Are you aspiring to pursue a career in medicine or engineering in India? Then, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) are two crucial milestones you need to cross. In this article, we will delve into the details of these exams, including eligibility criteria, syllabus, preparation tips, and much more, ensuring you’re well-prepared to ace these competitive exams.
Understanding NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)
What is NEET?
NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is an entrance exam held by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in India for those students who are aiming for medical and dental courses at the graduate and post-graduate levels. It usually includes MBBS and BDS courses provided by private and government colleges in the country. The exam is based on a one-tier system.
In this article, we will learn about the NEET pattern for 2023, the total marks of the test, total questions in NEET, the revised pattern of NEET 2023 etc. NEET-UG 2023 examination is scheduled to take place on May 7, 2023.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for NEET, candidates must:
- Be Indian citizens or Overseas Citizens of India (OCI).
- Have completed 17 years of age at the time of admission or will complete the age on or before December 31 of the year of the examination.
- Have passed the 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English as core subjects from a recognized board.
- Meet the minimum percentage requirements (usually 50% for General category and 40% for SC/ST/OBC candidates).
NEET Syllabus
The NEET syllabus comprises topics from the 11th and 12th standards of the CBSE curriculum. It includes subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Here’s a brief overview of the syllabus:
- Physics: Mechanics, Optics, Thermodynamics, and more.
- Chemistry: Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry.
- Biology: Botany and Zoology.
Exam Pattern of NEET
The AIPMT (All India Pre-Medical Test) for medicine has been replaced successfully by NEET Exam. In addition to this, the Supreme Court has finalized that NEET scores would be the only way to gain admissions in colleges running medical courses at the graduate and postgraduate levels across the country. Additionally, NEET now stands as the only medical entrance test in the country to be qualified in order for students to seek admission to undergraduate medical programmes, even scrapping entrance tests by JIMPER and AIIMS.
Candidates preparing for NEET should know the NEET Exam Pattern and syllabus, which can help them to prepare better for the examination. NEET or National Eligibility cum Entrance Test is an offline exam with a time duration of 3 hours 20 minutes. A total of 200 questions appear, out of which 180 MCQs must be answered in the NEET exam from Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany & Zoology). Each question carries 4 marks and 1 mark is deducted for every wrong answer. The NEET question paper is asked in a total, of 13 languages. The detailed NEET Exam Pattern 2022 is listed in the table below.
NEET 2023 Exam pattern – Section wise distribution
| Sl. No. | Subject | No. of Questions | Total Marks |
| 1 | Physics | Section A: 35 + Section B: 10 (15 provided, 10 to be answered) = 45 | 180 |
| 2 | Chemistry | Section A: 35 + Section B: 10 (15 provided, 10 to be answered) = 45 | 180 |
| 4 | Zoology | Section A: 35 + Section B: 10 (15 provided, 10 to be answered) = 45 | 180 |
| 3 | Botany | Section A: 35 + Section B: 10 (15 provided, 10 to be answered) = 45 | 180 |
| Total | 180 | 720 | |
NEET 2023 Highlights – Important details
| NEET 2023 Highlights | |
| Number of Questions | 200 MCQs out of which 180 MCQs must be answered |
| Exam Mode | Offline mode only (pen and paper-based mode) |
| Type of questions | Objective type questions with 4 options having 1 correct option |
| Duration of Exam | The exam duration is 200 minutes (3 hours 20 minutes) |
| Subjects | Questions are asked from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany & Zoology) |
| Language | The question paper is asked in 13 languages English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and Punjabi |
| Marking Scheme | 4 marks are awarded for each correct answer. |
| Negative Marking | 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer |
NEET-UG 2023 – Marking Scheme
- Each question carries 4 marks
- A correct answer fetches 4 marks for each question
- 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer
- If, after the process of challenging a key, more than one option is found to be correct, then any/all one of the multiple correct options which are marked will be awarded 4 marks
- No marks are awarded if questions are left unanswered or unattempted
- If all options are found to be correct, then 4 marks will be awarded to all those who have attempted the question
- If none of the options is found correct or if a question is found to be wrong or is dropped, then all candidates who have appeared will be awarded 4 marks regardless of the fact whether the question has been attempted or not attempted by the candidate
Preparation Tips
Preparing for NEET requires dedicated effort and a structured study plan. Here are some tips to help you succeed:
- Understand the Syllabus: Thoroughly go through the syllabus and prioritize topics accordingly.
- Practice Regularly: Solve previous years’ question papers and take mock tests to improve time management.
- Create a Study Schedule: Plan your study schedule to cover all topics and allocate time for revisions.
- Stay Healthy: Take care of your physical and mental health during the preparation period.
