The National Testing Agency (NTA) is responsible for setting the exam
pattern for the NEET UG exam. The NEET UG 2025 exam pattern has
been revised by NTA. As per the new NEET pattern, section B from all
subject papers has been removed. Now, a total of 180 questions will
be asked instead of 200. The total exam duration of NEET 2025 has
also been changed to 3 hours from the earlier 3 hours 20 minutes.

The NEET exam is the only medical entrance exam for students
aspiring to pursue undergraduate medical courses in India. As the
exam holds significant importance, and hence staying updated with the
NEET 2025 exam pattern is crucial. For NEET 2025, there are some
key changes to the exam pattern that students should be aware of.
These changes aim to streamline the exam and ensure that it better
assesses the knowledge of candidates. Read the full article to know
comprehensively about the changes made by NTA in the NEET 2025
exam pattern.


NEET exam pattern 2025 changes by NTA
The NTA has made some changes to the exam pattern of NEET 2025.
As per the NEET UG 2025 exam pattern changes, NTA has shifted
back to the pre-COVID NEET UG exam pattern. These changes are as
follows –
Removal of section B from each paper
One of the most significant changes in the NEET 2025 exam pattern is
the removal of section B from each subject: Physics, Chemistry, and
Biology. Earlier there used to be two sections – Section A and Section
B. 35 questions were used to ask from section A, while 15 questions
were used to be asked from section B,
with candidates having the option to answer any 10 questions. Now as per the NEET exam pattern
changes by the NTA for 2025, there will be no section B total number of questions in NEET 2025 has been reduced to 180 questions. As per the NEET chapterwise weightage, 45 questions each
from Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology will be asked. In previous years, NEET comprised 200 multiple-choice questions across three subjects (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology). The paper used to be divided into two sections – section A with 35 questions. Section B with15 optional questions, from which candidates needed to answer only 10 questions.
Changes in total exam duration
As per the new NEET exam pattern 2025, the total duration of the
NEET 2025 exam has also changed. Now, the NEET UG exam will be
held for a duration of 3 hours instead of the earlier 3 hours and 20
minutes. This reduction in the total exam duration of NEET 2025 is
mainly due to the removal of optional questions and the reduction in
total questions.
NEET pattern 2025 change Impact on preparation
With these changes in NEET 2025, students need to adjust their
preparation strategies to counter these changes. The following tips can
help students in their preparation for NEET 2025:
Focus on conceptual clarity: NTA has removed section B and
optional questions. Earlier with the optional questions available,
students had an option to answer any 10 questions as per their
knowledge. But with the removal of optional questions from section
B, all the 180 questions need to be answered mandatorily. Hence,
students should focus more on clearing their concepts.
Time Management: With the removal of optional questions from
the NEET question paper, the NTA has reduced the total exam
duration of NEET 2025. Now candidates will have to answer 180
questions in 180 minutes, and hence will not have an additional 20
minutes. Hence it is important to work on time management so that
students can attempt all the 180 questions within the time limit.
Earlier candidates were given 200 minutes to answer 180
questions.