| Incorrect Answer | Minus one mark (-1) |
| Unanswered | No mark (0) |
| If more than one option is found to be correct | Four marks (+4) will be awarded to only those who have marked any of the correct options. |
| If all options are found to be correct | Four marks (+4) will be awarded to all those who have attempted the question |
| If a question is found to be incorrect or the Question is dropped | Four marks (+4) will be awarded to all those who have attempted the question. |
Also Read:
- Best Books to prepare for NEET 2026 – Physics, Chemistry, Biology
- NEET Exam Counseling 2026 – Calendar, Step-wise Process, Fees, Seat Matrix
- NEET Syllabus 2026 – Download Subject-wise Syllabus, What’s new?
NEET 2026 Subject-Wise Weightage
The section-wise number of questions and total marks as per the revised NEET 2026 exam pattern are given in the table below.
| Section | Type of Question | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
| Physics | MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) with four options and single correct answer/best option. | 45 | 180 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 180 | |
| Biology | 90 | 360 | |
| Total | 180 | 720 | |
NEET (UG) 2026 Revised Exam Pattern
This is the revised exam pattern as outlined in the NEET (UG) 2026 information bulletin
Old NEET Exam Pattern
The exam pattern followed in the previous edition of the NEET exam is given below for reference.
| Section | Sections | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
| Physics | Physics Section A | 35 | 140 |
| Physics Section B | 15 | 40 | |
| Total | 45 | 180 | |
| Chemistry | Chemistry Section A | 35 | 140 |
| Chemistry Section B | 15 | 40 | |
| Total | 45 | 180 | |
| Biology | Botany Section A | 35 | 140 |
| Botany Section B | 15 | 40 | |
| Zoology Section A | 35 | 140 | |
| Zoology Section B | 15 | 40 | |
| Total | 90 | 360 |
Old NEET (UG) Exam Pattern
Test pattern of NEET (UG) 2026 – Section-wise Distribution of Questions
- The NEET 2026 question paper is divided into FOUR subjects – Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, and Botany
- Each subject will consist of two sections.
- Section A will consist of 35 Questions
- Section B will have 15 Questions; out of these 15 questions, candidates can choose to attempt any 10 Questions.
- So, the total number of questions and utilization of time will remain the same.
Guidelines for attempting the NEET 2026 Question Paper
NTA has suggested a set of guidelines that candidates need to follow when marking their answers in the NEET 2065 – OMR sheet.
- NEET (UG) – 2026 is a Pen & Paper-based Test. The candidate has to mark their answers on the specially designed 16 machine gradable OMR sheet using Ball Point Pen provided at the NEET 2026 exam centre.
- Tampering with the OMR at any stage will lead to debarring of the candidature for 03 years.
- Erasing or obliterating any information printed on the OMR Answer Sheet will be considered an unfair means.
- Changing answers on the OMR sheet is not allowed
- Any rough work must be done on the test booklet.
- Make sure that you mark the test booklet code on the OMR sheet
- Ensure that the NEET question paper code matches with that of the OMR sheet.
The following activities will also be considered unfair practices:
- Taking away the answer sheet (Original OMR/Office Copy of OMR) out of the examination hall/room
- Smuggling out of Question Paper or its part or smuggling out answersheet or part thereof
- Providing incorrect information and/or overwriting of the Roll No./ Test Booklet No. / own Name of the Candidate / Father’s Name / Mother’s Name / own Signature, on the OMR Answer Sheet.
- Making fake claims by manipulating the responses in the OMR sheet one tampering it in any way whatsoever, uploaded on the website for the challenge before or after the declaration of the result.
Language Options for Appearing in NEET 2026
The language options that are available for appearing in the NEET 2026 exam are given in the table below.
| S.No | Medium of NEET 2026 Question Paper | Examination Centers |
| 1 | English | All Examination Centres |
| 2 | English and Hindi | All Examination Centres |
| 3 | English and Assamese | Examination Centres in Assam |
| 4 | English and Bengali | Examination Centres in West Bengal, Tripura, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| 5 | English and Gujarati | Examination Centres in Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli |
| 6 | English and Kannada | Examination Centres in Karnataka |
| 7 | English and Malayalam | Examination Centres in Kerala and Lakshadweep |
| 8 | English and Marath | Examination Centres in Maharashtra |
| 9 | English and Odia | Examination Centres in Odisha |
| 10 | English and Punjabi | Examination Centres in Punjab, Chandigarh, and Delhi/New Delhi (including Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Noida/Greater Noida) |
| 11 | English and Tamil | Examination Centres in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| 12 | English and Telugu | Examination Centres in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana |
| 13 | English and Urdu | All Examination Centres in India |
Note: The option of language for Question Paper should be exercised while filling up the NEET 2026 application form and it cannot be changed at a later stage. Further, for the correctness of the questions in all the question papers, the English version will be taken as final.
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