NEET-UG 2025: Tough Paper, reduced exam time may push cut-offs down
The NEET-UG 2025 was tougher than preceding years, and hence, experts predict that cut-off marks will be lower for all categories. Factors such as a 20-minute reduction in exam time and challenging Physics numerical problems will potentially contribute to a reduced cut-off. This year, however, NEET aspirants, which was a steadily growing demographic, declined by nearly one lakh, this could improve admission chances.
Nitin Vijay, Founder and CEO of Motion Education, said the paper was tough, especially with a lengthy Biology section along with Physics. Under the new pattern, students had 20 minutes less to solve the paper, and all 180 questions were mandatory with no internal choices. He said the cut-off for government medical colleges is expected to be lower. A safe score is projected to be around 595–605 for the General category, 595–600 for OBC, 580 for EWS, 470 for ST, and 460 for SC.
Rohit Gupta, Chief Academic Officer at PhysicsWallah, said, 'Considering the overall difficulty level of NEET 2025 and trends from previous years, we expect the general category cut-off to fall between 540 and 560 marks.' He said the paper was concept-heavy. Biology was the most accessible and NCERT-centric. Chemistry had standard and application-based questions. Physics was the most challenging due to numerical and time-intensive problems.
Mr. Gupta added that in previous years, cut-offs rose when papers were predictable and NCERT-aligned. But this year's increased conceptual load and the 20-minute reduction in exam time may affect performance. Also, NEET aspirants declined by nearly one lakh. Combined with more medical colleges and seats, this may help improve admission chances.
Harish Butle, Founder, Deeper, an NGO that conducts mock tests for competitive exams, explained that cut-offs vary state-wise. In Maharashtra, the cut-off may be 490 to 500 for 85% state quota seats. For the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats, it may be around 530-540. He said state merit lists are based on All India Ranks (AIR). Higher AIR means higher merit.
Dhruv Chavan said, 'This year's exam was the most difficult to date – students had told me this and I saw the physics paper.' He added that the calculations in physics were tougher and more time-consuming than last year. Numerical questions were lengthy. He expects the cut-off to be between 550–575 because of the tough physics section.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Time of India
Gruelling NEET, AI craze push applications for engg to five-year high
Fixation with engineering touched a new high in Tamil Nadu as the number of candidates applying for counselling increased by 14% compared to the previous year. A gruelling NEET paper, a curiosity towards emerging technologies, a declining interest in pure sciences (BSc courses), and high capitation fees for management quota seats were cited as reasons for more applications towards engineering counselling this year. The last date to apply for engineering counselling is June 6. With less than a day to go, Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) received 2,95,134 applications. Among the applicants, 2,39,871 had paid their fees, while 2,14,005 uploaded certificates as of Thursday. Last year, 2,48,848 candidates registered online, while 2,09,653 submitted fees to participate in the counselling, which is open only to those who have paid the fees. "Following the release of NEET answer key, there were more inquiries for management quota engineering seats. The daunting NEET experience could result in more applications for engineering," said D Valavan, principal of Saranathan College of Engineering in Trichy. Career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi attributed the preference for engineering over pure sciences as the main reason for more applications this year. "Colleges collect higher fees for management quota seats (in Physics/Chemistry/Mathematics). So, many students opted to go for counselling to join BE, BTech seats through govt quota, which costs comparatively less," he said. The number of students opting for science stream in higher secondary schools has also increased compared to the last few years, he added. Academicians have turned the focus on generative AI tools as a driver of the popularity of engineering courses. In the management quota admissions, more students opted for computer science engineering, information technology, AI and data science, and ECE courses this year. In engineering counselling, computer science engineering is likely to remain the top choice as BSc computer science was popular even among arts and science students. The preference for engineering counselling poses challenges four years down the line, vis-a-vis employability of candidates and availability of suitable jobs in the market. "Students will be gainfully employed, provided they come with sound engineering knowledge and are willing to skill themselves and adapt to evolving technologies in AI modules, development boards, and tools," said K Shanmuga Sundaram, director, Centre for University Industry Collaboration, Anna University. It's a perspective that finds resonance among industry leaders too. "The world is increasingly turning technology-intensive. This offers outsized opportunities for engineers across disciplines of specialisation, thanks to rapid innovation occurring at the intersection of technology and businesses," said Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, former CMD, Cognizant India, and partner at Catalincs, a tech growth advisory firm. "No country attracted more than 500 Global 1,000 companies in a 10-year period except India. Encompassing a gamut of industries such as electronics, health sciences, energy, manufacturing, financial services, retail, and telecom, these enterprises made a beeline for India, set up captive technology centres (GCCs), and hired thousands within a short span," he added. "This growing trend, coupled with strong investments in tech by Indian corporates and a thriving tech-driven startup ecosystem, will provide engineers with a platform to build their careers in their chosen disciplines of study," he signed off.
