NEET Passing Marks 2024: Key Points

• NEET 2024 passing marks, also known as the cutoff score, are crucial in determining a candidate’s qualification in the medical entrance exam.

• The expected NEET passing marks for the General category range between 117-715, while for SC/ST/OBC categories, it is estimated to be between 93-116.

• The NEET Application Form 2024 is anticipated to be released in the last week of January 2024, and the exam date is set for May 5, 2024.

• Candidates who secure the required NEET passing marks become eligible to participate in the NEET Counselling and Seat Allotment rounds.

• The NEET passing marks for 2024 are estimated based on previous years’ trends, and meeting these marks allows candidates to take part in the NEET Counselling Process 2024 and seek admission to medical institutions across India.

NEET Passing Marks 2024: Expected Cutoff and Qualifying Percentile

Aspiring medical students eagerly awaiting the NEET 2024 examination should be aware that only those who meet the passing criteria will be eligible for subsequent admission rounds for various NEET UG medical courses, including MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH, across India’s top colleges.

To clear any confusion, it’s important to understand that NEET qualifying marks, NEET passing marks, and NEET cutoff are distinct concepts. This article aims to provide candidates with comprehensive information about the expected NEET 2024 qualifying marks and expected cutoff marks.

Expected NEET Passing Marks 2024

The official NEET cutoff for 2024 will be released on the NEET NTA website. Candidates can refer to the official site or this page to obtain the NEET passing marks 2024 once declared.

Category	NEET 2024 Qualifying Percentile (Expected)	NEET 2024 Cutoff Marks (Expected)
Open/General	50th Percentile	715-117
Open/General - PH	45th	116-105
SC	40th	116-93
ST	40th	116-93
OBC	40th	116-93
SC – PH	40th	104-93
ST – PH	40th	104-93
OBC – PH	40th	104-93

How to Calculate NEET 2024 Scores:

1. Count the number of questions you answered correctly.
2. Count the number of questions you answered incorrectly.
3. Ignore the questions you left blank.
4. Use the formula:

Approximate NEET 2024 marks = [4 * (Number of Correct Responses)] - [1 * (Number of Incorrect Responses)]

NEET 2024 Exam Overview:

• Exam Mode: Pen and Paper-based (offline)
• Duration: 3 hours
• Number of Questions: 200 (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
• Marking Scheme: 4 marks for each correct answer, -1 mark for each incorrect answer, no marks for unattempted questions.

Pen-and-Paper (Offline) Exam Format

Type of Questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ/objective-type)

Total Number of Questions: 200 (180 to be attempted)

Total Marks Allotted: 720 (out of 800)

Total Number of Subjects: 3 – Physics, Biology, Chemistry

Total Number of Sections: Each subject consists of 2 sections

• Physics – Section A + Section B
• Chemistry – Section A + Section B
• Botany – Section A + Section B
• Zoology – Section A + Section B

Question Distribution:

• 35 questions in Section A
• 15 questions in Section B (10 to be attempted)

Marking Scheme:

• +4 for each correct answer
• -1 for each wrong answer
• 0 for unattempted questions

NEET 2024 Qualifying Marks

The NEET 2024 Counselling Process considers qualifying marks as a crucial factor in determining eligibility. Many students mistakenly believe that the qualifying marks for NEET are simply half of the total score, which is 360 out of 720. However, it’s essential to understand the difference between percentile and percentage to grasp the true meaning of qualifying marks.

For instance, if the NEET qualifying mark is set at the 50th percentile, it indicates that a candidate must score higher than at least 50% of all NEET applicants. This emphasizes the relative performance of candidates compared to their peers.

The specific qualifying marks for NEET vary each year, usually ranging between 150 and 200. However, candidates should be aware that securing marks within this range might not guarantee admission to prestigious medical colleges.

NEET Total Marks 2024

After comprehending the examination pattern, candidates can explore the significance of total marks in the NEET 2024 exam for both pre-medical and post-medical examinations.

NEET 2024 Total Marks: Section-wise Distribution

Subject	Questions	Total Marks
Botany	50 (35 + 15)	180
Zoology	50 (35 + 15)	180
Chemistry	50 (35 + 15)	180
Physics	50 (35 + 15)	180
Total	200 (180 questions to be answered)	720

NEET 2024 Passing Marks (Out of 720)

• General category students: 137 to 720
• Reserved category students (SC/ST/OBC): 107 to 136

Factors Affecting NEET Passing Marks 2024

• Difficulty level of the exam
• Number of candidates appearing for the exam
• Reservation policies
• Performance of candidates in different subjects

These factors can influence the NEET passing marks and make it challenging to predict the exact cut-off for 2024.

