NEET Exam Pattern 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has confirmed the NEET exam pattern for 2026, stating that the mode of examination is pen and paper-based. There will be 180 compulsory questions in the pattern — no optional questions. The duration of the examination will be 3 hours, and 4 marks will be allotted for every correct answer, with a negative marking of 1 mark for every incorrect answer.
The question paper will consist of 45 questions each from physics, chemistry, Botany, and Zoology. Candidates will be provided with an OMR sheet to be filled using a blue/black ballpoint pen. The question paper will be available in 13 languages, including Hindi, English, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Odia, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi and Urdu.
NEET 2026 Important Dates
Below are the key dates for NEET UG 2026. Candidates are advised to keep track of these dates to avoid missing any deadline.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Admit Card Release | 26th April 2026 |
| NEET UG 2026 Exam Date | 3 May 2026 |
| Answer Key Release | May/June 2026 |
| Result Declaration | June 2026 |
| Counselling Process Begins | July 2026 |
Also Read: Neet Syllabus
NEET Exam Pattern 2026
NTA has released the revised exam pattern for NEET 2026. From 2025 onwards, there are only 180 questions –Section B with optional questions has been removed. Each question carries 4 marks, making a total of 720 marks.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Examination | Pen-Paper Based (OMR Sheet) |
| Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Exam Timing | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) – 4 options, 1 correct answer |
| Total Questions | 180 (Compulsory – no optional questions) |
| Subjects Covered | Physics (45), Chemistry (45), Botany (45), Zoology (45) |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for correct, −1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted |
| Total Marks | 720 |
| Languages Available | 13 languages, including English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Assamese, and more |
| Answer Sheet | OMR Sheet (blue/black ballpoint pen) |
| PwD/PwBD Duration | 4 hours (240 minutes) with compensatory time |
NEET 2026 Subject-wise Question Distribution
The question paper is divided into four subjects. Each subject has 45 compulsory questions carrying 180 marks, totalling 720 marks.
| Subject | Type of Questions | Timing | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | MCQ – 4 options, single correct answer/best option | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | 45 | 180 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 180 | ||
| Biology – Botany | 45 | 180 | ||
| Biology – Zoology | 45 | 180 | ||
| Total | 180 | 720 | ||
NEET 2026 Marking Scheme
As per the revised pattern, 4 marks will be awarded for every correct answer, and there is a penalty of one mark for every incorrect answer, with no marks awarded for unattempted questions.
| Type of Response | Marks Awarded |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +4 marks |
| Incorrect Answer | −1 mark (negative marking) |
| Unattempted Question | 0 marks (no penalty) |
Important Points to Note (Marking Rules)
To answer a question, the candidate needs to choose one option corresponding to the correct answer or the most appropriate answer. In case a question has more than one option found correct, it will be handled as below:
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- (i) 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.
- (ii) If all options are found to be correct, four marks (+4) will be awarded to all those who have attempted the question.
- (iii) Dropped / Wrong Questions: If none of the options is found to be correct or a question is found to be wrong or is dropped, then all candidates who have appeared will be given four marks (+4) irrespective of whether the question was attempted or not.
Medium of Question Paper (13 Languages)
Candidates can opt for a question paper in any one of the following 13 mediums. The option once chosen cannot be changed:
- Candidates opting for English—Test Booklet in English medium only.
- Candidates opting for the Hindi—Bilingual Test Booklet in English and Hindi.
- Candidates opting for Regional Languages—Test Booklet in English + selected Regional Language. (e.g., Tamil → English + Tamil)
- In case of any ambiguity in translation, the English version shall be treated as final.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How many questions are there in NEET 2026?
Ans: NEET 2026 has 180 compulsory questions — 45 each from physics, chemistry, botany, and zoology. There is no Section B and no optional questions in the revised pattern.
Q2: What are the total marks for NEET 2026?
Ans: The total marks for NEET 2026 is 720 marks. Each correct answer carries +4 marks, making 180 × 4 = 720.
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Q3: Is there negative marking in NEET 2026?
Ans: Yes. There is a negative marking of −1 mark for every incorrect answer. Unattempted questions carry 0 marks — no penalty for skipping.
Q4: Is NEET 2026 online or offline?
Ans: NEET 2026 is conducted in offline (Pen and Paper) mode. Candidates fill in answers on an OMR sheet using a blue or black ballpoint pen.
Q5: What is the duration of NEET 2026?
Ans: The duration is 3 hours (180 minutes) for general candidates. PwD/PwBD candidates get an additional 1 hour, making it 4 hours total.
Q6: Has Section B been removed in NEET 2026?
Ans: Yes. From NEET 2025 onwards, Section B with optional questions has been removed. All 180 questions are now compulsory.
Q7: In how many languages is NEET 2026 conducted?
Ans: NEET 2026 is conducted in 13 languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
Q8: What happens if a question is wrong or dropped in NEET?
Ans: If a question is found to be wrong or is dropped, all candidates who appeared are awarded +4 marks for that question — whether they attempted it or not.
Q9: Is there an age limit for NEET 2026?
Ans: The minimum age is 17 years as on December 31, 2026. As per the Supreme Court ruling, there is no upper age limit for NEET.
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