NEET 2025 Exam Analysis, Difficulty Level & Answer Key: Scoring very high will be challenging, says expert

NEET UG 2025 exam analysis and difficulty level

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the NEET UG 2025 examination today, Sunday, May 4, from 2 PM to 5 PM in pen-and-paper mode across the country. With over 22.7 lakh registered candidates this year, NEET remains India’s largest and most competitive medical entrance test for MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other undergraduate medical courses.

NEET UG 2025 Question Paper Pattern and Important Details

As per the official exam pattern, NEET UG 2025 comprises 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) divided across four sections—Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology. Each correct answer carries +4 marks, while each incorrect attempt results in a -1 deduction. Unattempted questions are awarded zero marks. The total exam duration is three hours, with a maximum score of 720 marks.

The question paper is available in 13 languages including English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, and more. This year’s NEET UG paper is being conducted offline at designated centers, strictly following NTA’s security and exam-day guidelines.

Early inputs suggest that the overall difficulty level of the NEET 2025 paper was moderate, with a majority of the questions being direct and primarily based on NCERT syllabi. Students found the Biology section to be relatively straightforward, while Physics featured a mix of formula-based and concept-driven questions. Chemistry was largely NCERT-based, but included a few application-level MCQs that required deeper understanding.

According to Dr. Brajesh Maheshwari, Director of Allen Career Institute Pvt. Ltd., “The NEET-UG 2025 paper was tougher than previous years. The Physics section featured high-standard questions, while Chemistry was lengthy and included multiple correct-order questions—reintroduced after several years—which confused many students. Both Botany and Zoology sections were also lengthy, making time management difficult. With the re-implementation of the pre-COVID pattern and an overall tougher paper, scoring very high this year will be more challenging for students.”

While Biology remained NCERT-based, the volume of questions and complexity across all sections made the paper time-consuming. Students found themselves under pressure due to the dense nature of the questions and limited time for revision.

Ujjwal Singh, founding CEO, Infinity Learn by Sri Chaitanya, said, "Questions in the Biology paper were largely NCERT-based, yet a number of them required conceptual application. Some questions, like the one on the water vascular system, required verbatim textbook recall, while others, such as the fig–wasp relationship, were ambiguous and open to interpretation."

"Physics proved mathematically-intensive, characterized by analytical reasoning and practical applications. Many questions required elaborate, multi-stage problem-solving processes that tested candidates' comprehensive understanding, leaving less room for scoring marks. Similarly, Chemistry presented numerous open-ended problems requiring analytical approaches. Both Physics and Chemistry incorporated questions with intricate calculations and contextual reasoning, creating significant time pressure for examinees, he added.

As per Singh, overall, the NEET UG examination transcended simple formula application and factual recollection, instead requiring candidates to demonstrate intellectual maturity through their capacity to navigate complex, multi-dimensional problems. Seeing the difficulty level of Physics being heightened, it is necessary for future aspirants to take up test prep programs that lay more emphasis on physics preparation, compared to other subjects. Our NEET program, ATREYA, follows the P²CB approach, which stands for Physics Twice a Day with Chemistry and Biology. This can help address the challenge at hand by doubling the frequency of Physics sessions, giving NEET aspirants a competitive edge.

Here's a direct link to download NEET UG 2025 Answer Key PDF by Infinity Learn by Sri Chaitanya

Nitin Vijay, CEO and Founder of Motion Education said, "NEET 2025 saw a definite change in philosophy, it's no longer a question of memorizing textbook lines. The paper called for maturity, clarity of thought, and an ability to think like a doctor, right at the entrance gate. According to academic quarters, this peak in the exam is likely a conscious attempt on the part of the NTA to improve the levels of selection, in accordance with the global trend towards competency-based medical education. The aim appears to be to develop better trained, analysis-sufficient medical professionals, adequate for an increasingly changing healthcare scenario. The paper required a profound conceptual understanding and excellent problem-solving skills."

NEET UG 2025 Subject-wise Analysis

Stay connected with us for NEET UG 2025 Detailed Analysis and Subject-Wise Expert Opinion.