Aspiring to participate in NEET and have a flourishing medical career? Congratulations on releasing your passion and joining hands with the “cult” healthcare professionals. But there is a long way before you accomplish and get to own those white coats. A series of things must be known and achieved, the most important one being successfully clearing NEET. With this post, one understands the basics, important to know if cracking NEET is on the mind.
7 Things To Know If You Are A NEET Aspirant
Now that you have decided medicine is your calling, you must be aware of some essential facts, without which foraying into this field feels less-informed.
1. Getting started
NEET is an offline, pen and paper test. While the test is carried out in the offline mode,the NEET registration is through the online mode. Application forms for the same are typically released in late November or early December. Application fees for different categories is as follows:
| Category | Fees (INR) |
| General | 1500 |
| General-EWS/OBC-NCL | 1400 |
| SC/ST/PwD/Transgender | 800 |
2. Format of the test
NEET is asked for 720 marks, comprising 180 questions, 45 each from Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology sections. 4 marks are awarded for every correct response. The test carries negative marking, 1 mark is deducted for every incorrect response. The paper is asked in 11 languages, the booklet can be bilingual if a regional paper is specified while online registration. The paper is based on NCERT syllabus for classes 11 and 12.
3. Transparency at all levels
NEET offers transparency at all levels. Once NEET is conducted, results are declared a few weeks later. Alongside, the NTA (conducting body of NEET) also uploads recorded responses of candidates, their OMR sheets, for students to cross-check and verify their answers against the officially released NEET answer keys. In case of any discrepancy, the same can be challenged with an amount of Rs. 1000/- per challenge.
4. NEET cut-off
A candidate successfully qualifies NEET only if he/she clears the NEET cut-off that is declared by conducting authorities. Every year, this cut-off varies, depending upon the difficulty level of the paper, number of students participating in NEET that year and other factors.
5. More Options
Apart from the traditional MBBS and BDS course, NEET 2020 is now the single level entrance test for AYUSH courses. Furthermore, NEET has successfully replaced AIIMS and JIPMER entrance tests too.
6. Seat availability
Once a candidate clears the NEET cut-off, he/she advances to the counselling process for which one must register. 15% of the seats are reserved under the AIQ (All India Quota) while 85% seats are reserved by the state.
7. Know if you are eligible
Not every student can take up NEET. There are some filtering factors in terms of academic qualification and minimum percentage requirement that must be fulfilled. A candidate must have passed class 12 with majors in Physics, Chemistry and Biology with a minimum of 50% aggregate. Visit the official website of NEET 2020, to learn about the eligibility criteria in detail.
These were some essentials that any NEET aspirant must be cognizant of. Subscribe to BYJU’S YouTube Channel for more information.
