The NEET 2026 exam pattern is likely to remain the same as last year. Last year, the exam pattern of NEET was changed by NTA, reverting it to that of the pre-COVID era. The optional questions were removed. Instead of 200 questions, there are now 180 questions. The total duration of NEET was reduced from 200 minutes to 180 minutes, or three hours.
Applicants must check the NEET 2026 Exam Pattern to know essential information related to mode, medium and questions asked in the national level medical entrance exam. This can also help students understand the NEET Exam Pattern for NEET 2026. Through the NEET exam pattern 2026, applicants will pick up an understanding about the exam pattern, division of questions, exam duration, marking scheme and other important data.
By knowing these details, through the NEET exam pattern 2026, the candidates will have the capacity to make exhaustive arrangements for the MBBS and BDS selection examination. NEET 2026 will be conducted in an offline mode for every single enrolled candidate. The entrance examination of NEET 2026 will be 3 hours in length and will comprise of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
NEET Exam Pattern 2026 Overview
The NEET test will comprise of 180 objective type questions (four options with the single correct answer) from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany & Zoology) to be answered on the specially designed machine-gradable sheet using Ball Point Pen provided by CBSE at the test center. Check an overview of the NEET exam pattern tabulated below.
Particulars | Details |
Mode of the examination | Offline |
Duration of the examination | Three hours |
Exam timing | 2 PM to 5 PM (as per Indian Standard Time) |
Type of questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
Total number of Questions | 180 |
Total Marks | 720 |
Negative marking | Yes |
Marking Scheme |
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Total sections in the question paper | 4 (45 questions for each subject) |
NEET Subjects | Physics, Chemistry and Biology (Botany + Zoology) |
NEET Question Paper Mediums or Languages | 13 - English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam |
Changes Introduced in NEET Exam Pattern Last Year
Here is an overview of the changes introduced in the NEET exam pattern and structure, which reverted to the pattern and structure of pre-pandemic times.
- Removal of Optional Questions: Till last year, there were 20 optional questions, five in each subject. This year, the optional questions have been removed, making all 180 questions compulsory to attempt.
- Reduction in Duration: The total duration of the NEET exam till last year was 200 minutes or three hours and 20 minutes. Now the extra time of 20 minutes has been removed, making the total duration three hours or 180 minutes.
- Removal of Sectional Bifurcation: Each subject was divided into two sections, Section A and Section B, till last year. While Section A carried 35 questions, Section B had 15 questions, out of which five were optional questions in Section B. This year, there is no sectional bifurcation, and each subject carries a single section of 45 compulsory questions.
Also see → NEET exam 2026 syllabus
Language of the Question Papers
The NEET test paper is available in 13 different languages and candidates have the liberty to choose from these options. A brief language selection guide for NEET exam has been given below.
- Candidates can opt for Question Paper in ten languages - Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, Bengali, Assamese, Tamil, Oriya and Kannada.
- The option of the medium of Question Paper should be exercised while filling in the application form and the option once exercised by candidates cannot be changed later.
- Candidates opting for English would be provided Test Booklet in English only and the candidates opting for Hindi would be provided Bilingual Test Booklet i.e. in Hindi and in English.
- In case of any ambiguity in translation of any of the questions, its English version shall be treated as final.
NEET 2026 Subject-Wise Weightage
The following table indicates the sections of the NEET exam pattern, NEET subject list, NEET subject-wise weightage, and the distribution of marks.
Subject | Number of Questions | Marks |
Physics | 45 | 180 |
Chemistry | 45 | 180 |
Botany | 45 | 180 |
Zoology | 45 | 180 |
Total | 180 | 720 |
NEET Marking Scheme
Candidates can check the detailed marking scheme for NEET 2026 exam in the table below. In overview, each correct answer fetches 4 marks, and each incorrect answer deducts 1 mark. In addition, the following instructions must be kept in mind -
- Candidates would be required to use only blue/black ball point pen to be able to mark their answers.
- Candidates noting down multiple answers for one question shall lead to negative marking.
Response Type | Marks awarded |
Correct answer | +4 |
Incorrect answer | -1 |
Question with more than one response | -1 |
Unanswered question | 0 |
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern: Important Points to Remember While Marking the OMR Sheet
NTA has suggested the following guidelines for filling the NEET OMR sheet -
- Answers have to be marked using a ballpoint pen, which will be provided in the examination hall
- Changing answers on the OMR sheet is not allowed
- Erasing/ obliterating any information printed on the OMR sheet is a punishable offence
- Rough work should be done on the test booklet only
- A Candidate must not forget to mark the test booklet code on the OMR sheet
- Candidates must ensure that the NEET question paper code matches that of the OMR sheet.
NEET 2026 Language Selection
NEET Question Paper Medium and Centers have been detailed as below.
Medium of Question Paper | Examination Centres |
English | All Examination Centres |
English, Hindi; Urdu | All Examination Centres in India |
English, Hindi and Assamese; Urdu | Examination Centres in Assam |
English, Hindi and Bengali; Urdu | Examination Centres in West Bengal, Tripura, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
English, Hindi and Gujarati; Urdu | Examination Centres in Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli |
English, Hindi and Kannada; Urdu | Examination Centres in Karnataka |
English, Hindi and Malayalam; Urdu | Examination Centres in Kerala and Lakshadweep |
English, Hindi and Marathi; Urdu | Examination Centres in Maharashtra |
English, Hindi and Odia; Urdu | Examination Centres in Odisha |
English, Hindi and Punjabi; Urdu | Examination Centres in Punjab, Chandigarh, and Delhi/New Delhi (including Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Meerut, Noida/Greater Noida) |
English, Hindi and Tamil; Urdu | Examination Centres in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
English, Hindi and Telugu; Urdu | Examination Centres in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana |
