NEET Exam Pattern 2026: Detailed BreakDown, Marking Scheme, and Subject-wise Formatting

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will announce the NEET 2026 exam pattern in February 2026 with an official notification. According to last year's exam pattern, there will be 180 compulsory questions (45 questions each in Physics and Chemistry and 90 questions in Biology), which candidates will attempt in 3 hours and 180 minutes.
 

In 2025, the NTA revised the format to the pre-COVID structure. Optional questions were removed, and the total number of questions was reduced from 200 to 180. The exam duration was also reduced from 200 minutes to 180 minutes. However, the exam pattern, subject-wise question distribution, and marking system remained unchanged. NEET 2026 will be a single-level scoring system exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to medical and dental colleges in both private and public institutions. Prospective students seeking admission to undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental programs must be familiar with the exam pattern of NEET to prepare effectively.

So, if you are planning to appear in the 2026 attempt, understanding the NEET Exam Pattern 2026 to the Tee is the first step to smart preparation. Knowing the exam structure, the marking scheme, and subject-wise weightage helps students build an effective strategy. 

NEET 2026 Exam Pattern Overview

The NEET UG exam is held by the National Testing Agency (NTA). While the syllabus is formed from the NCERT textbooks of Class 11 and 12, the exam pattern plays a crucial role in how you attempt your paper. For NEET 2026, the structure remains nearly the same as the recent year patterns; however, students must keep an eye on any kind of official announcements of NEET pattern changes by NTA.

NEET Paper Pattern 2026 - Highlights

Particulars	Details
Mode of Exam	Pen and Paper mode
Duration	3 hours
Number of Questions	180
Type of Question	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Number of Questions in each Subject	Physics (45), Chemistry (45), Biology (90)
Total Marks	720 Marks
Marking Scheme	Correct Answer: +4 marks Incorrect Answer: -1 mark
Languages	13 Languages

Language Options in the Exam Pattern of NEET 2026

The NEET 2026 exam pattern offers candidates the option to choose their preferred language for the question paper. This allows students from different states and regions to attempt the exam in the language they are most comfortable with. English and Hindi are available at every exam center across India, while other regional languages are provided only in specific states.

Medium / Language	Availability in Exam Centers
English	Available in all cities and centers
Hindi	Available in all cities and centers
Urdu	Available in all cities and centers
Marathi	Available only in Maharashtra
Bengali	Available only in West Bengal
Gujarati	Available in Gujarat, Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli
Tamil	Available only in Tamil Nadu
Telugu	Available in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Kannada	Available only in Karnataka
Oriya (Odia)	Available only in Odisha
Assamese	Available only in Assam
Punjabi	Available in Punjab, Chandigarh, and Delhi
Malayalam	Available in Kerala and Lakshadweep

NEET exam 2026 Pattern

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is an Indian national-level test that is administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to be admitted to undergraduate medical courses in India. The NEET 2026 exam scheme will evaluate the knowledge and understanding of the applicants on the subjects pertinent to medical-related subjects.

1. Mode of Examination

• Mode: Pen and Paper-based Test (PBT)
• Medium of Exam: English, Hindi, and regional languages (as per the candidate's choice during application)

2. Duration of Examination

• Total Duration: 3 hours 20 minutes
• Time Allocation: The examination is divided into three sections, each with specific time limits.

3. Subjects and Question Distribution

Subjects	Number of Questions	Total Marks
Physics	45	180
Chemistry	45	180
Biology	90	360
Total	180	720

4. Marking Scheme

• Correct Answer: +4 marks
• Incorrect Answer: -1 mark
• Unanswered Question: 0 marks

5. Syllabus

The NEET 2026 syllabus is based on the NCERT curriculum for classes 11 and 12. It covers topics from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, focusing on core concepts essential for medical education.

6. Eligibility Criteria

• Age Limit: Candidates must have completed 17 years of age at the time of admission or will complete the age on or before 31st December of the year of admission.
• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed the 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects.
• Minimum Marks: A minimum of 50% marks in aggregate for General category candidates, 40% for SC/ST/OBC candidates, and 45% for General-PH candidates.

Conclusion

The pattern of the NEET exam in 2026 can be overwhelming, but with the correct strategy, this exam can be passed. The trick is to be clear regarding the total marks, weighting of the subject and marking scheme, which can aid in intelligent preparation. Enlist professional training and never give up—this is the main secret to success on the NEET exam.