New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) successfully conducted the NEET UG 2025 examination across 548 cities in India. The exam was held at 5,433 centres and saw participation from over 2.08 million (20.8 lakh) candidates.
This year, NTA introduced a significant change in the exam format. Unlike previous years, which featured 24 paper sets, NEET UG 2025 had only four sets. All four were more challenging and focused on analytical thinking and application-based learning.
Rote Learning No Longer Enough – Conceptual Clarity is Important
Although the Biology section followed the NCERT syllabus, the questions were concept-driven and indirectly framed to test understanding rather than memorisation. Physics and Chemistry sections posed the greatest challenge, according to students and experts. The questions resembled the difficulty level of AIIMS exams, with multi-step problems, complex calculations, and scenario-based reasoning.
Students found Modern Physics, Electrodynamics, and Thermodynamics particularly difficult, which made time management a major hurdle.
Coaching Institutes Highlight a Shift in Examination Philosophy
A leading coaching institute from Kota noted a clear shift in the exam’s approach. “NEET 2025 reflects a new direction. Simply memorising textbook lines won’t work anymore. The exam now focuses on maturity, clarity of thought, and the ability to think like a doctor,” the institute reported.
| 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 Experts believe this change aligns with the global trend towards competency-based medical education. The exam demands deep conceptual understanding and excellent problem-solving skills.
Immediately after the exam, Motion Education released one of the fastest answer keys, helping students quickly evaluate their performance and estimate potential ranks.
Higher Impact on Government Medical College Admissions
This year’s exam could significantly influence admission trends in top government medical colleges. Due to the difficulty level of Physics, experts anticipate a dip in overall cut-offs. Candidates aiming for premier institutes may find it more competitive, especially if their strength lies in Biology and Chemistry, which were relatively more balanced.
