Difference Between NEET And AIIMS, Main Differences

Differences between NEET and AIIMS, their assessment, exam patterns, syllabus, and preparation strategies are provided below. Understand NEET UG vs AIIMS to approach these medical entrance tests confidently.

NEET UG vs AIIMS: NEET, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, is an annual exam for getting into medical programs. The NTA (National Testing Agency) organizes it. AIIMS, or the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, is a well-known medical institution in New Delhi. It used to hold its entrance exams on different campuses until 2019.

Starting from 2020, AIIMS and JIPMER institutes will stop having separate entrance exams. Now, admission to AIIMS for undergraduate medical courses relies on NEET scores. NEET is now the single entrance test for medical programs across India.

Successful candidates can participate in online counseling after meeting the minimum NEET cut-off for their categories. Shortlisted students are invited for counseling and are given seats based on their performance. Admission can be sought through the AIQ (All India Quota, which includes 15% of reserved seats) or state quota (85% of reserved seats).

Difference Between NEET And AIIMS Highlights

NEET UG and AIIMS were prominent medical entrance exams in India, each with its unique features. NEET UG focused on Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology, while AIIMS included Physics, Chemistry, Biology, General Knowledge, and Aptitude. The exams differed in mode, duration, question types, and marking schemes, offering candidates diverse pathways to pursue their medical aspirations.

Difference Between NEET And AIIMS

Before the year 2020, there were two important medical entrance exams in India: NEET UG and AIIMS. These exams were used to decide who could get into medical colleges. But they were not the same. They had different rules and ways of testing students. NEET UG had its own pattern, and AIIMS had its own unique style.

For example, NEET UG was done on paper with a pen, while AIIMS was taken on a computer. NEET UG had questions from Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology, while AIIMS included those subjects along with General Knowledge and Aptitude. In NEET UG, students had to choose the correct answer from options, while AIIMS also had questions where students needed to match reasons and assertions.

In NEET UG, getting a right answer added 4 marks and a wrong one deducted 1 mark. In AIIMS, a correct answer got 1 mark, but an incorrect one cut 1/3rd of a mark.

After 2020, AIIMS decided to stop its exam, and NEET UG became the main exam for medical admissions.

Check: NEET Syllabus 2024

Difference in Assessment Approach

Regarding the NEET exam, it mainly looked at how well students managed their time, how quickly they answered, how well they thought on their feet, and how they understood concepts. These important things were all mixed to create the questions. This meant that the NEET exam judged students based on their knowledge.

Conversely, AIIMS always cared more about how well students understood concepts and how they could use their knowledge. Their exam showed this, and they chose students with good understanding and application skills through their entrance test until 2019.

Difference in Exam Pattern

The examination mode and duration were key distinctions between NEET UG and AIIMS entrance exams. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted NEET offline, while AIIMS took place online. NEET had 3 hours, while AIIMS had a slightly longer duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Another significant difference lay in the structure of the exams. NEET consisted of 180 questions encompassing Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology. On the other hand, AIIMS included 200 questions covering Physics, Chemistry, Biology, General Knowledge, and Aptitude. NEET had an objective question format, while AIIMS featured a mix of reason assertion and multiple-choice questions.

The questions in NEET were distributed equally among the four subjects. In contrast, AIIMS allocated 60 questions each for Physics and Chemistry, 60 combined questions for Biology (Zoology and Botany), and 10 for General Knowledge and Aptitude. The scoring system also differed, with NEET awarding +4 marks for correct answers and deducting -1 marks for wrong ones, whereas AIIMS gave +1 marks for a correct answer and deducted -1/3 marks for an incorrect response.

Difference in Syllabus

Both NEET and AIIMS exams cover the main subjects of physics, chemistry, botany, and zoology. However, AIIMS takes biology and zoology into a single biology section. Moreover, AIIMS goes beyond and includes two extra sections on general knowledge, aptitude, and logical reasoning. This variation in subjects highlights these entrance tests' differing focus and approach.

NEET and AIIMS are annual tests that provide a gateway to medical institutes offering undergraduate courses across India. Securing a good score in these exams opens doors to prestigious medical institutions. In the academic year 2020, AIIMS decided to discontinue its entrance exam, making NEET the sole nationwide entrance test for medical courses. This decision aimed to streamline the selection process and ensure a uniform method for candidate selection based on merit.

Every year, many students from all corners of India participate in the NEET exam to secure a spot in top medical colleges. This transition has made NEET the single-tier national entrance exam for medical admissions administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The change simplifies the selection process and makes it fairer and more equitable for all aspiring medical students.

Difference in Preparation

Preparing for the NEET and AIIMS exams involves a similar approach to core subjects, as their syllabuses have overlapping content. However, AIIMS requires students to allocate more time to additional subjects like General Knowledge (GK) and Aptitude. It's essential to have a strong grasp of the concepts covered in the NCERT textbooks, as they form the foundation for both tests.

Regarding NEET preparation, solving previous years' question papers is a tried-and-true method to familiarize oneself with the exam's pattern and types of questions. Unfortunately, AIIMS does not release previous years' questions, making it more challenging for students to get a direct sense of the question styles. Consequently, AIIMS aspirants often turn to practice mock tests, which simulate the exam environment and offer valuable practice.

In the realm of Physics, AIIMS tends to present more intricate and complex problems compared to NEET. This demands a higher level of understanding and problem-solving skills from AIIMS candidates.

While the core subjects demand a similar approach in preparation for both NEET and AIIMS, AIIMS candidates must allocate extra time for GK and Aptitude. Mastery of NCERT concepts is a prerequisite for excelling in both exams. NEET takers benefit from solving past questions, whereas AIIMS aspirants rely on mock tests. The Physics section in AIIMS presents a greater challenge, necessitating a deeper comprehension of the subject matter.

NEET UG vs AIIMS FAQs

Q 1. Which exam is more challenging to pass, NEET or AIIMS?

Ans. Both tests cover the same main subjects, but AIIMS includes two extra subjects.

Due to this, many consider AIIMS to be more difficult to pass than NEET.

Q 2. Why was the AIIMS entrance exam removed in 2020?

Ans. The AIIMS exam was permanently eliminated in 2020. From then on, NEET became the sole All-India entrance exam for medical courses. This change aimed to streamline the selection process and ensure that candidates were chosen solely based on merit.

Q 3. What did AIIMS aspirants for 2020 do after the exam was removed?

Ans. After the AIIMS exam was discontinued, aspirants for that year could appear for the NEET exam, as it became the exclusive entrance test for medical courses.

Q 4. What were the NEET and AIIMS exam syllabuses when both were active in India?

Ans. Until the last year they were both held (2019), both exams covered the four main subjects: physics, chemistry, botany, and zoology. However, AIIMS combined biology and zoology into one section and included two extra sections on general knowledge, aptitude, and logical reasoning.

Q 5. What languages were used for the NEET and AIIMS exams?

Ans. The AIIMS exam was available in only two languages, English and Hindi. In contrast, the NEET exam is conducted in ten languages: English, Hindi, Odia, Bengali, Gujarati, Assamese, Tamil, Telugu, and Marathi.

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