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NEET Exam Past 5 Years Trends Analysis (2024-2020)

NEET Exam Past 5 Years Trends Analysis, Analyze NEET exam trends from 2020 to 2024, including difficulty levels, cut-off marks, top scorers, and paper analysis for each year.
authorImageSoumya Tiwari4 May, 2025
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NEET Exam Past 5 Years Trends Analysis (2024-2020)

NEET Exam Past 5 Years Trends Analysis : The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is one of the most important exams for students aspiring to become doctors in India. It is the gateway to undergraduate medical courses like MBBS, BDS, and other medical programs. Over the past five years, the NEET Exam has seen many changes and trends that students need to know before starting their preparation. Understanding these trends can help students prepare better and make informed decisions.

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NEET Exam Past 5 Years Trends Analysis Overview

The NEET 2025 exam date was announced in February, and the exam will be held on May 4, 2025. In recent years, NEET has become more challenging due to the increasing number of aspirants. This year, the notification was delayed, possibly because of an expert committee formed by the central government. 

NEET 2025 Paper Analysis

NEET 2025 Biology Paper Analysis NEET 2025 Physics Paper Analysis NEET 2025 Chemistry Paper Analysis

Latest Updates in NEET 2025 by NTA

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has made important updates for NEET 2025:

  • The official website for NEET UG 2025 is neet.nta.nic.in , which will have all the necessary details like registration, syllabus, admit cards, and results.
  • NTA has introduced APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) and Aadhaar-based authentication to streamline the process.
  • NEET UG 2025 will be conducted in pen-and-paper mode on a single day and in a single shift.
  • N EET scores will be used for admissions to MBBS, BDS , and veterinary courses, following guidelines set by governing bodies.

Last Year Controversy in NEET Exam (2023 - 2024)

The NEET-UG 2024 exam, held on May 5, faced major controversy after the results were declared on June 4. With over 24 lakh candidates appearing for the test, allegations of irregularities emerged, particularly over the awarding of grace marks to more than 1,563 students. This led to concerns about the fairness of the exam, as 67 students achieved a perfect score of 720, compared to just two in 2023 . Additionally, rumors of a leaked question paper surfaced, prompting legal action. The Supreme Court ordered a retest for the affected students, set for June 23, with results announced on June 30. Despite the controversy, counseling for admissions began on July 6. Petitions were filed, with Alakh Pandey, CEO of PhysicsWallah, claiming that the grace marks were arbitrarily awarded . The Union Education Minister called it an "institutional failure" of the National Testing Agency (NTA), and a high-level committee, led by Dr. K Radhakrishnan, was formed to investigate the issue and ensure future transparency.

On July 26, the NTA released a re-revised result, reducing the toppers’ list from 61 to 17 . This adjustment followed the withdrawal of grace marks and a retest conducted for 1,563 candidates on July 19. The re-revised results highlighted a significant correction in the rankings, reflecting the impact of these controversies on the exam's outcomes.

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Registration Trends in Past Years in NEET Exam

The number of students registering for NEET has steadily increased over the past five years, reflecting its growing popularity and competition.

Registration Trends in Past Years in NEET Exam
Year Registered Candidates Appeared Candidates Absent Candidates
2024 2,406,079 2,333,297 72,782
2023 2,087,462 2,038,596 48,866
2022 1,872,343 1,764,571 107,772
2021 1,614,777 1,544,273 70,504
2020 1,597,435 1,366,945 230,490

Past 5 Years Cut off Analysis of NEET Exam

Cut-off marks determine the minimum score needed for admissions. Understanding trends helps students set realistic goals. The cut-off marks for NEET have shown variation due to changes in difficulty level and competition. Higher cut-offs in recent years indicate tougher competition.

