NEET UG 2025: Exam pattern to tie-breaking rules, 5 major changes in medical entrance test

NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced major changes in the conduct of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) this year. The agency has revised the NEET UG 2025 exam pattern, centre city selection criteria, number of domestic exam centres, reporting time and tie-breaking rules.

The NTA will conduct the NEET UG 2025 exam on May 4 and the registration process will end on March 7. Candidates who want to register for the medical entrance test can go through the changes introduced this year.

NEET UG 2025 revised pattern

NTA has discontinued the optional questions in Section B of NEET UG 2025. Candidates appearing for the NEET UG exam this year will not get any optional questions and extra time introduced during Covid as the exam will now revert to the pre-COVID format.

The optional section was introduced as a temporary measure and was in practice till 2024. NEET UG 2025 paper will now have 180 compulsory questions- 45 questions each in physics and chemistry and 90 in biology. The NEET UG 2025 exam will be held on May 4 in pen and paper mode.

NEET UG 2025 exam city selection

NTA has now allowed candidates to select three convenient cities for their NEET UG exam centre, instead of the previous option of two. Choice of exam centre cities will be limited to the state of permanent address or state of present address only.

While filling up the NEET 2025 application form, candidates have to choose three cities in order of preference. The agency has asked candidates to select cities within their state of residence or neighbouring cities.

Moreover, if the number of candidates selecting for a centre with a regional language is insufficient, candidates may be assigned to a city outside of their preferred choice, irrespective of their initial selection.

NEET UG domestic exam centres reduced

NTA has reduced the number of NEET UG 2025 domestice exam cities to 552, which is 5 less than last year. While the international exam cities remain the same at 14.

Candidates can select their preferred cities from the updated list while filling out their NEET UG application form. The NEET UG exam centre selection is restricted to the candidate’s permanent or present address, ensuring that they choose from a list of nearby cities within their state for convenience.

NEET 2025 centre reporting time

NEET UG 2025 exam centres will be opened three hours before the exam begins, instead of two hours in previous years. No candidate will be allowed to enter the exam centre after 1:30 pm. The NEET 2025 exam will be conducted from 2 pm to 5 pm.

As per the exam timings, the centres will open at 11 am. This extended time by NTA will allow candidates additional time for entry, security checks, and other necessary procedures.

NEET UG tie-breaking method revamped

The NEET UG tie-breaking method has been revamped again. As a first, the testing agency will resolve ties through a random process with the guidance of an independent expert committee if all the provisions are exhausted.

In the previous year, the application number and age criteria was removed from the tie-breaking method instead it used a seven-step method to resolve ties. However, for this year, NTA has added an additional rule to resolve ties if the existing criteria are exhausted.