New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) successfully conducted the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2025 on May 4, with over 23 lakh aspirants appearing across various centres nationwide.
As the sole gateway to India’s premier medical institutions for courses like MBBS and BDS, NEET-UG continues to be one of the most competitive entrance exams in the country.
However, this year’s exam surprised many candidates. Several aspirants who entered the exam halls with high hopes found the paper significantly more difficult than in previous years. According to early reactions, Physics and Chemistry emerged as the most challenging sections, leaving even well-prepared students visibly distressed. Reports from examination centers suggested that some candidates exited the halls in tears, overwhelmed by the unexpected difficulty.
To gain further insights into the exam’s complexity and its potential impact on cut-offs, many coaching institutes and NEET expert faculty shared their analysis. They noted that the Physics section, in particular, was exceptionally tough, aligning more closely with NEET’s original difficulty standards compared to the relatively easier 2024 paper. Experts added that this significant shift in difficulty is likely to result in a drop in cut-off marks for NEET UG 2025.
Controversy Over 720 Marks
According to experts, the NEET UG 2024 paper was notably lenient, resulting in a surge of candidates scoring a perfect 720 out of 720, which sparked widespread controversy regarding the exam’s credibility and fairness. In response, the National Testing Agency (NTA) appears to have deliberately increased the difficulty level, particularly in the Physics and Chemistry sections of NEET 2025, in an effort to prevent a repeat of such inflated scores.
| NEET UG Counselling Guide 2025 | |
|---|---|
| State-wise MBBS/BDS Counselling Guide eBook 2025 | 📥 Download |
| MCC NEET UG Counselling Guide eBook 2025 | 📥 Download |
| AACCC AYUSH NEET Counselling Guide eBook 2025 | 📥 Download |
Join NEET News 2025 NEET 2025 Expected Cut-Off
Experts believe that no candidate is likely to score a perfect 720 this year, given the tougher exam pattern. The expected cut-off for NEET UG 2025 is projected to fall between 600 and 610 marks. Considering the exam’s overall difficulty, experts also suggest that securing a seat at AIIMS Delhi may prove exceptionally challenging, even for high scorers.
Chemistry Error and Paper Analysis
According to coaching experts, the Chemistry section in NEET UG 2025 contained a flawed question with two correct options, creating confusion among students. Additionally, the Physics paper was described as lengthy, highly calculative, and difficult, consuming a significant amount of students’ time and affecting overall performance.
In Chemistry, the majority of questions were drawn from Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, while Organic Chemistry was notably underrepresented. This unexpected question distribution and elevated difficulty level left many aspirants feeling anxious and overwhelmed. With tensions high, all eyes are now on the NTA’s official response and the upcoming results.
