NEET Total Marks 2026, Passing Marks, and Marking Scheme
As per the National Testing Agency (NTA), the NEET exam for 2026 has a total of 720 marks. This includes 360 marks for Biology, and 180 marks each for Physics and Chemistry.
NEET Total Marks 2026: NEET, the National Eligibility Entrance Test, is the first step toward becoming a doctor in India. It’s a tough exam where thousands of students compete for limited spots in medical colleges. Knowing the scoring system and total marks is important for planning your study. According to the National Testing Agency, NEET 2026 has a total score of 720. This includes 180 marks each for Physics and Chemistry, and 360 marks for Biology. You can find more details about the NEET Total Marks 2026 in the article below.
NEET Answer Key 2025 with Solution Download Here
NEET Total Marks 2026
NEET acts as the doorway to undergraduate medical programs across the country, establishing eligibility for admission. People often wonder, “What percentile is needed for NEET 2026?” and “What score is required from NEET Total Marks 2026 to get into government colleges?” are frequently asked during both the preparation and post-exam stages of this entrance test.
Queries regarding passing marks in NEET 2026 vary from preparation to post-exam phases. While getting ready for NEET 2026 Preparation, candidates can use the total marks to see how marks are divided among subjects and topics.
After taking the NEET 2026 exam, candidates can evaluate their anticipated scores using the answer key or identify the NEET total marks needed for success. This article discusses NEET Total Marks 2026, the exam pattern, and the benefits of understanding NEET Total Marks 2026 for both preparation and post-exam stages of the medical entrance test.
NEET Sample Papers 2026 Download PDF
NEET Total Marks 2026 Overview
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG, which stands as the primary route for securing admission to undergraduate medical programs across the nationwide.
NEET 2026 is crucial for filling numerous seats across India, including over 1 lakh MBBS seats, 28,088 BDS seats, 52,720 AYUSH seats, 525 BVSc seats, and AH seats. The NTA organizes the NEET exam using pen and paper, allowing all registered candidates to participate.
NEET Total Marks Per Subject – Marking Scheme 2026 (Updated)
As per the National Testing Agency (NTA), the NEET Total Marks for 2026 are 720. In the NEET 2026 exam, these marks are allocated as follows: 360 Marks for Biology, 180 marks for Physics, and 180 marks for Chemistry.
| NEET Exam Pattern 2026, NEET Total Marks Per Subject | |||
| Sl. No. | Subject | No. of Questions | Total Marks |
| 1 | Physics | Section A = 45 | 180 |
| 2 | Chemistry | Section A = 45 | 180 |
| 4 | Zoology | Section A = 45 | 180 |
| 3 | Botany | Section A = 45 | 180 |
| Total | 180 | 720 | |
NEET Total Marks 2026 Passing Marks Out of 720
For NEET 2026, the cut-off marks vary based on categories. General category candidates need to reach the 50th percentile, while SC/ST/OBC candidates and general-PH aspirants have their qualifying marks set as the 40th and 45th percentiles, respectively.
Previous year’s data indicates that general category candidates needed scores between 686 and 144 to pass the NEET Exam, whereas SC/ST/OBC candidates have passing ranges of 143 to 113 Marks to qualify for NEET 2026. The specific cut-off marks for different categories in NEET 2026 will be revealed when the exam results are announced.
Steps to Calculate the NEET Total Marks 2026
- Step 1: Cross-Reference Your Answers: Once the NEET official answer key for 2026 is published, candidates should match their responses with it.
- Step 2: Pay Attention to Codes: Students should double-check the code of their NEET 2026 question paper and make sure it matches the answer key during cross-referencing.
- Step 3: Locate Set and Language Information: Details regarding the sets and language of the answer key can be found at the top of both the answer key and the OMR sheet.
- Step 4: Calculate Correct and Incorrect Responses: To find out their NEET score, candidates should count both correct and incorrect responses. If a question has multiple answers marked, it should be considered unanswered.
