Careers360 Logo
ask-icon
share
    NEET 2026 Exam Mode (Announced): OMR Sheet and Pen Paper Based

    NEET 2026 Exam Mode (Announced): OMR Sheet and Pen Paper Based

    Shamshad Ali DarUpdated on 08 Feb 2026, 01:14 PM IST

    The NTA has announced the NEET 2026 exam mode. In a notice, the conducting body has confirmed that NEET UG 2026 will continue to be conducted in pen-and-paper mode where candidates will mark their answers on the OMR sheet. Like previous years, the exam will be held in a single day and single shift on May 3, 2026. Despite discussions about the shifting to online mode, the NEET UG offline mode (OMR-based) continues to remain the same for now.
    Fill NEET UG 2026 Application Form Here

    This Story also Contains

    1. Is NEET 2026 offline or online mode?
    2. NEET 2026 Exam Mode: Key Details
    3. NEET 2026 Changes
    4. NEET 2026 in Offline Mode: Key Insights
    5. NEET Exam Pattern 2026
    NEET 2026 Exam Mode (Announced): OMR Sheet and Pen Paper Based
    NEET 2026 Exam Mode

    Is NEET 2026 offline or online mode?

    The NEET 2026 will be held in offline mode. The NTA has officially announced that the NEET exam will be conducted in pen-and-paper mode in a single day and single shift. Like every year, students will use the ball point pen to mark their answers on the OMR sheet. The exam will be held in 3 hours and a total of 180 multiple choice questions will be asked in the test. The total marks in NEET 2026 are 720.

    NEET 2026 Exam Mode: Key Details

    The NTA has announced the NEET exam mode 2026 at neet.nta.nic.in. Check the details of the NEET 2026 exam mode in the table below.

    NEET 2026 Exam Mode by NTA

    Particulars

    Details

    Exam name

    NEET UG 2026

    Mode of exam

    Offline (Pen & Paper based)

    Format

    Single shift

    Question type

    MCQs

    Time duration

    3 hours

    Exam date

    May 3, 2026 (Sunday)

    Official website

    neet.nta.nic.in

    NEET 2026 Changes

    For the 2026 session, the NTA is conducting the NEET UG exam in the same traditional offline mode and in the single day and single shift. The NEET syllabus 2026 also remains the same as there are no changes to the syllabus of NEET UG 2026 compared to last year. The duration of NEET exam is the same 3 hours as 20 extra minutes were rolled back in 2025. The number of types has been set at 180 MCQs and students have to attempt all the questions.

    NEET 2026 in Offline Mode: Key Insights

    The NEET exam 2026 will be held in pen and paper mode. The shifting of NEET UG to CBT online mode will have some challenges. The key insights about the offline mode of NEET UG 2026 can be checked here.

    Exam Accessibility: The offline mode of NEET allows candidates from all backgrounds like rural area students to participate and appear in the entrance exam without any technical issues. The switching to NEET exam in CBT mode can put students from underprivileged backgrounds at the receiving end as such candidates might not be familiar with computer education.

    Exam Familiarity: As the NEET exam has been held in the same format since the beginning of the exam. The familiarity of the entrance test allows a large chunk of students to appear and write the test without any issue. The offline format of NEET is known to all students.

    NEET Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
    Select your preferred subject to view the chapters

    NEET Exam Pattern 2026

    Check the detailed exam structure of NEET UG 2026 in the table below.

    NEET 2026 Paper Pattern

    Subjects

    Number of questions

    Section-wise marks

    Physics

    45

    180

    Chemistry

    45

    180

    Botany

    45

    180

    Zoology

    45

    180

    Total

    180

    720

    Articles
    |
    Upcoming Medicine Exams
    Ongoing Dates
    MH BSc Nursing CET Application Date

    24 Jan'26 - 25 Mar'26 (Online)

    Ongoing Dates
    IPU Paramedical Exam Application Date

    2 Feb'26 - 31 Mar'26 (Online)

    Ongoing Dates
    Haryana BSc Nursing Counselling Date

    19 Mar'26 - 25 Mar'26 (Online)

    Certifications By Top Providers
    Biomolecules Structure Function in Health and Disease
    Via All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi
    Industrial Biotechnology
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
    Certificate Course in Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Methodology
    Via Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
    Nutrition in the Health Sector
    Via The University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    Pathology
    Via Tsinghua University, Beijing
    Online M.Sc Psychology
    Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Andhra University
    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 ?

    Hi! As per the NEET eligibility criteria , you must be 17 years of age as on December 31 of the year of admission. As you will complete the age criteria, you can definitely appear for NEET 2027. Do check the other eligibility criteria and apply for the NEET 2027

    The NEET qualifying cutoff for ST category was 143-113. For ST (PWD) , the cut off marks 2025 was 126-113. As you have not mentioned the closing rank for a particular college. Here, we have provided the college wise 2025 MBBS closing rank for ST category.

    Regards.

    With 400-500 score in NEET, securing MBBS admission at CMC Vellore is highly challenging for students. With such score, you can apply for allied health science courses offered by the institute.

    Regards,

    Will you be appearing in NEET 2026 under any reserved category or general category as the NEET cutoff varies according to the category of student?