NEET Marking Scheme 2026, Section Wise Scoring, Negative Marking
NEET marking scheme 2026 is one of the most important things every medical aspirant must know. NEET is the gateway to MBBS, BDS, and other medical courses in India, and lakhs of students compete for the limited seats every year. While all the students pay attention to the study of Biology, Physics and Chemistry, very few aspirants focus on the NEET scoring pattern. Knowing the marking pattern of NEET can make a huge difference between getting a seat and being rejected.
In 2025 the NTA implemented one of the biggest modifications to the examination format. Previously, NEET used to have 200 questions and the students had an option to attempt only 180 questions as there were a few optional questions in Section B. From NEET 2025, the optional section was removed and the paper was made with 180 compulsory questions only. This pattern will also be the same for NEET 2026.
NEET Marking Scheme 2026 Highlights
NEET marking scheme 2026 highlights give a clear overview of how the exam will be evaluated. These highlights are essential for every aspirant to understand before starting preparation:
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NEET Marking Scheme 2026 Highlights |
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|---|---|
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Highlight |
Details |
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Total Questions |
180 compulsory questions across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology |
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Total Marks |
720 marks |
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Marks per Correct Answer |
4 marks |
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Negative Marking |
1 mark deducted for each wrong answer |
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Unanswered Questions |
0 marks (no gain, no loss) |
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Multiple Answers |
Considered wrong, –1 mark applied |
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Subject-wise Distribution |
Biology: 90 questions, Physics: 45 questions, Chemistry: 45 questions |
Also Know: How to Calculate Negative Marking in NEET, Formula, Marking Scheme
Subject Wise NEET Marking Scheme 2026
Understanding the NEET scoring pattern subject-wise helps students prioritize topics and manage preparation effectively. Here’s the breakdown:
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Subject Wise NEET Marking Scheme 2026 |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Subject |
Number of Questions |
Marks per Question |
Total Marks |
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Physics |
45 |
4 |
180 |
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Chemistry |
45 |
4 |
180 |
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Biology |
90 |
4 |
360 |
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Total |
180 |
4 |
720 |
Also Know: NEET Minimum Marks for NRI UAE Candidates
How Many Questions in NEET?
A common question among students is: how many questions in NEET and marking scheme?
For NEET 2026:
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There are 180 questions in total.
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All 180 questions are mandatory.
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The total marks are 720.
Earlier, NEET had 200 questions, and students had the option to attempt only 180, with Section B offering optional questions. This sometimes allowed students to skip topics they were weak in. NTA realized that optional questions created inconsistencies in preparation, so from NEET 2025, the optional section was removed, and all 180 questions became compulsory.
Negative Marking in NEET 2026
Negative marking is one of the most important aspects of the NEET marking scheme 2026. It is designed to ensure that students answer carefully and do not guess blindly. In NEET, every correct answer gives you marks, but a wrong answer can reduce your total score. This is called negative marking.
Here is how negative marking works:
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Correct Answer: If you answer a question correctly, you get +4 marks. This is the same for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
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Wrong Answer: If your answer is incorrect, 1 mark is deducted. This means you lose 1 mark for every wrong attempt.
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Unanswered Question: If you skip a question, it does not affect your score. You get 0 marks, which means no gain and no loss.
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Multiple Answers: If you mark more than one option for a question, it is counted as wrong, and –1 mark is applied.
Marks for Unanswered NEET Questions
In the NEET marking scheme 2026, unanswered questions play an important role in planning your exam strategy. Many students get confused about whether leaving a question blank affects their score.
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In the NEET marking scheme 2026, unanswered questions are awarded 0 marks.
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Skipping a question does not lead to any negative marking, unlike wrong answers which deduct 1 mark.
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This rule encourages students to attempt only the questions they are confident about.
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Strategic skipping helps prevent loss of marks due to guessing incorrectly.
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Example: If a student attempts 10 questions, with 6 correct, 2 wrong, and 2 unanswered:
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Correct: 6 × 4 = 24 marks
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Wrong: 2 × (–1) = –2 marks
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Unanswered: 2 × 0 = 0 marks
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Total Score = 22 marks
Skipping difficult or uncertain questions allows more time to focus on questions you can answer confidently.
Understanding this rule is crucial for smart exam strategy and protecting your overall score.
Also Know: 2 Year NEET Study Plan to Crack NEET 2026
Latest Changes in NEET Marking Scheme
One of the biggest updates in the NEET exam is the Removal of optional questions in NEET marking scheme. Earlier, till 2024, students had 200 questions, out of which only 180 had to be answered. Section B used to give optional choices that often confused students about whether to attempt or skip.
