Negative Marking in NEET 2026 – Steps to Calculate Negative marking, Marking Scheme, Steps to avoid Negative marking in NEET
The National Eligibility Entrance Test, referred to as NEET, is an exam that helps in gaining entrance to a medical college. It is conducted by the NTA. The NEET UG exam is held every year for students to get admission in top medical colleges in India, and in 2026, it is expected to be conducted in May. A common question among students is, “Is there any negative marking in NEET UG?”
NEET negative marking 2026 can strongly affect your final score. One wrong answer means a deduction of 1 mark, while you get 4 marks for a correct answer. So, guessing answers can cost you marks and lower your rank. As the NEET 2026 exam is near, aspirants must understand the exam pattern, including the role of negative marking.
Candidates who appear for NEET must strategize to reduce the impact of negative markings and maximise their performance. Aspirants who fear negative marking should know that nothing new is asked in the NEET exam. Students need to be aware of the NEET marking system in the NEET exam; one mark is deducted for every wrong answer, while four marks are given for the correct answer.
Read on for all the details of the NEET negative marking scheme across all sections, marking scheme, and much more.
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NEET Exam and NEET Negative Marking 2026 Simplified
Students who are aspiring for the upcoming NEET exam 2026 should be well aware of NEET negative marking. Here is the table that provides details of the NEET 2026 exam and NEET Negative Marking 2026:
| Particulars | Details |
| Examination Mode | Offline |
| Date of Exam | May, 2026 |
| Duration of the exam | Three hours |
| Question type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Total number of Questions | 180 |
| Total Marks | 720 marks in total |
| Is there any Negative marking | Yes, -1 for each incorrect answer |
| NEET Marking Scheme | Four marks for a correct answer, and one mark will be subtracted for each wrong answer |
| Marks for Unanswered Questions | 0 marks |
NEET Marking Scheme 2026
The exam follows a structured marking pattern where each correct response is awarded 4 marks. Meanwhile, incorrect responses lead to negative markings for NEET. So, they must only answer questions they are confident in. Any wrong guesswork can lead to losing marks and impact the overall score. Let’s discuss the NEET UG marking scheme 2026 below:
- Correct answer: +4
- Incorrect answer: -1
- Question with more than one response: -1
- Unanswered question: 0
Negative Marking in NEET 2026
Negative marking in NEET is a scoring system that deducts marks for incorrect answers. Negative marking comes into play when a candidate provides an incorrect answer. According to the latest NEET marking scheme, each question has 4 marks. However, the exam also has a NEET negative marking scheme for wrong answers. There is a deduction of 1 mark for each incorrect answer.
Key points about NEET 2026 negative marking:
- Penalty: One mark is subtracted for every wrong answer.
- Award: Four marks are provided for every correct answer.
- No penalty for unanswered questions: Unattempted questions do not lead to any mark deduction.
- Avoidance: To minimize negative marking, candidates should focus on understanding the concepts well, avoid random guessing, practice regularly, as well as learn to manage time (race against time phrase meaning) effectively during the exam.
NEET Negative Marking 2026: Section Wise
The NEET UG 2026 exam will have multiple-choice questions with four options. So, students must choose answers carefully to avoid losing marks due to NEET negative marking 2026. A section-wise strategy can help improve accuracy. Below is the NEET negative marking scheme for all subjects to guide aspirants.
| Subject Name | Total number of Questions | Total Marks | Marks for right Answers | Marks for wrong Answers | Marks for Unattempted Questions |
| Biology (Zoology & Botany) | 90 | 360 | +4 mark | -1 mark | 0 mark |
| Chemistry | 45 | 180 | +4 mark | -1 mark | 0 mark |
| Physics | 45 | 180 | +4 mark | -1 mark | 0 mark |
How to Calculate Negative Marking in NEET 2026?
Aspirants should understand NEET negative markings before making a strategy. According to the NEET exam pattern, the paper comprises 180 questions for 720 marks. NEET physics and chemistry carry 180 marks each, while NEET biology has 360 marks. Before the exam, it’s important to know about negative marking in NEET 2026. You can calculate it using these steps:
- Multiply the total number of right answers by 4.
- Calculate the number of incorrect answers.
- Now, add the total number of correct answers and deduct it from the total incorrect responses to arrive at the tentative scores.
| Formulae for calculating the NEET score: (Total number of Correct answers x 4) – (Incorrect answers x 1) |
- Download free Mock test papers for NEET 2026
- Download free Previous year question paper for NEET 2026
How to Avoid Negative Marking in NEET Exam 2026?
NEET negative marking has a big impact on your NEET score. Avoiding negative marking in NEET can boost your result in the NEET UG 2026 exam. Guessing without knowing the answer may lead to more wrong attempts and more negative marking. So, aspirants should follow smart strategies to avoid NEET exam negative marking.
Tips to avoid negative marking in NEET
- Attempt questions you’re confident about first. Don’t waste time on doubtful ones.
- Good preparation is key. Practice from trusted sources to boost speed and accuracy.
- Read the NEET question paper carefully. Avoid rushing, as small mistakes can cost marks.
- If unsure, eliminate wrong options to make smarter guesses.
- Solve NEET previous years’ questions and take (take with a grain of salt idiom synonym) mock tests to understand the pattern and avoid repeated mistakes.
- Stay calm during the NEET question paper 2026. A relaxed mind reduces errors.
- After completing the paper, check your answers to avoid silly mistakes or negative markings.
- Always read questions twice to catch important details and avoid wrong answers.
NEET Negative Marking 2026- FAQs
Q1. What is the marking scheme for NEET 2026?
As per the latest NEET marking scheme, for each wrong response, one mark is subtracted. A correct answer is awarded 4 marks. Unattempted questions do not incur a penalty.
Q2. How to Avoid NEET Negative Marking 2026?
To minimize negative marking, candidates should focus on understanding the concepts well, avoid random guessing, practice regularly, as well as learn to manage time effectively during the exam.
Q3. How many questions were asked in NEET 2026?
In total, 180 compulsory questions are asked in NEET UG 2026.
Q4. What is the Importance of Negative Marking in the NEET Exam?
- Discourages guesswork: It discourages candidates from blindly answering questions they are unsure of.
- Encourages accuracy: It incentivizes candidates to focus on accuracy rather than quantity.
- Fair assessment: It helps in fairly assessing the candidate’s understanding of the concepts.
Q5. What is the NEET 2026 negative marking system?
The NEET negative marking implies that for each wrong answer, one mark will be subtracted. So, students are advised to avoid guesswork.