NEET Exam Schedule
Following are the NEET 2023 details, timeline of events that take place on the day of examination are as tabulated below –
| Event | Corresponding Date and Time |
| NEET 2023 Exam date | May 7, 2023 |
| NEET 2023 Exam timing | 02.00 pm to 05.20 pm |
| NEET 2023 Exam Duration | 3 hours 20 minutes |
| Occupying seats in the exam hall by | 1:15 pm onwards |
| Last entry time to the exam hall | 1:30 pm |
| Invigilator verifies admit cards and makes important announcements | 1:30 pm to 1:45 pm |
| Distribution of exam booklets | 1:45 pm |
| Candidates fill out particulars in the booklet | 1:50 pm – 2 pm |
| Commencement of exams | 2 pm |
| Conclusion of exams | 5.20 pm |
Medical aspirants should know the NEET Exam Pattern thoroughly to score well in the exam. The above-mentioned information can help them to know important details about the NEET Exam Pattern 2023.
Decoding JEE (Joint Entrance Examination)
What is JEE?
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is the gateway to premier engineering institutions in India, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). It is conducted in two phases: JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
Eligibility Criteria
To appear for JEE Main:
- Candidates must be Indian citizens.
- They should have completed their 10+2 or equivalent examination in the current or previous year.
- The maximum number of attempts is limited to three.
For JEE Advanced, candidates must secure a position in the top 2,50,000 candidates in JEE Main.
JEE Syllabus
The JEE syllabus encompasses topics from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. It is essential to be well-acquainted with the subjects. The syllabus includes:
- Physics: Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Optics, and more.
- Chemistry: Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry.
- Mathematics: Algebra, Calculus, Co-ordinate Geometry, and Trigonometry.
Exam Pattern
Knowing the JEE Main exam pattern is crucial for candidates and students appearing for the IIT JEE exam. Candidates who closely observe and follow the JEE Main exam pattern will not only be able to prepare a successful study plan but will ultimately perform well and achieve a better result in the entrance exam.
From 2019 onwards, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has been granted the authority to design and develop the JEE Main syllabus and set the exam pattern. While there were a few modifications made to the exam pattern in 2019, for the 2024 exam, NTA has more or less kept the exam pattern similar to last year. However, some of the expected changes in 2024 are as follows:
- Two sessions of the exam instead of four. The first session of the exam will be held in January and the second session in April.
- There will be a negative marking for both Section A and Section B.
In essence, aspirants will find all the important information about the exam, including the mode of the JEE Main 2024, type of questions, different sections, allotment of marks and duration of the exam, on this page. Let us look at the details below.
- JEE Main: It consists of 90 multiple-choice questions, 30 each from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
- JEE Advanced: This exam consists of two papers, each including multiple-choice questions, numerical questions, and a paper-based aptitude test.
Preparation Tips
Ace your JEE exams with these effective tips:
- Strong Foundation: Build a solid foundation in concepts and theories.
- Time Management: Allocate time to practice problem-solving and improve speed and accuracy.
- Mock Tests: Take regular mock tests to get a feel of the exam and identify weak areas.
- Seek Guidance: Consider joining a coaching institute or online programs for expert guidance.
JEE Main Exam Pattern Detailed Description
The JEE Main exam pattern indicates how the exam will be conducted and how the JEE Main question paper will be set. Previously, JEE Main was held in four sessions, but in 2022, JEE Main was conducted in two sessions.
Notifications and circulars about the exam are usually released on the official website. Candidates should keep a close eye on the updates and refer them to know the latest details about the exam. The exam conducting authority may introduce new changes at certain intervals. Nonetheless, we will look at the exam pattern for JEE Main 2024 below.
JEE Main Paper I Exam Pattern
| Course | B. E/B. Tech |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry and Maths |
| Type of Questions | MCQs and Numerical-based questions |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Medium | Medium of the Question Papers: Drawing from the National Education Policy (NEP), the JEE (Main) – 2024 will be conducted in English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Marking Scheme | 4 for the correct answer, -1 for the wrong answer and 0 for the unanswered question. |
In paper I, each subject will contain two sections. Section A will be of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs), and Section B will contain questions whose answers will be filled in as a numerical value. In Section B, candidates must attempt five questions out of 10. There will be a negative marking for Section B as well.
JEE Main Paper 2A Exam Pattern
| Course | B.Arch |
| Exam Mode | Both online and offline |
| Subjects | Maths with Aptitude and Drawing test |
| Type Of Questions | Objective-type questions for maths and aptitude while drawing test is also conducted |
| Duration | 3 hours. 4 hours for people with disability |
| Total Marks | 400 |
| Marking Scheme | 4 for the correct answer, -1 for the wrong answer. |
In paper 2A, 20 questions will be MCQs, and 5 questions will have answers to be filled in as a numerical value out of 10. There will be a negative marking for numerical value.
JEE Main Paper 2B Exam Pattern
| Course | B.Planning |
| Exam Mode | Computer-based test |
| Subjects | Maths with Aptitude and Planning-based test |
| Type Of Questions | Multiple-choice questions and answers as a numerical value for maths |
| Duration | 3 hours. 4 hours for people with disability |
| Total Marks | 400 |
| Marking Scheme | 4 for the correct answer and -1 for wrong or multiple answers. Unanswered questions will contain 0 marks. |
*20 questions will be MCQs, and 5 questions will have answers to be filled in as a numerical value out of 10. There will be a negative marking for numerical value.
