NEET 2026: Qualifying Passing Marks Out of 720
NEET 2026: Qualifying Passing Marks Out of 720
With the upcoming NEET exam in 2026, many students in India are rigorously preparing for the exam day and night. If you are a NEET aspirant, then you may understand the pressure and also might be facing it. And while preparing for the exam, you might also look into the qualification marks and NEET exam date 2026, as it will be the first checkpoint in their journey ahead.
During preparation for the medical entrance exam, many students get easily confused about the technicalities of the scoring. And also, many students have misconceptions about the cut-offs and the qualifying marks. If you find yourself in this category, then this article will help you ease the technical part of the examination. This article will discuss the NEET qualification marks, how the marks are evaluated, and most importantly, what it will take to crack the exam in 2026.
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NEET Passing Marks 2026
As per the guidelines of NTA, NEET has a total of 720. Students have to attempt these questions, and they are given scores accordingly. The table below shows how the marks are distributed.
| Total Marks | 720 |
| For each correct answer | +4 marks granted |
| For each incorrect answer | -1 mark deducted (negative marking) |
Determination of the NEET Qualifying Marks
Now one might wonder how passing or qualifying marks are decided. There is a difference in marking and granting scores in NEET as it follows a percentile-based qualification system. Basically, here a student is not evaluated by a fixed score but the performance of the individual is compared with that of other candidates. Also because of this comparative evaluation technique, the cutoff score changes every year. It is based on both the difficulty of the paper and also how much competition. Therefore, the correct answer to the qualifying marks for NEET is not a particular number but a percentile threshold.
Percentile Criteria according to Category
| Category | Percentile (Qualifying) |
| General (UR/EWS) | 50th percentile |
| General with PWD | 45th percentile |
| OBC / SC / ST | 40th percentile |
| OBC / SC / ST-PwD | 40th percentile |
Note – the percentile score signifies that one’s score should be at least or more than the specified score, as per category.
What are the Expected NEET Qualification Marks in 2026?
NTA is responsible for announcing the official results, so before the official information is given, all the students and aspirants rely on the estimated passing marks. These estimated marks are based on several factors, such as the difficulty of the paper and the number of students appearing in that. The following scores can be considered if a student wants to plan their score.
| Category | Expected Marks |
| NEET Cut Off for General (UR/EWS) | 130 – 150 |
| General with PWD | 120 -135 |
| OBC / SC / ST | 108 -130 |
| OBC / SC / ST-PwD | 108 -130 |
Difference Between NEET Exam Passing Marks and Admission Cutoff Marks
If you are a NEET aspirant, you should know the clear difference between the two marks.
| NEET Exam Passing Marks | Admission Cut-Off |
| There is a minimum score needed to qualify. | The score will determine the seat in the top medical colleges. |
| Passing will make one eligible for counselling | The seat will depend on category, quota, ranK and college |
| These marks will not guarantee a seat | Admission will need high score and marks |
Importance of NEET Qualifying Marks
- It helps in setting realistic benchmarks
- This will help the candidate avoid panic
- One will understand the eligibility properly
- Also helps in creating a counseling strategy
NEET 2025 Merit List – State-Wise
| Category | Passing Percentile | Cut-off Scores |
| Gen/EWS | 50 Percentile | 686 – 144 |
| OBC | 40 Percentile | 143 – 113 |
| SC | 40 Percentile | 143 – 113 |
| ST | 40 Percentile | 143 – 113 |
| PwBD – UR/EWS | 45 Percentile | 143 – 127 |
| OBC – PwD | 40 Percentile | 126 – 113 |
| SC PwD | 40 Percentile | 126 – 113 |
| ST PwD | 40 Percentile | 126 – 113 |
Conclusion
The first step to pursue your medical journey is passing the 2026 NEET qualifying marks. However, the actual seat allotment depends on students’ rank, category, and their complete performance in all subjects. So, students can start their NEET 2026 preparation as its expected date is set for May 3, 2026. It will help them score higher marks than the qualifying percentile of NEET 2026.
FAQs
Q.1. How Many Marks Do I Need to Qualify for NEET 2026?
A general category candidate needs to achieve more than 130 marks, and a reserved category candidate needs to acquire at least 40%.
Q.2. How to Take MBBS Admission After NEET Exam?
The admission has some dependability factors such as counselling outcomes, seat availability, and rank.
Q.3. What is the Maximum Attempts Allowed for NEET 2026?
A candidate can make multiple attempts to clear the exam.
Q.4. How Can I Check Qualifying Passing Marks Out of 720?
The candidates can take help from an answer key to analyze the passing marks.
