The National Testing Agency (NTA) has refuted claims circulating on social media regarding a revised NEET UG examination format for January 2027. A student’s post on X (formerly Twitter) suggested rumors of the exam being reduced to 400 marks and conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. The NTA directly addressed the post, stating, “No such exam in January. Please don’t believe in rumours.”
NTA Clarifies NEET UG Exam Format
Students had tagged the NTA’s official X account seeking clarification. The rumors suggested a significant reduction in the total marks from the current 720. The NTA’s response aims to prevent misinformation among aspiring medical students.
The NTA has not yet released official details about the NEET UG 2027 examination schedule. Students should rely solely on the NTA’s official website, neet.nta.nic.in, for accurate information. This includes updates on examination dates, the mode of conduct, and the exam pattern.
Recent Changes to NEET UG
The NEET UG examination has seen several changes in recent years. The 2026 examination, for instance, followed a pen-and-paper format. It comprised 180 compulsory Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, totaling 720 marks.
The marking scheme awards four marks for each correct answer. One mark is deducted for each incorrect response. Unanswered questions receive no marks.
Previously, optional questions were removed. The exam duration was extended to 3 hours and 15 minutes. The sectional format also changed. Subjects were previously divided into Section A (35 questions) and Section B (15 questions, 10 to be attempted). This has been replaced by a single section of 45 compulsory questions per subject.
Additionally, approximately 18 topics were removed from the NEET syllabus two years ago. This reduced the syllabus to 79 chapters across the three core subjects.
The NTA has also implemented changes in the counselling process. These include One-Time Physical Reporting, document verification, admission fee payment, and the freeze and float options for seat allocation. Online seat resignation is also part of these changes.
While a former Union Education Minister announced plans for NEET UG to be conducted in CBT mode, the NTA has not provided a confirmed timeline for this transition.
