Can PCM Students Give NEET Exam? - Check Here Updates

Can PCM Students Give NEET Exam? - Check Here Updates

Manisha TiwariUpdated on 07 Feb 2025, 10:08 PM IST

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a highly competitive examination conducted by the NTA for admission to undergraduate medical and dental programs. NMC introduced new eligibility guidelines for NEET aspirants on November 22, 2023 allowing students with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics subjects to appear for the upcoming NEET examination. Check the NMC’s notice for PCM student’s eligibility in NEET.
NMC’s notice for eligibility of PCM students in NEET

Can PCM Students Give NEET Exam? - Check Here Updates
Can PCM Students Give NEET Exam

As per the revised guidelines, candidates who have completed their Class 12 education with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as their core subjects are now eligible to appear for NEET UG. However, it is mandatory for such students to have studied Biology or Biotechnology as an additional or optional subject during their academic tenure. This article from Careers360 on ‘Can PCM students give NEET exam’? Answers all the questions of the aspiring students with PCM backgrounds. Read further to get detailed information.

NMC guidelines for PCM students

The National Medical Commission (NMC) on November 22, 2023 issued new guidelines for expanding the NEET eligibility criteria for PCM students. As per the NMC new guidelines for MBBS exam, candidates who have studied Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English in their class 12 or equivalent are eligible for NEET UG exam. The authority now permits candidates to include Biology/ Biotechnology as an additional subject, even if it was not part of their initial core curriculum in class 12. Check the image below to get more information.

JSS University Mysore 2025

NAAC A+ Accredited| Ranked #24 in University Category by NIRF | Applications open for multiple UG & PG Programs

Can PCM Students appear for NEET?

Previously, PCM students who have not studied Biology in their class 12 curriculum were not eligible to appear for NEET. However, with the reforms in the NEET eligibility guidelines made by NMC, there are ways PCM students can overcome this barrier which are mentioned below.

  • Studying Biology as an additional subject in class 12: Many education boards in India allow students to take up an additional subject in Class 12. PCM students can opt for Biology as an extra subject during their Class 12 studies or as a private candidate. If they clear the exam and meet the minimum aggregate requirements, they become eligible for NEET.

  • Private exams: PCM students may choose to take bridge courses or private examinations to fulfill the Biology requirement. We can understand this as open schooling platforms like the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) offer Biology as a standalone subject. By passing such exams, PCM students can satisfy the eligibility criteria for NEET.

  • Reattempting class 12 with Biology subject: Most of the students do not prefer this option however, in rare cases, students may decide to re-enroll in class 12 to include Biology as one of their core subjects. This option requires significant time and effort but is feasible for those who have made up their minds to pursue a medical career.

NEET 2026 Free Mock Test with Solutions
Download the NEET 2026 Free Mock Test PDF with detailed solutions. Practice real exam-style questions, analyze your performance, and enhance your preparation.
Download EBook

Can PCM students give NEET 2025: Challenges for PCM students

Even if a PCM student becomes eligible for NEET 2025 by taking Biology as an additional subject, they face several challenges which are elaborated below.

  • Completing course in time: NEET 2025 syllabus for Biology is vast which includes two year’s material from class 11 and 12. For PCM students, who may not have a strong foundation in Biology, completing the NEET Biology syllabus in time and memorizing the concepts can be a daunting task.

  • Time management: PCM students aspiring to appear for NEET 2025 may face issues in balancing the preparation for Biology along with the already challenging NEET Physics syllabus and NEET Chemistry syllabus. However, it's not an impossible task.

  • Tackling higher competition: As NEET is the single medical entrance exam in India for undergraduate medical courses, it attracts some of the brightest minds in the country, most of whom have spent years focusing on PCB subjects. PCM students may find it difficult to compete with such candidates without rigorous preparation.