From 2025, NTA made a major change by removing the optional questions completely. Now, the NEET marking scheme 2026 is more straightforward because students will face exactly 180 compulsory questions. This ensures that all aspirants attempt the same set of questions without any extra choice.
This change has made the exam both fair and challenging. It is fair because everyone solves the same paper, but challenging because there is no extra scope to skip tough questions without losing an attempt. Accuracy and preparation are now more important than before.
Key Points on Removal of Optional Questions in NEET Marking Scheme
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Till 2024: 200 questions were given with optional choices in Section B.
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From 2025 onwards: Only 180 compulsory questions in the paper.
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Section A and B division remains, but choices are removed.
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Students cannot leave tough optional questions anymore.
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The exam is now uniform for all candidates.
- Makes scoring pattern clear and simple: +4 for correct, −1 for wrong, 0 for unattempted.
NEET Marking Scheme Changes 2025 vs 2026
NEET 2025 and NEET 2026 have a similar marking scheme with some structural changes that impact both attempting the paper and ranking. These papers have reverted to the pre-COVID format. The new system has been designed to standardize and maintain the transparency of the ranking process for every NEET examinee. The important changes are the removal of optional questions, meaning all candidates have to attempt all 180 questions.
Also Know: How Many Attempts for NEET 2026 are Allowed?
Tips and Strategy to Maximize Score in NEET with Negative Marking
Knowing the NEET marking scheme 2026 is not enough; students must also learn how to use it smartly. Here are strategies:
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Attempt questions you are sure about first: As you go through the paper, first attempt the questions you are sure about. This will help you to collect those marks for sure without the fear of negative marking.
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Use the elimination method for doubtful questions: For questions where you are not sure about the answer, try to eliminate one or two options. This will decrease the chances of negative marking and increase the chances of selecting the correct answer by a guess.
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Leave questions you are not sure about: If you are not sure about the answer and you can’t eliminate any of the options, then it’s better to leave the question unanswered. This will give 0 marks while a wrong answer can cost you -1 mark.
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Manage your time: Time management is the key to scoring good marks. The paper consists of 200 minutes in which you should plan your time. Spend more time on the topics or sections you are more comfortable with and less time on the topics you are weak in. Save the last few minutes to revise the questions that you were not sure about.
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Attempt Biology for maximum marks: Biology carries the maximum number of questions in the NEET (90) which translates to 50% of the total marks. Hence it is important to attempt Biology as accurately as possible to gain maximum marks.
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Revise important formulas and facts: A quick revision before the exam can help you answer the questions with more accuracy and confidence. This in turn will help you to avoid negative marking to an extent.
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Practice mock tests regularly: One of the best ways to prepare for NEET with negative marking is by taking Mock Tests regularly. Mock tests don’t just help you improve your accuracy, speed and time management, they also help you get accustomed to the pressure of negative marking.
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Don’t guess blindly: Guessing blindly is a risk you don’t want to take as it can cost you marks. So, only if you can eliminate at least one or two options, try to make an informed guess.
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Check the OMR sheet carefully: OMR stands for Optical Mark Recognition. So, make sure you mark only one option for every question. Marking more than one option will be treated as wrong and will invite -1 mark. Also, check the OMR sheet very carefully before you submit it.
NEET Marking Scheme 2026 FAQs
Q: What is the formula to calculate NEET score?
Ans: The formula to determine NEET score is: (No. of correct answers x 4) – (No. of wrong answers x 1). Unattempted questions carry 0 marks.
Q: What happens if you mark more than one answer in NEET?
Ans: Marking more than one option is considered as a wrong answer. You will lose 1 mark for each such question.
Q: Is there negative marking for unattempted questions in NEET?
Ans: Unattempted questions will carry 0 marks. Negative marking only applies to wrong answers.
Q: How many marks for skipping a question in NEET?
Ans: skipped question will carry 0 marks. There is no penalty for not answering a question.
Q: What is the penalty for wrong answers in NEET?
Ans: You will lose 1 mark for each wrong answer as per NEET marking scheme 2026.
Q: How many marks per correct answer NEET?
Ans: All subjects follow the same NEET pattern: 4 marks are given for each correct response in NEET 2026.
Q: Is there negative marking for unattempted questions in NEET?
Ans: No, there is no negative marking for unattempted questions in NEET. Skipped questions are awarded 0 marks and do not reduce your score.
