National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test for undergraduate medical programs (NEET-UG) will be conducted by the National Testing Agency from 2019 onwards. NTA is responsible to evaluate answer scripts and declare results, provide the same to state/other counselling authorities and prepare All India Rank list for the 15% All India Quota Seats to be counselled by the relevant governing bodies.
The exam is scheduled to be conducted in a single session on May 5, 2019. NEET UG scores will be applicable for admission to MBBS/BDS programs in India approved by relevant governing bodies. NEET 2019 Application Form will be released on November 1 and thus there are several important points that are worth remembering regarding the eligibility test for medical education in India.
Salient Features of NEET 2019
Introduced as a single window medical entrance test by CBSE in 2016, the baton has been passed on to NTA to conduct the exam 2019 onwards. The test is conducted in an offline mode and will continue to be conducted once a year only. Most importantly, the test will be conducted in a single session on a single day across the country. Approximately 90000 seats in MBBS and BDS programs in recognized medical colleges (except for AIIMS and JIPMER) will be up through NEET 2019.
Support from NTA for aspirants
NTA has made available relevant lectures by reputed professors and subject experts on its website https://www.nta.ac.in/LecturesContent for the convenience of the NEET appearing candidates. It has also promised to utilize the Test Practice Centres as teaching centres as well for NEET candidates from May 2019 onwards.
NEET Application
The NEET Online Application window will be open from November 1 till 30, 2019. Candidates can access the Application form at the official website https://www.nta.ac.in/medicalexam. The Admit Card will be available to download from the same site from April 15, 2019, onwards for the candidates who had to submit the complete application in all respect within the deadline. The NEET Application fee for 2019 is INR 1400 (INR 750 for SC/ST/PH candidates).
Eligibility Criteria
Though there is no limit in the number of attempts a candidate can make to qualify NEET, however the age criteria specify that NEET applicant needs to be at least 17 years in age as on December 31, 2019; they cannot be older than 25 years as on the day of the exam. Reserved category candidates, however, can take the test till 30 years as on the day of the exam. Academically, candidates should have successfully completed higher secondary level studies or must be appearing for the same in 2019. The compulsory subjects that candidates need to have studied in their +2 level are Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English. The minimum aggregate score required in the Class 12th board exams is 50% (40% for reserved category candidates).
Syllabus, Exam Pattern etc.
NTA has assured that there will not be any changes in the syllabus, exam pattern, and choice of language for NEET 2019. The syllabus will predominantly be based on NCERT curriculum of Classes 11 and 12. Candidates will have to attempt 180 questions in NEET 2019 (90 in Biology and 45 each in Physics and Chemistry). Each question will carry 4 marks and any incorrect answer or multiple options chosen for a single question will attract a penalty of -1 mark.
NEET Cut-Off
NTA will be announcing the cut off percentiles for admission into MBBS/BDS programs after the test. Though there will not be any separate category-wise rank list, yet the expected admission cutoffs are 50 percentiles for general candidates, 45 percentiles for ST/SC candidates and 40 percentiles for PH candidates.
Good News for candidates with Low Vision
A point to cheer about for the candidates suffering from low vision and interested to pursue a career in medicine. Such candidates, if qualify NEET, will be able to pursue MBBS program and practice medicine as a profession as well.