  • Mental and emotional pressure: For some students, a shift from mathematics-oriented academic background to a medical one can be a challenging task. Students often face self-doubt and stress while adapting to this change.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can students with a PCM background give the NEET 2025 exam?
A:

Yes, PCM students can appear for the NEET exam if they have studied Biology or Biotechnology as an additional subject in their class 12 or equivalent education from a recognized board.

Q: Is Biology mandatory for PCM students to appear for the NEET exam?
A:

Yes, Biology or Biotechnology is mandatory to appear for the NEET 2025 exam. PCM students must include it as an additional subject in their class 12 studies to meet the eligibility criteria.

Q: Can PCM students without Biology as a subject in class 12 become eligible for NEET?
A:

No, PCM students without Biology or Biotechnology in their class 12 curriculum are not eligible for NEET. They would need to take Biology through additional courses or reattempt class 12 with the required subject combination.

Q: Why is Biology essential for NEET eligibility?
A:

Biology is the foundation of medical sciences and therefore, it is an essential subject for the NEET 2025 eligibility. 

Articles
|
Upcoming Medicine Exams
Ongoing Dates
GAHET Application Date

7 Oct'25 - 26 Dec'25 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
Odisha BSc Nursing Counselling Date

1 Dec'25 - 31 Dec'25 (Online)

Upcoming Dates
UPSSSC ANM Exam Date

11 Jan'26 - 11 Jan'26 (Offline)

Certifications By Top Providers
Industrial Biotechnology
Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Certificate Course in Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Methodology
Via Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
Weight Management Beyond Balancing Calories
Via Emory University, Atlanta
Yoga Practices 1
Via Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bangalore
Online M.Sc Data Science
Via SASTRA Deemed To Be University, Directorate Of Online and Distance Education
Coursera
 355 courses
Futurelearn
 310 courses
Edx
 233 courses
Udemy
 191 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe

Questions related to NEET

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to NEET ?

Hello aspirant,

If you want information only about EAPCET and not NEET, follow the official EAPCET website and state counselling portal regularly. You can subscribe to EAPCET - specific notifications on education websites and turn off NEET alerts. On Careers360, search only for EAPCET pages and bookmark them for updates on syllabus, dates, counselling and colleges. This way, you stay focused only on EAPCET preparation and news.

FOR REFERENCE : https://engineering.careers360.com/exams/eapcet

Hope the details will help you.

THANK YOU

Hello aspirant,

This kind of name order difference between your Class 10 marksheet and Aadhaar is quite common and usually does not cause serious issues for NEET 2026 . While filling the NEET form, always enter your name exactly as it appears on the Class 10 marksheet, since it is the main reference document. During counselling, if asked, you can explain the difference and keep a simple affidavit or supporting ID ready to confirm both names belong to you.

Hope the details will help you.

THANK YOU

Hello

You can give NEET mock tests here:

Carers360 is provind free mock test the link is given below check your preparation:

Free Neet Mock Test- https://learn.careers360.com/test-series-neet-free-mock-test/

Free mock test Pdf with solution- https://medicine.careers360.com/download/ebooks/neet-ug-free-mock-test

I hope this information usefull for you

Best of luck for the Preparation

Yes , NEET material in hindi is available on careers360 website:

Books in hindi for Neet 2026- https://medicine.careers360.com/hi/articles/best-books-for-neet
Syllabus Neet 2026- https://medicine.careers360.com/hi/articles/neet-syllabus
Syllabus for NEET 2026- https://medicine.careers360.com/articles/neet-study-material
Even we also have study plan for NEET 2026- https://medicine.careers360.com/hi/articles/neet-study-plan

Kindly reffer to the above links for the information you have asked for and all the best for the preparation and exam.


Hello aspirant,

Students can finish their NEET preparation and pass the test with flying colors thanks to the mock exams.  For NEET, NTA offers test papers and online practice exams.  To assess their level of preparation, students must rehearse the exams.  After completing the test, assess and analyze it to determine ways to raise your score.

To get the sample papers, you can visit our site through following link:

https://medicine.careers360.com/articles/neet-sample-paper

Thank You