India Today
a day ago
- India Today
NEET UG 2025 answer key challenge ends tomorrow. Steps to submit objections
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to close the objection window for the NEET UG 2025 provisional answer key tomorrow, prompting candidates to finalise their challenges promptly. This facility allows candidates to contest any discrepancies they identify in the provisional key through the official website, Candidates interested in submitting challenges must do so with supporting documents, and each challenge incurs a fee of Rs UG 2025: HOW TO CHALLENGE ANSWER KEYVisit the official website of NEET UG to the section: Display OMR Answer Sheet / Challenge Recorded Response and Answer Key. Log in using your application number and the question(s) you wish to supporting documents as a single PDF file for each question on 'Save your Claim and Pay Fee Finally'.Pay the fee of 200 per challenged question to complete the NEET UG 2025 examination comprised 180 questions across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, all conducted offline over three hours using OMR sheets. Each correct answer awards 4 marks, while incorrect responses result in a deduction of 1 are encouraged to submit their challenges before the deadline as the final results will depend on the revised answer key should any challenges be accepted by the panel of the NTA will not inform candidates individually about the status of their objections. Instead, it is imperative for candidates to regularly check the official website for updates on the final decision made by the NTA regarding the challenges is deemed final and binding, underscoring the importance of careful review and documentation before submitting any objections.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's historic space mission pushed to June 10
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads India's Shubhanshu Shukla is set for his maiden space flight as part of Axiom Space 's fourth commercial mission to the International Space Station , has now been pushed back for lift-off onboard SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June Shukla, the mission pilot for the Axiom-4 mission, the other crew include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, marking both European nation's first travel to the International Space Station in history and the second government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in over 40 US astronaut Peggy Whitson will be the commander of the Axiom-4 mission."I am really, really excited to go into microgravity and experience spaceflight on my own," Shukla, who goes by the nickname 'Shuks', said at a press conference in docked, the astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting science, outreach, and commercial Ax-4 astronauts will perform around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries during their 14-day stay at the is set to conduct exclusive food and nutrition-related experiments developed under a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from experiments aim to pioneer space nutrition and self-sustaining life support systems vital for future long-duration space has lined up a set of seven experiments for Shukla, who will also participate in five joint studies planned by NASA for its human research has drawn up plans to focus on India-centric food for carrying out experiments on the ISS, including sprouting methi (Fenugreek) and moong (green gram) in microgravity will also expose the seeds to the macrobiotic conditions and bring them back to earth where they will be cultivated in plants not just once but over January, Shukla said he also planned to capture his experiences on board the ISS through pictures and videos which can be shared with all the "'Bharatvaasis' back home.""I want them to share this thrilling experience through my eyes, for I truly believe that, even as an individual travelling to space, this is the journey of 1.4 billion people," he said he planned to take certain items from different parts of the country with him to the ISS during the 14-day mission and even expressed hope to serve Indian food to astronauts in the orbital said the experience on the Axiom Mission 4 would be very well utilised on the Gaganyaan mission which is planned for 2027. ISRO is spending Rs 550 crore on the Axiom-4 mission.
