
Expected Difficulty Level of NEET UG 2026 Based on Trends: Competition in NEET has skyrocketed, with over 24 lakh registrations in recent years, pushing cut-offs higher even if papers stay balanced. Experts predict NEET 2026 will follow the moderate-to-tough trend seen in 2025, where NTA focused on conceptual depth over rote learning, making it unforgiving for those skipping NCERT basics. This shift means more application-based questions, interdisciplinary twists, and assertion-reason types that test critical thinking under time pressure, perfect for separating toppers from the pack.
The past trends show that while overall difficulty hovers at moderate (like 2023-2025), rising applicant numbers amplify the challenge, so mastering time management (aim for 50 seconds per easy question) is your edge. Students who nailed PYQs and mocks in 2025 scored 650+, proving smart prep trumps brute force, focus here to turn "tough" into "doable" for NEET 2026.
Analyzing NEET UG from 2021-2025 shows a clear evolution: papers started tough (2021 Physics nightmare) but stabilized at moderate, with 2025 hitting moderate overall—Physics toughest, Biology easiest.
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Past 5 Years NEET UG Trends |
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Year |
Overall |
Physics |
Chemistry |
Biology |
|
2021 |
Tough |
Toughest (numericals) |
Easy-moderate |
Moderate |
|
2022 |
Moderate-difficult |
Challenging |
Moderate |
Moderate |
|
2023 |
Easy-moderate |
Moderate |
Moderate-tricky |
Easiest |
|
2024 |
Easy-moderate |
Tough-lengthy |
Balanced |
NCERT-based |
|
2025 |
Moderate |
Most challenging |
Easy-moderate |
Lengthy but scoring |
Physics consistently filters ranks with 30-40% tough numericals (Mechanics, Electrodynamics heavy), while Biology (50% weightage) stays NCERT-dominant with 75-80 direct questions. Chemistry balances at moderate, blending inorganic NCERT facts with organic mechanisms. Cut-offs rose marginally each year (160-170 for General), signaling NTA's push for quality over quantity, expect 2026 to mirror 2025's 28% hard, 39% moderate split.
Also Check: Will NEET 2026 Be Tough
Biology remains your scoring lifeline, easy-moderate, with 75-80 NCERT direct hits, 15-20 diagram-based, and Human Physiology/Genetics dominating for 330+ scores. Chemistry may be hit moderate, inorganic NCERT-safe (400 safe marks), but organic mechanisms and 8-12 physical numericals demand concepts over memory.
Physics: moderate-difficult, packed with multi-step calculations (12-18 numericals), Mechanics (25%), and time-traps that sank many in 2025. Trends show no ultra-tough repeats like 2016, but expect hybrid questions blending Class 11-12 syllabus evenly.
Pro tip: Prioritize 50-second solvers in mocks, skipping lengthy ones saved scores in past papers. With 720 marks across 180 questions (3hr 20min), negative marking (-1) punishes guesses, so accuracy in high-weight chapters is key to cracking 650+ amid 22 lakh+ rivals.
Stick to NCERT line-by-line, it's 80% of Biology/Chemistry success, per experts. Dive into PYQs for patterns (avoid random toughies), join quality test series tracking errors, and master time splits: 75min Biology, 60min Physics, 45min Chemistry. Skip emotional traps on lengthy Physics, question selection wins games, as one high-Physics scorer flunked overall from imbalance. Analyze mocks weekly, revise high-yield chapters (Thermodynamics 15% Physics), and build stamina for 200 questions (attempt 180).