Past 5 Years Cut off Analysis of NEET Exam
Category Qualifying Criteria NEET(UG) 2024 Marks Range NEET(UG) 2023 Marks Range NEET(UG) 2022 Marks Range NEET(UG) 2021 Marks Range NEET(UG) 2020 Marks Range
UR/EWS 50th Percentile 720-162 720-137 715-117 720-138 720-147
OBC 40th Percentile 161-127 136-107 116-93 137-108 146-113
SC 40th Percentile 161-127 136-107 116-93 137-108 146-113
ST 40th Percentile 161-127 136-107 116-93 137-108 146-113
UR/EWS & PH 45th Percentile 161-144 136-121 116-105 137-122 146-129
OBC & PH 40th Percentile 143-127 120-107 104-93 137-108 128-113
SC & PH 40th Percentile 143-127 120-107 104-93 136-108 128-113
ST & PH 40th Percentile 142-127 120-108 104-93 135-108 128-113

Top 10 Toppers of NEET Exam Past 5 Years

The top 10 toppers of the NEET exam in the last five years have shown amazing hard work and smart studying. These students scored the highest marks and became the best in the country. Their dedication and effort inspire others to do their best in the NEET exam.

NEET 2024 Toppers List

Here is the list of the top 10 candidates in NEET (UG) – 2024 :

S. No. Candidate Name Roll Number Total Marks Percentile NEET Rank State
1 Mridul Manya Anand 2001920176 720 99.9992714 1 Delhi
2 Ayush Naugraiya 4408010813 720 99.9992714 1 Uttar Pradesh
3 Mazin Mansoor 1518070396 720 99.9992714 1 Bihar
4 Prachita 3918040017 720 99.9992714 1 Rajasthan
5 Saurav 3923490143 720 99.9992714 1 Rajasthan
6 Divyansh 3905130233 720 99.9992714 1 Delhi
7 Gunmay Garg 3805040153 720 99.9992714 1 Punjab
8 Arghyadeep Dutta 4608060714 720 99.9992714 1 West Bengal
9 Shubhan Sengupta 3111200278 720 99.9992714 1 Maharashtra
10 Aryan Yadav 4408010212 720 99.9992714 1 Uttar Pradesh

NEET 2023 Topper List

Here is the list of the top 10 candidates in NEET (UG) – 2023:

S. No. Candidate Name Roll Number Total Marks Percentile NEET Rank State
1 Prabanjan J 4101200189 720 99.999901 1 Tamil Nadu
2 Bora Varun Chakravarthi 1205120175 720 99.999901 1 Andhra Pradesh
3 Kaustav Bauri 4101050478 716 99.999852 3 Tamil Nadu
4 Pranjal Aggarwal 3804010869 715 99.999068 4 Punjab
5 Dhruv Advani 2712450104 715 99.999068 5 Karnataka
6 Surya Siddharth N 4101060193 715 99.999068 6 Tamil Nadu
7 Shriniketh Ravi 3114130288 715 99.999068 7 Maharashtra
8 Swayam Shakti Tripathy 3604180344 715 99.999068 8 Odisha
9 Varun S 4102030633 715 99.999068 9 Tamil Nadu
10 Parth Khandelwal 3903170245 715 99.999068 10 Rajasthan

NEET 2022 Toppers List

Here is the list of the top 10 candidates in NEET (UG) – 2022:

S. No. Candidate Name Roll Number Total Marks Percentile NEET Rank State
1 Tanishka 3905190306 715 99.9997733 1 Rajasthan
2 Vatsa Ashish Batra 2001350019 715 99.9997733 2 Delhi (NCT)
3 Hrishikesh Nagbhushan Gangule 2712130298 715 99.9997733 3 Karnataka
4 Rucha Pawashe 2701140052 715 99.9997733 4 Karnataka
5 Errabelly Sidharth Rao 4204010052 711 99.9997166 5 Telangana
6 Rishi Vinay Balse 3110320171 710 99.9992066 6 Maharashtra
7 Arpit Narang 1601050034 710 99.9992066 7 Punjab
8 Krishna S R 4122020826 710 99.9992066 8 Karnataka
9 Zeel Vipul Vyas 2209040165 710 99.9992066 9 Gujarat
10 Haziq Parveez Lone 2508010476 710 99.9992066 10 Jammu & Kashmir

NEET 2021 Toppers List

Here is the list of the top 10 candidates in NEET (UG) – 2021:

