The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) 2025 was successfully conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Sunday, May 4, from 2 PM to 5 PM, in a single shift. The exam took place at 5,453 centres across more than 500 cities, with over 22.7 lakh students registered, making it one of the most widely taken medical entrance exams in the country. The question paper covered three main subjects—Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology). Exam centres opened three hours before the scheduled time, and candidates were not allowed entry after 1:30 PM.
Strict guidelines were enforced to maintain order and verify candidates' identities. Along with their admit cards, students were required to carry a passport-size photograph (same as uploaded in the application form), an additional identical photo, and a postcard-size (4”x6”) colour photo with a white background pasted on the proforma provided with the admit card. A valid original photo ID such as PAN card, Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, or Class 12 admit card with photo was also mandatory. Candidates with disabilities had to present the appropriate medical certificate to claim applicable relaxations.
According to the official NEET UG 2025 marking scheme, each correct answer awards four marks, while one mark is deducted for each incorrect answer. No marks are given for unanswered questions. If a question has multiple correct options, four marks will be given to candidates who select any of the correct ones. In the case where all options are correct, everyone who attempted the question will receive four marks. If a question is dropped, all candidates will be awarded four marks regardless of their response.
Student reactions after the exam suggested that this year’s paper, particularly the Physics section, was more difficult than in previous years. Mayank Kumar, a 19-year-old repeat candidate, shared that the Physics section was especially tough and noted that none of his peers felt confident about scoring full marks in it. Abha Singh, a 17-year-old first-time test-taker from Lucknow University, admitted she found both Physics and Chemistry challenging and expected to score within the 50th to 60th percentile range. In Chandigarh, students like Saurabh reported that Physics questions were long and initially intimidating. Another candidate, Deepak Singla, managed Biology well, as it was largely based on NCERT, but agreed Physics was tough. Kunal Singh, a NEET coaching expert, noted that while last year’s Physics paper was mostly NCERT-based, this year some questions reflected the difficulty level of JEE Main and Advanced exams, likely lowering the overall cutoff.
Following the completion of the exam, candidates now await the release of the provisional answer key, which will be published along with the question paper and candidates' recorded responses. NTA will also open an objection window, allowing students to challenge any discrepancies for a nominal fee. The final answer key, which may differ from the provisional one, will be released shortly before the NEET UG 2025 results, which are expected by mid-June. This year’s exam was conducted under enhanced security protocols, following controversies in previous editions, ensuring a more secure and fair testing environment.