NEET UG 2026 Exam Pattern: Marks, Questions, and Sections
NEET UG 2026 Exam Pattern remains a critical blueprint for medical aspirants, featuring a total of 200 multiple-choice questions across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Officially confirmed by the NTA on February 8, 2026, the offline pen-and-paper test requires candidates to attempt 180 questions for a total of 720 marks within a duration of 200 minutes. Understanding the sectional breakdown and marking scheme is essential for effective time management before the nationwide exam on May 3, 2026.
NEET UG 2026 Exam Pattern Section-wise Distribution
The NEET UG 2026 examination is structured to test your proficiency across three core subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (which is further divided into Botany and Zoology). Each subject is allocated a specific number of questions and marks, contributing to a total of 720 marks.
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NEET UG 2026 Exam Pattern Section-wise Question and Marks Breakdown |
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|---|---|---|---|
|
Subject |
Section |
Number of Questions |
Marks |
|
Physics |
Section A |
35 |
140 |
|
Section B |
15 (Attempt 10) |
40 |
|
|
Chemistry |
Section A |
35 |
140 |
|
Section B |
15 (Attempt 10) |
40 |
|
|
Botany |
Section A |
35 |
140 |
|
Section B |
15 (Attempt 10) |
40 |
|
|
Zoology |
Section A |
35 |
140 |
|
Section B |
15 (Attempt 10) |
40 |
|
|
Total |
4 Subjects |
200 (180 to be attempted) |
720 Marks |
NEET UG 2026 Important Guidelines for Section B
Section B provides a strategic advantage by offering 15 questions per subject, out of which you must attempt only any 10. This internal choice allows you to skip complex topics, but you must be cautious as only the first 10 attempted questions will be evaluated if you exceed the limit. It is vital to bubble the OMR sheet accurately, as the marking scheme of +4 for correct and -1 for incorrect answers still applies to this section.
NEET UG 2026 Marking Scheme
Understanding the marking scheme is essential for calculating your potential score and managing risks during the exam.
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Correct Answer: +4 marks awarded for every right response.
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Incorrect Answer: -1 mark deducted for every wrong choice.
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Unattempted: 0 marks (no gain or loss) for skipped questions.
NEET UG 2026 Exam Duration and Language Options
Candidates must select their preferred medium during the registration window ending March 8, 2026. The language chosen significantly impacts the question paper format you will receive on the exam day.
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Total Duration: 200 minutes (3 hours and 20 minutes).
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Official Timing: 02:00 PM to 05:20 PM IST.
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Language Options: Available in 13 languages, including English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
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Bilingual Benefit: Selecting any regional language or Hindi ensures a bilingual paper (English + selected language).
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English-Only: Choosing English provides the question paper in English only.
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Translation Finality: In case of any ambiguity in translation, the English version will be treated as final.
NEET UG 2026 Official Website and Resources
For official mock tests and pattern updates, visit neet.nta.nic.in. Candidates can download the Information Bulletin released on February 8, 2026, for detailed sub-topic lists.The correction window opens on March 10, 2026, for any profile errors.