S. No. Candidate Name Roll Number Total Marks Percentile NEET Rank State
1 Mrinal Kutteri 4201113147 720 99.999806 1 Telangana
2 Tanmay Gupta 2001012341 720 99.999806 1 Delhi (NCT)
3 Karthika G Nair 3114010091 720 99.999806 1 Maharashtra
4 Aman Kumar Tripathi 3905004441 716 99.999741 4 Uttar Pradesh
5 Jashan Chhabra 2707002547 715 99.998705 5 Karnataka
6 Deepak Sahu 4411109202 715 99.998705 5 Uttar Pradesh
7 Shubham Agarwal 4409008060 715 99.998705 5 Uttar Pradesh
8 Nikhar Bansal 4410007356 715 99.998705 5 Delhi (NCT)
9 Suyash Arora 1601009298 715 99.998705 5 Haryana
10 Meghan H K 2708015146 715 99.998705 5 Karnataka

NEET 2020 Toppers List

Here is the list of the top 10 candidates in NEET (UG) – 2020:

S. No. Candidate Name Roll Number Total Marks Percentile NEET Rank State
1 Soyeb Aftab 3905115049 720 99.9998537 1 Odisha
2 Akanksha Singh 4405121083 720 99.9998537 2 Delhi
3 Tumala Snikitha 4201122291 715 99.9995611 3 Telangana
4 Vineet Sharma 3903205561 715 99.9995611 4 Rajasthan
5 Amrisha Khaitan 2302112104 715 99.9995611 5 Haryana
6 Guthi Chaitanya Sindhu 1205004532 715 99.9995611 6 Andhra Pradesh
7 Satwik Godara 2001210356 711 99.9994879 7 Haryana
8 Srijan R 4108003171 710 99.9985369 8 Tamil Nadu
9 Karthik Reddy 2705014153 710 99.9985369 9 Karnataka
10 Matravadia Maanit 2207005077 710 99.9985369 10 Gujarat

Past Years Topper List by PhysicsWallah

PhysicsWallah (PW) has been a part of the journey for many students preparing for NEET UG over the years. Each year, the incredible achievements of PWians inspire millions of students, proving that with determination, hard work, and the right guidance, success is within reach.

Past Years Topper List by PhysicsWallah
Name Marks
2024
Arindam Chowdhury 715
Chand Mallik 715
Tathagat Awatar 715
Suhani 712
Biplab Karak 711
Kunwar Digvijay Singh 710
Sumit Jakhar 710
Subham Paul 710
Vidhey Dave 710
Karan Garg 710
2023
Samuel H. Tsapa 711
Nishant Sharma 710
Vaibhav Golani 710
Prayas Rout 710
Palak Shah 705
Md Rejaullah 705
Anik Bakshi 701
Asmita R. Kadam 700

Result Analysis in NEET Past 5 Years

The table above presents the year-wise data of candidates who appeared and qualified in the NEET UG exam from 2020 to 2024. It highlights the number of Indian and international candidates who appeared for the exam and successfully qualified across various years. This data provides a clear view of the trends and performance in NEET UG over the past five years.

Result Analysis in NEET Past 5 Years
Nationality 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020
Appeared Qualified Appeared Qualified Appeared Qualified Appeared Qualified Appeared Qualified
Indian 2,330,090 2,036,316 1,144,399 868,483 1,762,476 991,629 1,542,099 868,483 1,365,154 770,201
Foreign Nationals 1,122 786 521 427 676 424 695 427 424 256
NRI 1,214 852 533 736 851 558 962 736 854 600
OCI 736 642 523 428 568 458 519 428 481 418
PIO - - - - - - - - 32 25
Total 2,333,162 2,038,596 1,145,976 771,500 1,764,571 993,069 1,366,945 771,500 1,366,945 771,500

Increment in Seats in Medical Colleges

India has made substantial progress in increasing the number of medical seats. The total number of medical colleges has grown from 387 in 2014 to 780 in 2024. Below is the state-wise seat distribution:

State MBBS Seats
Tamil Nadu 11,225
Karnataka 10,145
Maharashtra 9,895
Uttar Pradesh 9,053
Gujarat 5,700
Andhra Pradesh 5,335
Telangana 5,040
Rajasthan 4,005
West Bengal 4,225
Delhi 1,497

Paper Analysis in NEET Exam

The NEET UG exams over the past few years have displayed varying levels of difficulty across different subjects. Each year has brought unique challenges for aspirants, influencing preparation strategies and exam expectations. Here's a breakdown of the paper analysis for the past few years:

NEET UG 2024 Paper Analysis

The NEET 2024 exam was generally considered moderate to difficult . The Physics and Chemistry sections were slightly more lengthy, but relatively easier compared to last year. Physics included more NCERT-based questions, particularly from class 11, with a focus on Thermodynamics and Optics. The Chemistry section was deemed easier than the previous year, although Physical Chemistry posed a higher level of difficulty. Biology remained moderate, with most questions derived from the NCERT curriculum.

