NEET 2026 Total Marks: Section-Wise Distribution & Scoring Insights

 NEET 2026 Total Marks: The total marks for the NEET 2026 exam are 720, which is divided into three sections: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. NEET is one of the challenging competitive exams for medical aspirants conducted by NTA for admission to undergraduate medical courses such as MBBS, BDS, BHMS, BAMS, etc.

The NEET 2025 exam paper was moderately difficult, and it is expected that the NEET 2026 exam will also be difficult. Therefore, the candidates must be well-prepared for the exam. Here, we have described the NEET 2026 section-wise marks distribution to help you in NEET 2026 preparation.

NEET 2026 Exam

To score between 650 and 700 in the NEET exam, it is crucial to know that there are 180 questions, each having 4 marks for a correct answer. For every incorrect answer, 1 mark is deducted. This negative marking means 25% of the total scored marks for each wrong answer are lost.

A thorough understanding of the NEET syllabus and exam pattern is essential to devise a well-structured preparation plan.

NEET Total Marks 2026

The 720 marks in the NEET exam are distributed in three sections: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. 180 marks for Physics & Chemistry, while 360 for Biology. Each section contains questions based on the NCERT syllabus for classes 11th & 12th. Conceptual understanding and studying the NCERT are important to score more. Read books like the Bible, as 70% of the NEET exam paper is prepared from the concepts of NCERT.

NEET 2026 Marks Distribution
Physics180
chemistry180
Biology360
Total720

Check out the Top 5 NEET Coaching Institutes in Pune in 2025

NEET 2026: Marking Scheme

Most of the students are confused about the marking scheme of the NEET exam. The details of the NEET 2026 marking scheme are as follows

NEET 2026 Marking scheme
Correct Answer+4  marks
Incorrect Answer-1 Mark
UnansweredNo Marks
Note:
If all options of a question are found to be correct, then full marks would be awarded to all the candidates irrespective of their attempt on that question.
If, on reassessment, multiple options are found to be correct for a question, 4 marks will be given for any/all of the correct options.

NEET 2026: How to Calculate Total Marks?

The total marks of the NEET exam are the number of questions a candidate attempts and how many are correct. Many students find it difficult to calculate the total score. They can find their score based on the simple formula. The formula for computing a candidate’s NEET total marks in 2026 is provided below.

NEET Total Marks = (Correct Answers × 4) – (Wrong Answers × 1)

Scoring Insights for NEET 2026

Understanding the marking framework is essential for achieving outstanding results in NEET 2026. A well-planned scoring approach can make the difference between simply qualifying and getting a medical seat.

  1. How Marks Are Allotted for Correct Answers
  • Each question carries 4 marks.
  • Therefore, if you mark a correct answer, you will get 4 marks.
  • There are a total of 180 questions in the NEET exam paper; therefore, 180 * 4 = 720.
  1. Understand  the Negative Marking Impact
  • One mark is subtracted for each incorrect answer, making accuracy crucial for a high score.
  • No marks are given or deducted for unanswered questions.
  1. Importance of Accuracy vs Attempt Strategy
  • Accuray is more important than attempting more questions.
  • Use smart techniques to solve the questions.
  • A student scored higher if he focused on accuracy rather than the total number of questions.
  • Attempt only when reasonably confident.
  • Use elimination methods to improve chances.
  • Avoid blind guessing in high-risk questions.
  1. NEET Scoring Patterns from Past Years
  • NEET 2024 Cut-offs (General Category): Around 720–164.
  • NEET 2024 Cut-offs (Reserved Categories): Around 163–129 (OBC/SC/ST).
  • A candidate who scores more than 600 marks is eligible for securing a seat in a govt. Medical college.

Preparation Tips Based on Marks Distribution

Some tips to boost your NEET 2026 score are as follows:

  1. Find the Focus Areas in Each Subject: Mark the important topics in each subject, and make your strategy, prioritizing these topics. For NEET Biology & Chemistry, focus on the NCERT books. Whereas for Physics, focus on conceptual understanding and numericals.
  2. Time Allocation Strategies: Divide the time equally among all subjects. Emphasize more on Biology as it covers 50% of the NEET exam syllabus. Allow some time for revision and practice questions, such as multiple-choice questions and numericals, daily.
  3. Smart Guessing vs Leaving Questions: Since NEET has negative marking (–1), avoid blind guessing. Apply the elimination method: if you can confidently remove 2 options, take a calculated attempt. If unsure about more than 2 options, it’s safer to leave the question unattempted.

Conclusion

Understanding the NEET 2026 total marks, section-wise distribution, and scoring pattern is the first step towards effective NEET preparation strategies. As we know that Biology comprises 50% of the NEET exam, therefore, the key focus should be on Biology. Preparing according to the NEET marks distribution will also help to focus more on accuracy than on the total questions.

At IIB Career Institute, we have a team of well-qualified teachers who help the students to understand the marks distribution and prepare accordingly. Our comprehensive programs for classes 11th & 12th students prepare them for the NEET exam. A right preparation strategy can pave the way for NEET success.

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