The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced several modifications for the NEET 2025 examination, introducing changes in the exam pattern, application process, number of exam cities, and tie-breaking criteria. The exam is scheduled to be conducted on May 4, 2025, from 2 PM to 5 PM, across 566 cities in India and abroad. Despite recommendations from an expert committee, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has decided to retain the pen-and-paper format and conduct the exam in a single day and slot.

Revised Exam Pattern and Structure

The NEET 2025 exam format has been altered to align with the pre-pandemic structure, reducing the total exam duration from 200 minutes to 180 minutes (three hours). Additionally, the optional questions introduced in recent years have been removed, and candidates will now have to attempt 180 compulsory questions across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

The subject-wise distribution remains unchanged, with 45 questions each in Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology, contributing to a total of 180 questions carrying a maximum of 720 marks. The marking scheme remains the same, ensuring continuity in evaluation standards.

According to NTA, these changes have been implemented to standardize the examination process and ensure a uniform evaluation system. The removal of Section B and optional questions is aimed at maintaining consistency in the assessment structure.

Changes in Application Process

This year, the official website for NEET 2025 registration has been reverted to its previous URL following technical issues encountered during the registration process in the past.

Additionally, NTA has introduced the APAAR ID system for candidate registration. The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR ID) is a 12-digit unique identifier that allows students to digitally store and access their academic records. While not mandatory, candidates who opt to use an APAAR ID will have their past academic details automatically populated in the application form.

Other key modifications in the NEET 2025 application process include an increase in the number of exam city choices, allowing candidates to select three exam centers instead of two. Furthermore, Class 11 academic details will no longer be required in the application form, as only Class 10 and Class 12 information needs to be provided.

Candidates will also have to submit additional documents during registration. These include a Class 10 pass certificate, Class 10 mark sheet, a CGPA-to-percentage conversion certificate (if applicable), an identity proof for those not using Aadhaar or DigiLocker, and both present and permanent address proof.

Updated Tie-Breaking Criteria

A significant revision has been made to the NEET 2025 tie-breaking process. If two or more candidates obtain the same score, their ranks will be determined based on their performance in different subjects, starting with Biology, followed by Chemistry, and then Physics. If a tie still exists, the number of incorrect answers will be considered across all subjects, with further tiebreakers applied to individual subjects in the same order.

In cases where none of the previous criteria resolve the tie, NTA has introduced a random selection process overseen by an independent expert committee. This replaces the earlier proposal of a draw-of-lots method using an automated system, ensuring a transparent and fair resolution of ranking disputes.

Reduction in Number of Exam Cities

The number of NEET 2025 exam cities in India has been reduced from 557 to 552, leading to the removal of five locations from the list. However, the number of international exam cities remains unchanged at 14. The cities that will no longer host the exam this year include Surampalem in Andhra Pradesh, Deoghar in Madhya Pradesh, Basar in Arunachal Pradesh, Mamit in Mizoram, and Kiphrie in Nagaland.

Revised Exam Center Entry Timings

A significant change has been introduced in the exam center entry timings. This year, gates will open three hours in advance, starting at 11 AM, instead of the previous two-hour window. Candidates must arrive before 1:30 PM, as late entry beyond this time will not be permitted. NTA has advised candidates to plan their travel accordingly, considering factors such as traffic, weather conditions, and the location of the exam center.

Pre-Announced Schedule for NEET 2025 Events

For the first time, NTA has released a complete timeline for all important NEET 2025 events in advance, eliminating the uncertainty of phase-wise announcements. The last date for application submission has been set for March 7, 2025, by 11:50 PM, with the application correction window opening from March 9 to March 11, 2025.

While several aspects of the examination have been modified, the NEET 2025 syllabus, application fee, and mode of the exam remain unchanged. Candidates are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new regulations to ensure a smooth application and examination procedure.

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