Previous Year NEET Question Paper Guide

Pattern you should practise against

Before you open an old paper, know which format it follows. Papers up to 2024 had 200 questions, with an optional part in each subject where you attempted only some. The present format has 180 compulsory questions, so when you use an older paper, skip the extra optional questions to keep the count and the timing realistic.

Keep the NEET marking scheme in mind as you score yourself: 4 marks for a right answer, one mark lost for a wrong one, nothing for a blank. Full details of each unit are on the NEET syllabus page.

What past NEET UG papers show

Read three or four recent papers side by side and some patterns stand out.

• Biology follows NCERT wording. Many botany and zoology options differ by one word from a textbook sentence, so careless reading costs more than lack of knowledge.
• Statement based questions are common. You judge whether Statement I and Statement II are true, or pick the correct set of statements from a list.
• Assertion and reason items appear across all three subjects.
• Match the following with List I and List II is frequent in biology and chemistry.
• Physics needs quick, short calculations, often built on a formula plus one twist such as a unit change.
• Chemistry mixes recall and reasoning, with inorganic facts, reaction products and simple numerical work from physical chemistry.

We have not listed chapter-wise question counts here because those vary between papers and published counts often disagree. Make your own tally from the official papers instead.

How to practise with a previous year NEET question paper

1. Sit a full paper at the real time. NEET is held in the afternoon, so try at least a few papers in that slot to train your concentration.
2. Use an OMR style sheet. Shading answers takes time, and practising it avoids panic on the day.
3. Score with negative marking. Count wrong answers separately. If more than a handful come from guesses, tighten your guessing rule.
4. Sort every mistake. Label it as concept gap, misread statement, calculation slip or a guess that went wrong, then fix the cause.
5. Return to NCERT. For each biology error, find the exact line in the textbook and underline it.
6. Repeat a paper after a month. A second attempt shows whether your fixes stuck.

Practice questions in the NEET style

We wrote the four items below ourselves, copying only the format seen in recent papers. Attempt them first, then read the answers.

1. Physics: A body starts from rest and moves with a uniform acceleration of 2 m/s². What distance does it cover in the first 5 seconds? (a) 10 m (b) 20 m (c) 25 m (d) 50 m
2. Chemistry: Which of these has the highest first ionisation enthalpy? (a) Lithium (b) Sodium (c) Potassium (d) Rubidium
3. Botany: Statement I: Mitochondria contain their own DNA. Statement II: Ribosomes are absent in mitochondria. Choose the correct option: (a) Both statements are true (b) Both are false (c) Statement I is true, Statement II is false (d) Statement I is false, Statement II is true
4. Zoology: Match the hormone with its source. List I: A. Insulin, B. Thyroxine, C. Melatonin. List II: 1. Pineal gland, 2. Pancreas, 3. Thyroid. (a) A2, B3, C1 (b) A3, B2, C1 (c) A1, B3, C2 (d) A2, B1, C3

Answers: 1 (c), using s = ½at². 2 (a), as ionisation enthalpy falls down a group. 3 (c), since mitochondria have their own ribosomes. 4 (a).

Hindi medium: NEET ka previous year question paper

If you plan to write the paper in Hindi, practise with Hindi medium booklets. Booklets in Hindi and regional languages also print the English version, so you can compare terms when a translation feels unclear. If the two versions ever differ, the information bulletin explains which one counts, so read that clause.

हिंदी माध्यम के छात्र पिछले वर्षों के प्रश्न पत्र हिंदी में हल करें, ताकि वैज्ञानिक शब्दों की आदत बन जाए। हर पेपर तीन घंटे में हल करें और गलत उत्तरों पर एक अंक घटाकर अपना स्कोर निकालें।

Where to get papers and answer keys officially

The NTA posts the provisional answer key for each test booklet code on the NEET portal after the exam, with a short window for candidates to raise objections, followed by the final key with the result. What is posted alongside the key differs by year, so look through the notices for the cycle you want. Avoid files of unknown origin that may carry wrong answers.

Linking papers to your target score

Once you are scoring steadily in past papers, set those scores beside the NEET cut off ranges and recent closing ranks for the seats you want. Not sure you can apply yet? The NEET eligibility page covers age, subjects and board marks. Other test pages are on our entrance exams hub.