
Are you wondering what is NEET Exam? If you want to join medical or dental colleges in India, understanding the NEET exam is very important. In this article, we will explain what is NEET Exam, who can appear for it, the NEET exam pattern, NEET marking scheme, syllabus, and other important NEET exam details.
Students usually start preparing for their careers after class 10. If you want to become a doctor, you must know what is NEET Exam and how it helps you get admission to medical courses.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) is an important examination for students who want to enter the medical and dental fields in India. This national-level test determines eligibility for various undergraduate programs. Understanding the NEET exam is key to successful career entry into healthcare. NEET was known as the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT). The exam generally occurs annually in May. The NEET exam is for what purpose? The main purpose of the NEET exam is to select students for admission to medical and dental colleges in India. The NEET exam meaning is an eligibility-cum-entrance test that ensures all students meet minimum standards before joining medical programs.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is the body that conducts NEET. The NTA follows rules under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, and the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020.
To appear in NEET, students must meet certain eligibility criteria. These rules are made to ensure students are prepared for medical education.
For MBBS and BDS Courses:
Age: Candidates must be 17 years old by December 31st of the admission year. No upper age limit applies.
Citizenship: Indian citizens, Non-Resident Indians (NRI), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), or foreign nationals can take the exam. Indian citizens receive precedence for seat reservations.
Education: Candidates must pass Class 12 exams or equivalent. Private school candidates or students from the Open School are not eligible.
Marks: Candidates need at least 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology. They must also pass the English exam.
Exceptions: A 40% mark threshold applies for candidates from the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backwards Classes (OBC), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
For BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, and BHMS Courses:
Age: Candidates must be 17 years old by December 31st of the admission date.
Education: Candidates must pass Class 12 exams or equivalent from any recognised board.
Marks: Candidates need at least 50% combined marks in English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Exceptions: A 40% mark threshold applies for SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates.
BUMS Specific: Candidates must pass Class 10 with Urdu, Arabic, or Persian as a subject. Alternatively, they can clear a 10th Standard Urdu test conducted by an authorised body.
BSMS Specific: Candidates must pass the Tamil subject in Class 10. They must also study Tamil during their first BSMS course.
Understanding the NEET exam pattern is essential for proper preparation. The exam is a single paper of 180 multiple-choice questions.
| NEET Exam Pattern | |||
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks per Question | Negative Marks |
| Physics | 45 | 4 | -1 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 4 | -1 |
| Biology | 90 | 4 | -1 |
| Total | 180 | 720 | -180 |
The syllabus includes topics from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology from class 11 and 12. Key areas are:
Physics: Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electricity, Magnetism, Optics
Chemistry: Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry
Biology: Botany, Zoology, Human Physiology, Genetics, Ecology
Knowing NEET exam details ensures you cover all topics and plan revision accordingly.