How many questions are in NEET 2027?

NEET has 200 questions in total — 50 per section (Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology). However, each section is divided into Section A (35 mandatory questions) and Section B (15 questions, attempt any 10). So you attempt 180 questions total. Maximum marks: 720.

Is there negative marking in NEET 2027?

Yes. Each correct answer gives +4 marks and each wrong answer deducts 1 mark. Unanswered questions carry no penalty. This -1 negative marking applies to both Section A and Section B questions. Be strategic — only answer questions you are reasonably confident about.

Is NEET 2027 online or offline?

NEET is conducted in pen-and-paper (OMR) mode — you get a physical question paper and mark answers on an OMR sheet using a ballpoint pen. This is different from JEE Main which is computer-based. You cannot change your answer once marked on the OMR sheet, so be careful.

How long is the NEET 2027 exam?

NEET is 3 hours and 20 minutes (200 minutes). PwD candidates get an additional 50 minutes. The exam is typically held from 2:00 PM to 5:20 PM. You cannot leave the exam hall before the exam ends.

What is the medium of NEET 2027?

NEET is available in 13 languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. You choose your language during registration. The English version is recommended as most reference books and coaching material are in English.

Can I change answers on the NEET OMR sheet?

No, you cannot erase or change answers once marked on the OMR sheet with a ballpoint pen. This is a critical difference from CBT exams. If you are unsure, leave the question blank and come back to it — but be aware that an unmarked question gets 0 marks. Never use whitener on the OMR.

How is the NEET exam divided into sections?

NEET has 4 subject sections: Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology. Each section has Section A (35 questions, all mandatory) and Section B (15 questions, attempt any 10). All questions are MCQs with 4 options and single correct answer. Total: 200 questions, attempt 180.

Should I attempt all questions in NEET?

No — selective attempting is key because of negative marking. A good strategy: attempt all questions you are confident about, attempt questions where you can eliminate 2 options, and skip questions where you have no clue. Attempting 150-160 questions with 80%+ accuracy beats attempting all 180 with 60% accuracy.

NEET 2027 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

NEET's exam pattern directly dictates your preparation strategy. Knowing the marking scheme, question distribution, and OMR-specific rules helps you avoid costly mistakes on exam day. This guide covers the complete NEET 2027 expected pattern based on the format NTA has followed since 2021.

NEET 2027 Exam Overview

Detail	Specification
Mode	Pen-and-Paper (OMR based)
Duration	3 hours 20 minutes (200 minutes)
Subjects	Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology
Total Questions	200 (attempt 180)
Total Marks	720
Question Type	MCQ (Single Correct, 4 options)
Languages	13 (English, Hindi, + 11 regional)
Sessions	One (single day exam)

Section-Wise Question Distribution

Subject	Section A (Mandatory)	Section B (Choose 10)	Total to Attempt	Max Marks
Physics	35	10 out of 15	45	180
Chemistry	35	10 out of 15	45	180
Botany	35	10 out of 15	45	180
Zoology	35	10 out of 15	45	180
Total	140	40	180	720

Marking Scheme

Action	Marks
Correct Answer	+4
Wrong Answer	-1
Unanswered	0
Multiple Marks (2+ options)	-1

The negative marking math is straightforward: if you can confidently eliminate 2 out of 4 options, attempting the question has positive expected value. If you are blindly guessing among 4 options, skip it — the expected value is negative (-0.25 marks per blind guess on average).

OMR-Specific Rules You Must Know

NEET is one of the few major exams still conducted on paper. The OMR format has specific rules that catch unprepared students off guard:

Use only blue/black ballpoint pen. Gel pens, pencils, and markers are not allowed. The OMR scanner cannot read them reliably.
Fill the circle completely. Partial fills or tick marks may not be read by the scanner.
You cannot erase or change answers. Once you fill a circle, it is final. If you mark two circles for one question, it is treated as wrong (-1 mark).
Do not fold or damage the OMR sheet. A damaged sheet may not scan properly, which could cost you marks.
Fill your roll number and other details carefully. Incorrect details can cause result processing issues.

Pro tip: Practice on physical OMR sheets before exam day. Many coaching centres provide OMR practice sheets. The act of filling circles accurately takes practice — it is different from clicking options on a screen.

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Time Allocation Strategy

You have 200 minutes for 180 questions. That is roughly 1 minute per question with 20 minutes buffer. Here is a battle-tested time allocation:

Section	Time Allocated	Why
Biology (Botany + Zoology)	75 minutes	90 questions, mostly recall-based — fastest to solve
Chemistry	55 minutes	Mix of recall + numerical — moderate time needed
Physics	55 minutes	Most calculation-heavy — give it enough time
Review & Buffer	15 minutes	Go back to skipped questions, verify OMR

Section-Wise Approach

Biology First (Botany + Zoology)

Biology is 360 out of 720 marks — half your total score. It is also the fastest section because most questions are NCERT-recall. Start here, bank your marks quickly, and build confidence for the harder sections.

Solve Section A first (mandatory 35 questions). Do not skip any.
In Section B, quickly scan all 15 questions, identify the 10 easiest, and solve those.
For NCERT-based factual questions, you should need under 30 seconds each.

Chemistry Second

Chemistry is a mix of Inorganic recall (fast), Physical Chemistry numericals (moderate), and Organic mechanisms (can be tricky). Do Inorganic questions first, then Physical, then Organic.

Physics Last

Physics is the most time-consuming section. Pick the direct formula-based questions first, then attempt the multi-step problems. If a Physics question seems like it needs more than 3 minutes, mark it and move on.

Common Mistakes on NEET Exam Day

Spending too long on Physics first: Students who start with Physics often run out of time for Biology, losing easy marks.
Changing answers on OMR: You cannot change OMR answers. Solve on the question paper first, then transfer to OMR in batches.
Not reading all Section B questions: In Section B, you choose 10 out of 15. Students who attempt the first 10 without reading all 15 miss easier questions at the end.
Blind guessing: With -1 negative marking, random guessing hurts your score. Only guess when you can eliminate at least 2 options.
Forgetting to transfer answers: Some students solve everything on the question paper but run out of time to transfer to the OMR sheet. Transfer after every section, not at the end.

This exam pattern is based on NTA's NEET format as of 2026. NTA may announce changes for 2027 — check the official NTA website for updates. For preparation strategy, see our NEET 2027 preparation guide. Last updated: March 2026.

NEET 2027 Exam Pattern — Marking Scheme & Question Distribution