- Step 5: Understand the NEET Marking Scheme: The marking scheme for NEET 2026, outlined below, will be used to calculate the total marks for NEET 2026.
- Step 6: Apply the Formula for NEET Total Marks: Candidates should use the following formula to calculate their total marks for NEET.
Formula: NEET 2026 score = [4*(Number of Correct Responses)] – [1*(Number of Incorrect Responses)]
|
NEET Marking Scheme |
|
| Type of Response | Marks |
| Correct response | +4 marks |
| Incorrect response | -1 mark |
| No response marked | 0 mark |
| Answer with more than one response marked | -1 mark |
NEET 2026 Cut Off Category Wise
Last year, NEET cut-off scores showed differences among categories. For General category candidates, the cut-off spanned from 686 to 144, while OBC/SC/ST candidates had a range of 143 to 113 . In the general–PH category, the range extended from 143 to 127, whereas for SC/ST/OBC-PH candidates, it fell between 126 to 113.
| Category | NEET cut–off percentile | NEET cut–off marks (2026) | NEET cut–off marks (2025) | NEET Cut off marks (2024) |
| General | 50th percentile | To be released | 686-144 | 720-137 |
| SC/ST/OBC | 40th percentile | To be released | 143-113 | 136-107 |
| General-PwD | 45th percentile | To be released | 143-127 | 136-121 |
| SC/ST/OBC-PwD | 40th percentile | To be released | 126-113 | 120-107 |
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern
To excel in medical courses, aspiring students should understand the NEET exam pattern well. The NEET 2026 pattern outlines crucial details like the exam format, mode, language, duration, type of questions, and marking system. Refer to the table below for a clear overview of the NEET 2026 examination pattern.
| NEET Exam Pattern 2026 Overview | |
| Exam Name | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency |
| Mode of the examination | Pen-Paper Mode |
| NEET 2026 Duration of the exam | 3 hours (Updated) |
| Total Questions NEET 2026 | 180 questions from NEET 2026 (Before 200 questions) |
| NEET 2026 Total Marks | 720 Marks |
| NEET 2026 Question Type | MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) |
| NEET 2026 Marking Scheme |
|
| NEET Languages | 13 (English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Oriya, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi, and Urdu |
| Official website | neet.nta.nic.in |
FAQs on NEET Total Marks 2026
Q1. What are the NEET Total Marks 2026?
Ans. In the NEET 2026 exam, the total marks available are 720. These marks are distributed as follows: 360 for Biology, 180 for Physics, and 180 for Chemistry.
Q2. How does NEET determine eligibility for medical programs?
Ans. NEET is the essential pathway to entering medical schools in India. It determines who can apply for undergraduate medical programs.
Q3. What is the passing score for NEET 2026?
Ans. The passing score for NEET 2026 differs based on the category. For the general category, it’s set at the 50th percentile, while SC/ST/OBC candidates have varying qualifying marks at the 40th percentile.
Q4. Can I calculate my NEET 2026 score before the official result?
Ans. Yes, before the official results are announced, candidates can estimate their NEET 2026 scores by using the NEET answer key and following the marking scheme.
Q5. How do I calculate my NEET Total Marks 2026 after the exam?
Ans. Here are the steps to calculate your NEET 2026 total marks:
Step 1. Compare your answers with the official answer key.
Step 2. Note the question paper’s code.
Step 3. Find the set and language details on both the answer key and the OMR sheet.
Step 4. Count correct and incorrect responses.
Step 5. Use the marking scheme formula: NEET 2026 score = [4*(Number of Correct Responses)] – [1*(Number of Incorrect Responses)].
Q6. How to score 720 in NEET 2026?
Ans. Use quality study material, take (take with a grain of salt idiom synonym) mock tests for practice, analyze your performance, work on improving weaker sections, and maintain a disciplined routine to stay focused.