NEET 2024 Paper Analysis NEET 2024 Chemistry Paper Analysis
NEET 2024 Biology Paper Analysis NEET 2024 Physics Paper Analysis

NEET UG 2023 Paper Analysis

The NEET UG 2023 exam presented an overall difficulty level that ranged from moderate to tough , with Physics and Chemistry being the more challenging sections, while Biology remained easier. The Physics section was considered easy to moderate, requiring a solid understanding of key concepts. Chemistry, on the other hand, was moderately difficult, with Physical Chemistry posing more of a challenge than Organic or Inorganic Chemistry. The Biology section was moderately easy, with the majority of the questions being closely aligned with the NCERT syllabus, making it relatively more accessible for students well-prepared with the textbook material.

NEET 2023 Paper Analysis

NEET UG 2022 Paper Analysis

The overall difficulty level of the 2022 exam was easy to moderate . While the Physics section remained similar to previous years, Chemistry and Biology were found to be more challenging than in 2021. The chemistry paper saw questions across physical, organic, and inorganic chemistry topics, and the Biology section included questions primarily from the NCERT syllabus.

NEET UG 2021 Paper Analysis

The NEET 2021 exam posed challenges, particularly in Physics , where the difficulty level was considered difficult due to a higher number of numerical-based questions. Topics like Optics, Semi-Conductors, and the Photoelectric Effect were tricky. Chemistry was NCERT-based, ranging from easy to moderate. In Biology, both Botany and Zoology sections were mostly based on NCERT, with Botany being easier and Zoology moderately difficult. Biotechnology questions made up about 11-12 of the total questions.

NEET UG 2020 Paper Analysis

The NEET 2020 exam presented a mixed difficulty level . The Physics section was considered easy compared to previous years, with a large portion of the questions directly from the NCERT textbook. In contrast, the Biology section, especially Botany, had a higher difficulty level, with two controversial questions. Zoology was generally moderate but required precision and multi-conceptual thinking.

Each year's NEET exam has had a blend of easy, moderate, and difficult questions across subjects, with a strong emphasis on the NCERT syllabus. This trend shows how students must be well-prepared in both conceptual knowledge and practical application.

Prepare for NEET with PW Online NEET Coaching ! Our courses offer structured lessons, clear explanations of concepts, and interactive classes to support your NEET preparation effectively.

NEET Exam Important Links
NEET Previous Years Question Papers NEET Physics Syllabus
NEET Study Material NEET Chemistry Syllabus
NEET Biology Syllabus NEET Sample papers
NEET Exam Pattern NEET Biology MCQ
NEET Biology Notes NEET Physics Notes
NEET Chemistry Notes NEET Eligibility Criteria
NEET Physics MCQs Biology Diagrams for NEET

 

NEET Exam Past 5 Years Trends Analysis FAQs

In which year was the NEET paper hardest?

NEET 2021 was considered one of the toughest, primarily due to the challenging Physics section, with a higher number of numerical-based questions.

Was NEET 2024 tougher than 2023?

NEET 2024 was slightly tougher than 2023, with Physics being more lengthy and Chemistry posing more challenges in Physical Chemistry, though Biology was relatively easier.

Is NEET 2025 going to be tough?

NEET 2025 is expected to be moderately challenging, as trends show increasing competition and slightly tougher exams over the years.

How to score 720 on 720 in NEET?

Achieving a 720/720 requires mastering the NCERT syllabus, consistent practice, and regular revisions, along with smart time management during the exam.

How to get AIR 1 in NEET 2025?

To get AIR 1, focus on mastering all subjects, solving past papers, and taking mock tests regularly, ensuring consistent practice and deep understanding.
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