NEET UG 2025 Paper Analysis: Was It Tougher Than Last Year?

New Delhi: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) 2025 concluded today, leaving lakhs of medical aspirants eager to know how the paper compared to previous years. Early reactions suggest a moderate to difficult exam, with some sections proving more challenging than others. Experts and students have begun analysing the paper’s difficulty level, question patterns and potential impact on cut-off scores.

Overall Difficulty: Balanced but Tricky

Initial feedback indicates that NEET 2025 was slightly tougher than NEET 2024, particularly in Physics and Chemistry. However, Biology remained largely NCERT-based, offering relief to many students.

• Biology (Botany & Zoology): Mostly NCERT-focused, with a few application-based questions.
• Chemistry: Organic and Physical Chemistry had more numericals than last year.
• Physics: The most challenging section, with lengthy calculations and conceptual twists.

“The paper was balanced but not easy. Physics had more tricky questions than last year, while Biology was straightforward for those who studied NCERT thoroughly,” said Dr. Amit Kumar, NEET Mentor at Aakash Institute.

Section-wise Breakdown

1. Biology – More Theory-Based

• Botany: Mostly theory-based, with direct questions from NCERT.
• Zoology: A few diagram-based and applied questions, but manageable.
• Expected weightage: Genetics, Human Physiology and Ecology dominated.

“Biology was scoring, but a few questions required deep thinking. Overall, it was similar to last year,” noted Dr. Priya Sharma, Biology Expert.

2. Chemistry – More Numericals, Less Theory

• Physical Chemistry: Calculation-heavy, with more weightage on topics like Electrochemistry and Thermodynamics.
• Organic Chemistry: Reaction mechanisms and named reactions were prominent.
• Inorganic Chemistry: NCERT-based, but had a few unexpected questions.

“Students who practised numericals would find Chemistry doable, but those relying only on theory may have struggled,” said Prof. Rajesh Mehta, Chemistry Faculty at Allen Kota.

3. Physics – The Toughest Section

• Mechanics and Electrodynamics: Dominated the paper, with complex problem-solving.
• Modern Physics: Straightforward but had a few tricky MCQs.
• Students’ Reaction: Many found it time-consuming due to lengthy derivations.

“Physics was undoubtedly tougher than last year. Speed and accuracy were crucial,” remarked Dr. Sanjay Verma, Physics Coach.

Comparison with NEET 2024

• Biology: Similar difficulty, but slightly more application-based.
• Chemistry: More numericals, making it tougher than 2024.
• Physics: More challenging, with higher weightage on problem-solving.

Will the Cut-off Rise or Fall?

Experts suggest that cut-offs may remain similar or drop slightly due to the increased difficulty in Physics and Chemistry.

• General Category Prediction: 680-720 (2024: 700-720)
• OBC/SC/ST: Expected to see a minor dip.

*”If Physics was tough for most students, the cut-off might decrease by 5-10 marks,”* predicted Mr. Anil Bhargava, NEET Counselling Expert.

What Should Students Do Now?

1. Check Answer Keys (to be released soon by NTA).
2. Start preparing for counselling – research colleges based on expected scores.
3. Keep backup options ready – AIIMS, JIPMER (if applicable), state quotas.

While NEET 2025 was more challenging than last year, especially in Physics, well-prepared students should still secure high scores. The real test now lies in accurate answer key comparisons and strategic counselling choices.