NEET-UG
The single national entrance test for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BUMS, BSMS, BHMS and BSc Nursing (in many institutes) across government, private and deemed medical colleges, including AIIMS and JIPMER. Scores feed MCC All India Quota (15%) counselling and state quota (85%) counselling.
Eligibility
Class 12 pass or appearing with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English; general candidates need 50% aggregate in PCB (40% for SC/ST/OBC, 45% for PwBD). Minimum age is 17 years by 31 December of the admission year; there is no upper age limit and no cap on attempts. Indian nationals, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs and foreign nationals may apply.
Age limit: Minimum 17 years by 31 December of the admission year; no upper age limit
Exam pattern
Up to 2026 the test was pen-and-paper (OMR): 180 compulsory MCQs (45 Physics, 45 Chemistry, 90 Botany+Zoology) in 3 hours, total 720 marks. Marking is +4 for a correct answer, -1 for a wrong one and 0 for unanswered. After the 3 May 2026 paper was cancelled over a leak and re-held on 21 June 2026, the Union Education Minister announced that NEET-UG will move to computer-based testing (CBT) from 2027, reportedly over several days; check the 2027 bulletin for any change to sectioning or normalisation. Medium is available in 13 languages.
Syllabus at a glance
The NMC-notified syllabus mirrors the NCERT Class 11 and 12 curriculum in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Biology (half the paper) spans diversity of living organisms, cell biology, plant and human physiology, reproduction, genetics and evolution, biology and human welfare, biotechnology and ecology. Physics covers mechanics, thermodynamics, electrostatics, current electricity, magnetism, optics and modern physics; Chemistry covers physical, organic and inorganic chemistry. Questions are heavily NCERT-line based, especially in Biology and inorganic chemistry.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| NEET-UG 2027 information bulletin and registration opens | Feb 2027 (expected) | expected |
| Last date to apply | Early-mid Mar 2027 (expected) | expected |
| NEET-UG 2027 exam (first cycle in CBT mode, likely multi-day) | May 2027 (expected) | expected |
| Provisional answer key | Late May-early Jun 2027 (expected) | expected |
| Result | Jun 2027 (expected) | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- NCERT Biology, Physics and Chemistry Class 11 and 12 (NCERT)
- Concepts of Physics Vols 1-2 - H.C. Verma
- Objective Physics for NEET - D.C. Pandey (Arihant)
- Modern Approach to Chemical Calculations - R.C. Mukherjee / Physical Chemistry - O.P. Tandon
- Elementary Problems in Organic Chemistry - M.S. Chouhan
- Trueman's Objective Biology for NEET - K.N. Bhatia and M.P. Tyagi
How toppers play it
- Biology carries 360 of 720 marks: read NCERT Biology line by line at least three times, including diagrams, tables and summaries, since many questions lift NCERT sentences directly.
- With -1 for each wrong answer, attempt a question only if you can eliminate at least two options; a wrong guess costs a quarter of a correct answer's value.
- Use the order Biology, then Chemistry, then Physics, so the fast, high-accuracy sections are done first and the remaining time goes to Physics numericals.
- From 2027 the exam moves to CBT: take NTA Abhyas and other on-screen mocks regularly so you get used to on-screen reading, the question palette and the mark-for-review flow.
- Solve the last 10 years of NEET/AIPMT papers chapter-wise; NCERT-based assertion-reason and match-the-column formats repeat often.