What Is the NEET Exam?

Students often start preparing for their careers after completing their class 10 examinations. If you aspire to enter the medical field, you’ll quickly discover the NEET exam and learn why scoring a good rank is essential. 

To help you understand the NEET exam, we'll review the syllabus and requirements you must fulfill to register for the assessment while exploring some tips and tricks, preparation methods, and eligibility criteria.

The NEET exam explained

NEET, also called NEET-UG, is a national-level admission test for undergraduate medical programmes in India's medical colleges and many dental schools. The National Testing Agency, or NTA, conducts the exam according to Section 14 of The National Medical Commission Act, 2019, for institutions offering the following programmes:

• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

• Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) 

As of 2020, NTA also conducts the NEET exam for these additional programmes as per Section 14 of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020:

• Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS)

• Bachelor of Siddha Medicine & Surgery (BSMS)

• Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery (BUMS)

• Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery (BHMS) 

The examination, which generally takes place annually in May, is for thousands of seats in the country's medical and dental colleges. 

What does NEET stand for? 

NEET stands for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test. Previously, NEET was known as the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT). 

The National Board of Examinations (NBE) also conducts the NEET post-graduation (NEET-PG) test. This single entrance exam determines the eligibility and ranking for admission to various PG diplomas and MS/MD courses in the country.

Eligibility requirements

Each year, the NTA releases official eligibility requirements for taking the NEET. The following points outline NEET (UG) eligibility requirements as of 2024 [1]. 

Eligibility for MBBS and BDS courses

• You are 17 years old by 31 December of the year you start your undergraduate course. No upper age limit applies.

• You are an Indian citizen. Non-resident Indian citizens (NRI), overseas citizens of India (OCI), foreign nationals, or persons of Indian origin (PIO) may also take the exam with proper documentation. Indian citizens take precedence over OCI, PIO, and NRI candidates for seat reservations.

• You have completed or are due to take class 12 exams or their equivalent. Private school candidates or students who have passed class 12 from Open School are not eligible to take the NEET.

• You have passed the physics, chemistry, and biology/biotechnology exams, received at least 50 percent marks, and passed the English exam. The following exceptions apply:

  • 40 percent marks are accepted for candidates from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.

  • 40 percent marks are accepted for persons with benchmark disabilities (PwBD)

  • Individual states and institutes may have additional eligibility requirements.

Eligibility for BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, and BHMS courses

• You must be 17 but not older than 25 by 31 December of your undergraduate course admission date.

• You have passed class 12 exams or their equivalent from any recognised board.

• You have passed the English, physics, chemistry, and biology exams and received at least 50 percent combined marks. The following exceptions apply:

  • 40 percent marks are accepted for candidates from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.

  • 40 percent marks are accepted for persons with disabilities specified under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (49 of 2016) 

• Eligibility for BUMS: In addition to the above, students must have passed class 10 with Urdu, Arabic, or Persian as a subject or clear the Urdu test of 10th Standard in the entrance examination conducted by the University, board, registered Society, or Association authorised by the Government.

• Eligibility for BSMS: In addition to the criteria mentioned above, students must have passed the Tamil subject in class 10 and must study Tamil during their first BSMS course. 

NEET syllabus

The NEET syllabus includes topics from chemistry, physics, and biology (botany and zoology).  The syllabus is in the NTA’s information bulletin under the Core Syllabus section [1]. You'll answer 200 multiple-choice questions in total and receive four marks for each correct response, one mark deduction for each incorrect answer, and no marks for any questions you don't answer. The exam lasts three hours and 20 minutes and is divided into eight sections.

Tips and tricks to get your best score 

The NEET requires patience, a good routine, and consistency to study for the assessment. To score well in the exam, here are some suggestions to achieve the best rank:

• Thoroughly understand the exam pattern and syllabus: A good starting point is to review the NEET syllabus. Study the chapters and topics and refer to the materials you used in classes 11 and 12 for your physics, chemistry, and biology courses.

• Study previous year's question papers: Studying last year's papers lets you understand how the exam is organised, study the topics covered, and practice timing yourself. Hence, you understand how long you should take each question to finish on time. You can also use practice tests and mock examinations.

• Prepare a timetable: Start preparing for the exam well in advance. A study timetable helps create a consistent routine and establish a habit. Over time, studying every day and covering every chapter becomes easier. Consider setting up your study schedule one to four months before taking the exam.

• Prepare revision notes: Flashcards and small notes created during the main study session are handy for an ongoing and last-minute review of topics.

• Get enough rest: Resting and getting sufficient sleep are essential when preparing for a big exam like the NEET since they help with memorising and retaining everything studied during the day.

• Be positive and stay calm. Maintaining good physical health and taking time for rest and recreation for proper mental health will help you perform better and stay focused on exam day. 

Next steps

Online courses can help you build your knowledge and refresh your learning as you prepare for the NEET. You can study various courses and guided projects on Coursera, including Chemistry, Understanding Plants - Part I: What a Plant Knows, and How Things Work: An Introduction to Physics.

You can also consider courses aligned with your future university studies, such as Medical Terminology Specialisation from Rice University and Dentistry 101 from the University of Michigan.