NEET UG 2025: Every year, lakhs of students appear for the NEET exam, aiming to secure a seat in undergraduate medical courses like MBBS, BDS, BAMS, and more. NEET is the only gateway to admission in both government and private medical colleges across India.
Known as one of the toughest entrance exams in the country, NEET has a total of 720 marks, and the competition is intense. Out of the lakhs who appear, only about one lakh students manage to qualify for MBBS and related courses.
The cut-off scores for NEET are usually quite high, especially for general category candidates. However, students from reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC) do get significant relaxation in cut-off marks, improving their chances of selection.
Can I Get Admission with 300 Marks in NEET?
The NEET exam is conducted for a total of 720 marks, and there are around 1 lakh MBBS seats available across the country. Because of the high competition, the cut-off for general category candidates usually hovers around 600, while for OBC candidates, it’s around 550. For SC and ST categories, the cut-off generally falls close to 500.
So, if you’re an SC candidate scoring 300 marks, getting a seat in a government medical college might be challenging, but it’s not completely impossible. In rare cases, if the cut-off for the SC category drops close to 300 in a particular year, there’s a chance you could secure a seat—especially through state quota in certain states where cut-offs tend to be lower.
It all depends on the difficulty level of the exam, the number of applicants, and seat availability in your state.
Keep These Things in Mind
If you belong to the SC category and are eligible under certain state reservation policies, then scoring 300 marks in NEET might still give you a shot at an MBBS seat. Some government medical colleges do admit SC candidates with scores around 300, depending on the state and the year’s cut-off trends.
Many state governments offer special reservation schemes that can work in your favor. During the counselling process, you’ll be able to choose colleges based on your category, which can significantly improve your chances of admission.
To boost your opportunities, it’s a good idea to:
- Check the list of colleges that accepted SC students with similar scores in previous years.
- Understand your state’s reservation policies and how they apply to you.