By Ankit Gupta
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Updated on 28 Jan 2026, 05:33 IST
Every year, lakhs of students in India dream of becoming doctors. To make that dream real, they have to pass the NEET exam (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test). But many students and parents often ask: “Is NEET really that hard to crack nowadays?”
The answer is not simple. NEET feels tough for two main reasons. First, the question paper itself can be tricky. Physics is usually the hardest subject, with long and calculation-based problems. Chemistry is moderate, and Biology is the easiest, but has a huge amount of facts to remember. Second, and even more important, is the competition. The number of students appearing for NEET has grown from about 7.3 lakh in 2016 to more than 23 lakh in 2024. But medical seats have not grown at the same speed — only about 1.18 lakh MBBS seats were available. This means almost 20 students compete for one seat.
On top of this, top scorers are now hitting perfect scores of 720/720. In 2024, as many as 17 students shared All India Rank 1 with perfect marks. Because of this, the cut-offs continue to rise, and even students scoring 600+ marks sometimes struggle to secure a place in a good government college.
So yes, NEET is hard. But it’s not impossible. With smart preparation, practice, and focus, many students — even those who are average — have cleared it. In this blog, we will explore why NEET feels so tough today and how you can make it easier for yourself.
To know why students find NEET difficult, it’s important to first understand how the exam is designed.
The NEET exam pattern is simple but challenging. The test has 200 questions, out of which students need to attempt 180 questions in 3 hours 20 minutes. The subjects are:
Each correct answer gives +4 marks, while every wrong answer costs -1 mark. This negative marking makes the exam stressful because even one small mistake can drop your rank by thousands.
Another reason for the NEET exam difficulty is the huge syllabus. Students need to study Physics, Chemistry, and Biology from both Class 11 and Class 12 NCERT books. Biology carries the maximum weight, almost 50% of the paper, and is mostly NCERT-based. Physics and Chemistry, on the other hand, require deeper conceptual understanding and a lot of practice.
The role of negative marking cannot be ignored. Many students know the answer but still lose marks because of silly mistakes, calculation errors, or nervousness. Since lakhs of students appear every year and cut-offs are very high, even one wrong answer can decide whether you get a government college seat or not.
In short, NEET may look simple on paper, but the exam pattern, vast NCERT-heavy syllabus, and negative marking system together make it one of the toughest exams in India.
Do Check: Important Chapters of NEET 2026 To Score Above 650+ Marks
The NEET syllabus includes Physics, Chemistry, and Biology from both Class 11 and Class 12. Biology alone covers almost half the exam and is very detailed. Physics is filled with calculations, while Chemistry mixes memory and logic. This huge syllabus often feels overwhelming for students.
In 2016, about 7.3 lakh students appeared for NEET. By 2024, this number crossed 23 lakh students. But the number of MBBS seats grew much slower, reaching about 1.18 lakh seats in 2024. This means around 20 students fight for one seat, making the exam extremely competitive.
Earlier, scoring 600+ marks was enough to secure a seat in a good medical college. Now, with so many high scorers, the NEET cut-off marks have gone up. Students need near-perfect scores to secure government college seats.
In 2020, the first perfect score of 720/720 was achieved. By 2024, 17 students scored full marks. This trend makes many aspirants feel that only extremely high scores can get them into top colleges.
Do Check – What is a Good Score in NEET
The negative marking system makes NEET stressful. For each wrong answer, students lose 1 mark. Sometimes, even a single mistake can drop ranks by thousands. This pressure of accuracy adds to the overall NEET exam difficulty.
The NEET paper changes in toughness each year. Sometimes Physics is the hardest, sometimes Biology feels lengthy, and sometimes Chemistry has tricky numericals. Here’s a summary of how experts and students rated the paper from 2016 to 2024:
| Year | Overall Difficulty | Physics | Chemistry | Biology |
| 2016 | Tough | Lengthy, conceptual | Moderate, Physical & Organic focus | Easier |
| 2017 | Moderate to Difficult | Most difficult (Mechanics, Electrodynamics) | Moderate, theory-heavy | Easy (Plant & Human Physiology) |
| 2018 | Difficult | Very tough, tricky calculations | Moderate, formula-based | Easy, NCERT-based |
| 2019 | Moderate | Difficult, time-consuming | Moderate, Physical Chemistry | Easy, NCERT-based |
| 2020 | Easy to Moderate | Easier than past years | Easy to Moderate, NCERT-based | Easy, Botany slightly harder |
| 2021 | Moderate | Challenging, more numericals | Moderate, mix of theory & sums | Easy to Moderate but lengthy |
| 2022 | Moderate | Easier than past years | Balanced, moderate | Botany harder, Zoology moderate |
| 2023 | Moderate | Moderate but lengthy numericals | Moderate with tricky assertion-reason | Botany moderate-difficult, Zoology easier |
| 2024 | Moderate to Difficult | Tough, calculation-heavy | Moderate, Organic tricky | Easiest, NCERT-based |
The number of NEET aspirants has exploded in recent years. From 7.3 lakh in 2016 to 23.3 lakh in 2024 — that’s more than three times growth in less than 10 years.