On a side note, it is also very important for candidates to carefully read all the instructions that are given in the question paper. Understand it clearly and then move on to solving the questions. It is important to follow the right procedure for the exams because gaining a negative marking or losing points may cost candidates a higher rank in the exams.
JEE Main Paper Medium
From 2021 onwards, as per the National Education Policy (NEP), JEE Main paper will be set in 13 languages. They are as follows:
| S. No. | Language | Examination Centres |
| 1 | English | All Examination Centres |
| 2 | Hindi | All Examination Centres in India |
| 3 | English and Assamese | Examination Centres in Assam |
| 4 | English and Bengali | Examination Centres in West Bengal, Tripura and Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| 5 | English and Gujarati | Examination Centres in Gujarat, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli |
| 6 | English and Kannada | Examination Centres in Karnataka |
| 7 | English and Marathi | Examination Centres in Maharashtra |
| 8 | English and Malayalam | Examination Centres in Kerala and Lakshadweep |
| 9 | English and Odia | Examination Centres in Odisha |
| 10 | English and Punjabi | Examination Centres in Punjab, Chandigarh and Delhi |
| 11 | English and Tamil | Examination Centres in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| 12 | English and Telugu | Examination Centres in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana |
| 13 | English and Urdu | All Examination Centres in India |
Candidates have to note the option of choosing a language for the question paper should be exercised while filling out the application form online. NTA has mentioned that it cannot be changed at a later stage. Additionally, for the correctness of the questions in all the JEE Main question papers, the English version will be taken as the final.
Benefits of the New Exam Pattern
According to NTA, students will reap the following benefits from the new pattern.
- This will give two opportunities to the candidates to improve their scores in the examination if they cannot give their best in one attempt.
- On the first attempt, the students will get a first-hand experience of taking an examination and will know their mistakes which they can improve while attempting for the second time.
- This will reduce the chances of dropping a year, and droppers would not have to waste an entire year.
- If anyone misses the examination for reasons beyond control (such as the Board examination), they will not have to wait for one entire year.
- A candidate need not appear in both sessions. However, if a candidate appears in one session, their JEE Main 2024 NTA Scores will be considered for the merit list/ranking.
JEE Main Paper Analysis and Syllabus
Candidates can also check or go through the JEE Main question paper analysis of each year to get a better idea of the exam pattern, types of questions, difficulty level, important topics and more. This will further help candidates to develop a proper strategy for preparing effectively and clearing the entrance exam. Additionally, candidates can take JEE mock tests to understand the examination mode and question types and analyse their preparation level.
Alternatively, candidates should also get their hands on the JEE Main syllabus and go through it to better understand the exam pattern, marking scheme, course objectives and more. All these study exercises will help aspirants to perform excellently in the final exam.
JEE Main Exam Schedule
The exam schedule for JEE Main 2024 has been released by the NTA. The JEE Main exam dates are as follows.
| Date of Examination | (Session 1): Between 24th January and 1st February, 2024 (Session 2): Between 1st April, 2024 and 15th April, 2024 | ||||
The JEE Main exam is conducted in two shifts. The timing details are given below.
| Timing of Examination | First Shift | Second Shift |
| For B.E./B.Tech | 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. | 3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. |
| For B.Arch | 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. | 3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. |
| For B.Planning | 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. | 3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. |
| For both B.Arch and B.Planning | 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. | 3.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. |
While the JEE exams require smart and productive work, candidates can significantly boost their preparation by taking some JEE Crash course. Learn more about it by clicking on the given link.
JEE Main Merit List Determination
How is the JEE Main merit list determined? Let us find out below.
| Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Paper 3 |
| The raw scores in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry are converted into total NTA scores. | The raw scores obtained in Mathematics, Aptitude Test, Drawing Test, and total are converted into NTA scores. | The raw score in Mathematics, Aptitude Test, Planning-Based Test and total is converted to NTA scores. |
| Overall merit is determined by combining NTA scores of the first and second shifts, including all the days. | ||
Common Aspects of NEET and JEE
Exam Dates
Both NEET and JEE exams are typically conducted in May. However, candidates must keep an eye on the official notifications for any changes in exam schedules.
Application Process
The application process for both exams is primarily online. Candidates need to fill out the application forms, upload necessary documents, and pay the application fee.
Admit Card
Admit cards are issued a few weeks before the exams. They contain crucial details such as exam centers, date, and timing.
Results and Counseling
Results for NEET and JEE are usually declared a few weeks after the exams. Qualified candidates can participate in centralized counseling for seat allotment in various colleges and courses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, NEET and JEE exams are vital for students looking to pursue careers in medicine and engineering, respectively. Understanding the eligibility criteria, syllabus, and exam patterns for these exams is crucial for success. It’s also essential to have a robust preparation strategy, including regular practice and mock tests. With determination and dedication, you can achieve your dream of becoming a medical professional or an engineer in India. Best of luck with your NEET and JEE exams!
