NEET Exam Pattern 2026: Time Duration, Number of Questions & Marking Scheme
Krati Saraswat13 Dec, 2025
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Understanding the NEET Exam Pattern 2026 is essential for planning preparation. NEET is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is expected to follow the updated format introduced in NEET 2025: 180 compulsory questions and a 3-hour duration. Below is the complete and simplified breakdown of the exam structure.
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern: Quick Overview
The NEET UG 2026 exam will continue with the pre-COVID format where all questions are compulsory. There are no optional questions, and the paper is held in offline (pen-paper) mode.
|
NEET 2026 Pattern Summary |
|
|---|---|
| Feature | Offline (Pen–paper OMR) |
| Exam Mode | National Testing Agency |
| Total Questions | 180 (All compulsory) |
| Total Marks | 720 |
| Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Subjects | Physics (45), Chemistry (45), Biology (90) |
| Question Type | MCQs (+4 / −1) |
| Languages |
13 (English, Hindi & regional languages) |
NEET Previous Year Question Papers (2021-2025) PDF with Solution
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NEET Exam Duration 2026
NEET 2026 will provide a total of 3 hours to complete all 180 questions.
Key points:
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No extra time or sectional timing
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Students must manage time across all three subjects
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Budget ~1 minute per question for error-free solving
Number of Questions in NEET 2026
NEET has 180 compulsory MCQs, spread across three subjects:
|
Number of Questions in NEET 2026 |
||
|---|---|---|
| S.No | Subject | No. of Questions |
| 1 | Physics | Section A = 45 |
| 2 | Chemistry | Section A = 45 |
| 4 | Zoology | Section A = 45 |
| 3 | Botany | Section A = 45 |
| Total | 180 | |
There are no optional questions and no internal choices. This helps students plan chapter coverage more efficiently.
NEET Exam Pattern 2026 and Total Marks
| NEET Exam Pattern 2026 Marking Scheme | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sl. No. | Subject | No. of Questions | Total Marks |
| 1 | Physics | Section A = 45 | 180 |
| 2 | Chemistry | Section A = 45 | 180 |
| 4 | Zoology | Section A = 45 | 180 |
| 3 | Botany | Section A = 45 | 180 |
| Total | 180 | 720 | |
NEET 2026 Marking Scheme
|
Here is the marking logic in short: |
|
|---|---|
| Response Type | Marks awarded |
| Correct answer | +4 |
| Incorrect answer | -1 |
| Unanswered question | 0 |
| Multiple responses | −1 |
Once marked on the OMR, answers cannot be changed. If a question has multiple correct answers after answer-key revision, full marks are awarded to all valid choices.
Subject-Wise Marks Distribution & Important Weightage
Understanding topic weightage helps students prioritize preparation.
Physics Weightage (Summary)
Physics weightage includes major units such as Mechanics, Electricity, Magnetism, Optics and Modern Physics.
| NEET Physics Topic Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Unit | NEET Physics Topic Wise Weightage |
| Physical World and Measurement | 2% |
| Kinematics | 7% |
| Laws of Motion | 7% |
| Work, Energy and Power | 4% |
| System of Particles and Rotational Motion | 4.50% |
| Gravitation | 4.50% |
| Properties of Bulk Matter | 9% |
| Oscillations and Waves | 7% |
| Thermodynamics | 4.50% |
| Behavior of Perfect Gas and Kinetic Theory | 2% |
| Electrostatics | 4% |
| Current Electricity | 9% |
| Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | 7% |
| Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents | 4% |
| Electromagnetic Waves | 2% |
| Optics | 4.50% |
| Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 4% |
| Atoms and Nuclei | 7% |
| Electronic Devices | 7% |
Chemistry Weightage (Summary)
Chemistry weightage is divided into Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry, each carrying specific chapter-wise distribution.
| NEET Chemistry Topic wise Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Physical Chemistry | |
| Chapter | No. of Questions |
| Solid state | 2 |
| States of Matter | 2 |
| Thermodynamics | 1 |
| Electrochemistry | 2 |
| Surface chemistry | 1 |
| Solutions | 2 |
| Chemical Kinetics | 2 |
| Nuclear Chemistry | 1 |
| Mole concept | 1 |
| Atomic structure | 1 |
| Ionic equilibrium | 1 |
| Inorganic Chemistry | |
| Chapter | No. of Questions |
| Chemical Bonding | 5 |
| s-block | 2 |
| p-block | 3 |
| d and f block | 2 |
| Metallurgy | 2 |
| Environmental chemistry | 1 |
| Coordination chemistry | 2 |
| Organic Chemistry | |
| Chapter | No. of Questions |
| Some basic principles and techniques | 1 |
| Hydrocarbons | 4 |
| Haloalkanes and Haloarenes | 2 |
| Alcohol, Phenol and Ether | 1 |
| Carbonyl compound | 3 |
| Amine | 2 |
| Biomolecules | 1 |
| Polymers | 1 |
| Chemistry in Everyday Life | 1 |
Biology Weightage (Summary)
Biology carries the highest weightage with 90 questions, equally split into Botany and Zoology.
| NEET Biology Topic wise Distribution | ||
|---|---|---|
| Class XI | ||
| Unit | Chapters | Weightage (approximate) |
| I | Diversity of Living Organisms | 12% |
| II | Structural Organisation in Plants & Animals | 9% |
| III | Cell: Structure and Function | 8% |
| IV | Plant Physiology | 8% |
| V | Human Physiology | 16% |
| Class XII | ||
| Unit | Chapters | Weightage |
| VI | Reproduction | 11% |
| VII | Genetics and Evolution | 13% |
| VIII | Biology and Human Welfare | 9% |
| IX | Biotechnology and its Applications | 4% |
| X | Ecology and Environment | 10% |
NEET 2026 Paper Pattern & Question Format
The NEET question paper is MCQ-based, where each question has four options.
Important highlights:
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Only one correct answer
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Use a black ballpoint pen for OMR
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Physics often appears the most challenging
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Biology is typically lengthy but scoring
NEET 2026 Language Options
NEET is expected to be conducted in 13 languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Odia, Assamese, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Urdu.
Important rules:
-
If English is selected → Question paper only in English
-
If Hindi → Bilingual (Hindi + English)
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If a regional language → Regional language + English
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English version will be treated as final in case of translation conflict
How to Avoid Negative Marking in NEET
To avoid losing marks due to negative marking:
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Do not guess answers blindly
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Attempt only what you are confident about
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Read questions carefully
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Maintain accuracy over speed
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Solve easier questions first, then return to tougher ones
NEET 2026 Difficulty Level (Expected)
Based on trends from previous years:
| NEET 2026 Difficulty Level (Expected) | |
|---|---|
| Subject | Difficulty Level |
| Physics Difficult Level | Tough |
| Chemistry Difficulty Level | Moderate |
| Biology Difficulty Level | Easy but lengthy |
NEET 2026 Updates & Changes
As of now, NEET 2026 is expected to follow the same pattern as NEET 2025.
If NTA announces changes, the exam pattern will be updated here immediately.
NEET Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
Is the NEET 2026 exam pattern changed?
How many questions are there in NEET 2026?
What is the marking scheme for NEET 2026?
What is the total marks of NEET 2026?
How long is the NEET exam?
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