The National Testing Agency (NTA) has recently released an important update regarding the NEET UG 2025 exam pattern and timings. This update marks a return to the pre-COVID format, which will bring some significant changes for the students appearing for NEET 2025. Let’s break down the new changes and understand how it affect the exam and your preparation.
What’s New in NEET 2025?
According to the latest notification on NTA’s official website nta.ac.in, NEET UG 2025 will follow the pre-COVID exam pattern. This means that the exam will no longer have separate sections like Section A and Section B. In previous years, Section B allowed students to choose questions from a set, but now, the entire paper will consist of compulsory questions only.
Key Changes in the NEET 2025 Exam Pattern
No More Section B: Earlier, the NEET UG paper had Section A and Section B, where Section B gave students the option to choose questions. This choice is now eliminated. All 180 questions will be compulsory, divided across three subjects:
Physics: 45 questions
Chemistry: 45 questions
Biology: 90 questions (45 questions each from Botany and Zoology)
Total Number of Questions: The total number of questions in NEET 2025 will be 180, and all questions are mandatory. There is no option to skip or choose questions.
Exam Duration: The total duration of the NEET UG exam will be 180 minutes (3 hours), as opposed to the previous 200 questions with 3 hours and 20 minutes.
Increased Focus on Conceptual Understanding: The exam will now be more conceptual, especially in subjects like Biology (Genetics, Biotechnology, Cell Biology) and Physics and Chemistry, requiring deeper understanding rather than rote learning. This shift to a more conceptual approach is important for students to prepare in a way that focuses on understanding key concepts.
Exam Timing: The NEET exam will be held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, which is a change from the previous timing of 2:00 PM to 5:20 PM.
What Does This Mean for Students?
This update signifies that the NEET 2025 exam will be more straightforward, with no sectional division, and a more demanding set of questions across all three subjects. Students will need to prepare thoroughly for all 180 questions as there will be no choice.
If we compare this to the pre-COVID era (before 2019), the exam format will be very similar, and students who have been preparing for such an exam format will find this change more manageable. However, the increase in conceptual questions might require a shift in how students approach their preparation.
Preparing for NEET 2025
Since the exam will follow a more traditional format, students should focus on revising core concepts, especially in subjects like Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The exam will be more challenging due to the increased conceptual focus, so it is important to have a solid understanding of the topics covered in the syllabus.
Conclusion
With these changes, NEET 2025 promises to be an interesting challenge for students. The elimination of Section B and return to a pre-COVID format will mean a more straightforward, but conceptually rigorous exam. Preparing with the right strategies and understanding the exam pattern is crucial.
Thank you for reading, and best of luck with your preparations! Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below.