NEET-PG Exam Pattern 2026 — 200 MCQs, +4/-1 Marking, 3 Hours 30 Minutes CBT

NEET-PG 2026 is a single-shift 200-MCQ computer-based test with positive and negative marking, conducted by NBEMS. Here is the complete structure — subject distribution, time allocation, marking scheme and qualifying criteria.

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Last verified: 29 May 2026 against NBEMS NEET-PG Information Bulletin. natboard.edu.in · nmc.org.in

Quick Answer

NEET-PG 2026 has 200 MCQs conducted as a single-shift Computer-Based Test by NBEMS. Marking is +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect, 0 for unanswered — total 800 marks. Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes. The qualifying score is percentile-based (typically 50th percentile general, 40th SC/ST/OBC, 45th PwD) and varies year-on-year. English only.

NEET-PG 2026 at a Glance

ParticularDetail
Conducting bodyNational Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS)
FrequencyOnce a year (typically July–August)
ModeComputer-Based Test (CBT), single shift, single day
LanguageEnglish only
Total questions200 MCQs
Total exam duration3 hours 30 minutes (210 minutes)
Marks per correct answer+4
Negative marking-1 per wrong answer
Unanswered0 marks
Maximum marks800
Qualifying scorePercentile-based (50th general, 40th SC/ST/OBC, 45th PwD)

Subject Distribution (Approximate)

NEET-PG covers all 19 MBBS subjects in one randomised 200-MCQ paper (no Part A / Part B split). Recent papers have shown the following approximate distribution — exact counts vary slightly year-on-year:

Pre & Paraclinical (~38%)

  • • Anatomy — ~12 Qs
  • • Physiology — ~10 Qs
  • • Biochemistry — ~10 Qs
  • • Pathology — ~15 Qs
  • • Pharmacology — ~15 Qs
  • • Microbiology — ~10 Qs
  • • PSM (Community Medicine) — ~10 Qs
  • • FMT (Forensic Medicine) — ~5 Qs

Clinical (~62%)

  • • Medicine — ~21 Qs
  • • Surgery — ~25 Qs
  • • OBG (Obstetrics & Gynaecology) — ~20 Qs
  • • Pediatrics — ~15 Qs
  • • Orthopedics — ~6 Qs
  • • ENT — ~6 Qs
  • • Ophthalmology — ~6 Qs
  • • Anesthesia, Dermatology, Radiology, Psychiatry — ~5 Qs each

Marking Scheme — Why Pacing Matters

  • +4 for every correct answer
  • -1 for every wrong answer
  • 0 for unanswered questions

Strategy implication: with -1 negative marking, blind guessing loses money on average. But if you can eliminate two options, the expected value of a guess is +1.5 (vs +0 for not attempting). So: attempt every question where you can rule out at least two options; skip the rest.

NEET-PG vs FMGE — Quick Pattern Comparison

AspectNEET-PGFMGE
Total MCQs200300
Marking+4 / -1 / 0+1 / 0 / 0 (no negative)
Duration3h 30m, single shift5h, Part A + Part B with break
QualifyingPercentile-based (varies)150 / 300 fixed (50%)
PurposeRanking for MD/MS seatsLicensure for foreign MBBS holders
FrequencyOnce a yearTwice a year (Jun & Dec)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NEET-PG 2026 exam pattern?▼
NEET-PG 2026 is a 200-question single-shift Computer-Based Test conducted by NBEMS. Each correct answer scores +4 marks and each incorrect answer is penalised -1 mark. Unanswered questions get 0. Total maximum marks: 800. Total duration: 3 hours 30 minutes (210 minutes), no scheduled break.
How many questions are in NEET-PG?▼
NEET-PG has 200 multiple-choice questions across all 19 MBBS subjects (pre, para and clinical combined). Subject-wise weightage is fixed — Medicine carries ~21 questions, Surgery ~25, OBG ~20, Pediatrics ~15, with pre/paraclinical subjects contributing the remaining ~38%.
Is there negative marking in NEET-PG?▼
Yes. NEET-PG has -1 mark deduction for every wrong answer. Unanswered questions get 0 marks. This makes pacing and accuracy more important than in FMGE — never guess blind on a 50:50, but always attempt when you can eliminate 2 of 4 options.
How long is the NEET-PG exam?▼
Total duration is 3 hours 30 minutes (210 minutes) for 200 questions — roughly 63 seconds per question. The exam is single-shift, single-day, conducted at NBEMS-approved CBT centres across India. There is no scheduled break.
What is the qualifying score for NEET-PG?▼
NEET-PG does not have a fixed pass mark like FMGE. Instead, NBEMS announces a percentile-based qualifying score after the exam — typically 50th percentile for general category, 40th for SC/ST/OBC, and 45th for PwD candidates. The qualifying score varies year-on-year based on paper difficulty.
What language is NEET-PG conducted in?▼
NEET-PG is conducted only in English. There is no regional language option, in line with the all-India nature of the postgraduate counselling process.
Conducted by NBEMS
Single shift, single day
English only

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