Do Check – List of Documents Required for NEET Application Form
| Year | Students Appeared | Growth % (YoY) |
| 2016 | 7.31 lakh | – |
| 2017 | 10.9 lakh | +49% |
| 2018 | 12.7 lakh | +16% |
| 2019 | 14.1 lakh | +11% |
| 2020 | 13.6 lakh | -3% (COVID dip) |
| 2021 | 15.4 lakh | +13% |
| 2022 | 17.6 lakh | +14% |
| 2023 | 20.3 lakh | +16% |
| 2024 | 23.3 lakh | +14% |
Even though MBBS seats have doubled in 10 years, they are still too few compared to the student rush. The aspirant-to-seat ratio shows how tough it is.
| Year | Appeared Students | MBBS Seats | Students per Seat |
| 2016 | 7.3 lakh | ~55,000 | ~13 |
| 2017 | 10.9 lakh | ~65,000 | ~17 |
| 2018 | 12.7 lakh | ~67,000 | ~19 |
| 2019 | 14.1 lakh | ~80,312 | ~18 |
| 2020 | 13.6 lakh | ~83,275 | ~16 |
| 2021 | 15.4 lakh | ~92,127 | ~17 |
| 2022 | 17.6 lakh | ~96,277 | ~18 |
| 2023 | 20.3 lakh | ~1,08,940 | ~19 |
| 2024 | 23.3 lakh | ~1,18,418 | ~20 |
In 2016, the top score was 685/720. But now, toppers regularly score 720/720. In 2024, as many as 17 students got full marks, proving how tough the competition has become.
| Year | Topper(s) | Marks / 720 | No. of Perfect Scores |
| 2016 | Het Shah | 685 | 0 |
| 2017 | Navdeep Singh | 697 | 0 |
| 2018 | Kalpana Kumari | 691 | 0 |
| 2019 | Nalin Khandelwal | 701 | 0 |
| 2020 | Soyeb Aftab (and Akanksha Singh, AIR 2) | 720 | 1 |
| 2021 | Mrinal Kutteri, Tanmay Gupta, Karthika G. Nair | 720 | 3 |
| 2022 | Tanishka | 715 | 0 |
| 2023 | Prabanjan J, Bora Varun Chakravarthi | 720 | 2 |
| 2024 | Multiple Candidates (Revised to 17) | 720 | 17 |
With so many high scorers and rising cut-offs, the margin for error is almost gone. Just one wrong answer can pull down your rank by thousands. This is why students feel NEET is tougher today than ever before.
A common question students ask “Is NEET only for toppers, or can average students also crack it?” The truth is, NEET is challenging for everyone, but it is not impossible for average students. With the right study plan, NCERT focus, and regular practice, many so-called “average students” have gone on to secure MBBS seats.
The challenge is not just the question paper but the competition. With 23.3 lakh aspirants in 2024 and only about 1.18 lakh MBBS seats, every student has to push harder. Even scoring above 600 marks sometimes does not guarantee a government seat. But consistent effort, mock tests, and strong basics can bridge this gap.
Many toppers have said they were not always school toppers. For example, Soyeb Aftab (2020, AIR 1) once struggled with Physics but improved with consistent practice and mock tests. Stories like these show that success in NEET depends more on discipline and persistence than just raw brilliance.
Do Check – How to Create a 3-month revision plan for NEET
| Myth | Reality |
| NEET can only be cracked by toppers or geniuses. | Thousands of average students qualify every year with smart strategies and NCERT focus. |
| You need coaching from a big institute to clear NEET. | Coaching helps, but many students clear NEET through self-study and online resources. |
| Scoring 600+ marks guarantees a seat. | Due to rising cut-offs, even 600+ may not be enough for top government colleges, but smart planning can secure a seat. |
| NEET is impossible if you start late. | Even late starters can crack NEET with a focused timetable and revision strategy. |
NEET is considered tough because of its vast syllabus, negative marking, and very high competition. In 2024, more than 23 lakh students appeared for the exam, but only about 1.18 lakh MBBS seats were available. This makes the success ratio nearly 1 in 20.
NEET is challenging, but not impossible for average students. With NCERT-based preparation, practice of previous year papers, and mock tests, many average students have successfully cracked NEET and secured MBBS seats.
Most toppers suggest 8–10 hours of focused study during peak preparation. However, quality matters more than quantity. A consistent routine of 6–7 effective hours with revision and mock tests can also help students crack NEET.
NEET has become tougher mainly because of competition. While the question paper difficulty changes each year, the number of aspirants has grown from 7.3 lakh in 2016 to 23.3 lakh in 2024. This rising competition has pushed cut-offs higher every year.
The success rate is very low. In 2024, only about 5–6% of total students managed to get MBBS seats. This is why NEET is often called one of the toughest entrance exams in India.
Yes, NEET can be cracked without coaching if students follow a disciplined self-study plan, focus on NCERT books, solve previous year question papers, and take mock tests regularly. Many students who studied at home have scored 600+ in NEET.