Factors Affecting NEET 2024 Passing Marks

Number of Candidates Appearing: A higher number of candidates can lead to higher passing marks to ensure only the most deserving students gain admission.

Reservation Policy: The reservation policy aims to provide equal opportunities to all sections of society. This can impact passing marks, with lower marks for reserved category candidates.

Previous Year’s Passing Marks: NEET passing marks are often based on previous years’ performance. Exceptional performance in the previous year may result in higher passing marks to maintain standards.

Cut-off Marks of Colleges: High cut-off marks at specific colleges can influence passing marks to ensure only the most qualified candidates are admitted.

NEET 2023 Cutoff for BDS

The NEET cutoff marks for different categories have fluctuated over the past few years due to various factors. The table below presents the cutoff trends for 2021 and 2020, along with the number of qualifying candidates in those years. This information provides students with a reasonable expectation of what to anticipate in the upcoming year.

Category-wise NEET Passing Marks – Previous Trends (2022, 2021, 2020)

2024

Category	Expected NEET Qualifying Percentile	NEET 2024 Cutoff Marks	Number of Qualifying Candidates in 2024
Open/General	50th Percentile	720-137	312405
SC	40th Percentile	136-107	153674
ST	40th Percentile	136-107	56381
OBC	40th Percentile	136-107	525194
Open/General - PH	45th Percentile	136-121	98322
SC – PH	40th Percentile	120-107	NA
ST – PH	40th Percentile	120-107	NA
OBC – PH	40th Percentile	120-107	NA

2022.

Category	Expected NEET Qualifying Percentile	NEET 2022 Cutoff Marks	Number of Qualifying Candidates in 2022
Open/General	50th Percentile	715-117	282184
SC	40th Percentile	116-93	131767
ST	40th Percentile	116-93	47295
OBC	40th Percentile	116-93	447753
Open/General - PH	45th Percentile	116-93	84070
SC – PH	40th Percentile	104-93	NA
ST – PH	40th Percentile	104-93	NA
OBC – PH	40th Percentile	93-104	NA

2021.

Category	Expected NEET Qualifying Percentile	NEET 2021 Cutoff Marks	Number of Qualifying Candidates in 2021
Open/General	50th Percentile	720-138	770857
SC	40th Percentile	137-108	9312
ST	40th Percentile	137-108	66978
OBC	40th Percentile	137-108	313
Open/General - PH	45th Percentile	137-122	22384
SC – PH	40th Percentile	121-108	59
ST – PH	40th Percentile	121-108	14
OBC – PH	40th Percentile	108-121	157

2020.

Category	Expected NEET Qualifying Percentile	NEET 2020 Cutoff Marks	Number of Qualifying Candidates in 2020
Open/General	50th Percentile	720-147	NA
SC	40th Percentile	146-113	NA
ST	40th Percentile	113-146	NA
OBC	40th Percentile	113-146	NA
Open/General - PH	45th Percentile	146-129	NA
SC – PH	40th Percentile	128-113	NA
ST – PH	40th Percentile	113-128	NA
OBC – PH	40th Percentile	128-113	NA

Seat Reservation Under 15% AQI

Out of the total available seats, 15% are reserved for students under the All India Quota. These seats are exclusively for students who meet the NEET 2024 scores or cutoff for government colleges. To secure a seat under this quota, candidates must achieve the minimum passing marks determined by the relevant authorities.

State Quota Seat Reservation (85%)

Under this policy, 85% of the total government medical seats are reserved for students from their respective states. State authorities handle the admission process for these seats. Candidates seeking admission under the state quota must meet the NEET 2024 passing marks set by the state government.

Understanding the expected NEET passing marks for both the 15% AIQ and 85% state quota categories is crucial for candidates planning their admission strategies.

NEET Passing Marks 2024: Tie-breaking Process

In cases where multiple candidates achieve the same rank in NEET, a tie-breaking process based on specific criteria will be implemented. The following steps, prioritized in sequence, will be used to resolve ties in the NEET results. It’s important to note that the age-based tie-breaking method has been discontinued for NEET 2024.

1. Higher Marks/Percentile in Biology: Candidates with higher marks or a higher percentile in Biology (Botany and Zoology) will be given priority for the NEET merit list. This criterion is used to determine rankings when overall scores are tied.

2. Higher Marks/Percentile in Chemistry: If the tie persists, preference will be given to candidates with higher marks or a higher percentile in Chemistry. This additional criterion helps differentiate candidates with identical scores in Biology.

3. Fewer Incorrect and Correct Answers Attempted: In the event of a continued tie, students who have attempted fewer incorrect answers and more correct answers will be given preference. This criterion emphasizes the importance of accuracy in responses and rewards candidates who provide more correct answers.