The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts one of the largest medical entrance exams in India, NEET, annually, with this year’s exam scheduled for May 5, 2024. With some changes in the exam format, the students are having doubts about understanding the NEET exam difficulty level.
According to the records, more than 23 lakh students have enrolled for NEET 2024 this year, which is a record number. This was also one of the reasons that indicated that the NEET exam in 2024 would become more difficult. Furthermore, there has also not been any noticeable rise in the number of seats available.
NEET Exam Difficulty Level 2024:
We assume the NEET exam difficulty level to be moderate to high. However, we won’t know the exact NEET 2024 difficulty level until we administer the test. The NEET exam difficulty level will mainly depend on the set of questions prepared by the examiner. The only way to crack the level of difficulty is with solid preparation. In the meantime, aspirants can review NEET question papers from previous years to obtain a decent sense of the level of difficulty.
Previous year's NEET difficulty level, subject-wise:
Every year, experts analyze the difficulty level of the exam, and according to them, the NEET 2023 difficulty level was considered moderate. In the previous year’s exam, many questions were NCERT-based, and the chemistry part was the easiest. Here is the complete analysis of the previous year’s question paper, subject-wise:
NEET 2023 Physics Analysis:
- NEET exam difficulty level: Easy to Moderate
- Numerical questions make up 78% of the paper, which is more than in previous NEET-UG 2022 exam years.
- Unfortunately, because one of the four possibilities was worded incorrectly, the question is inaccurate.
- There are no questions in the Physics section that go beyond the NCERT syllabus; the entire section is based on it.
- Section B contains relatively difficult questions.
- In Section A, there are two statement-based questions.
- Physics has the same level of difficulty as the NEET-UG 2022 exam, but because it contains more numerical questions, it is a little bit longer.
NEET 2023 Chemistry Analysis:
- NEET exam difficulty level: moderate, but had some challenging problems.
- NEET exam difficulty level: moderate, but had some challenging problems.
- NCERT has modified the statements in multiple ways.
- Sections A and B present the concept of assertion-reason-type questions. Correct answers to such questions require a thorough knowledge of the topics.
- There were just six numerical problems in the question paper, and most of them were theory-based.
- Because the questions rely on conceptual understanding, the chemistry part is a little longer.
- There was an equal distribution of questions among physical chemistry, organic chemistry, and inorganic chemistry.
- The section consisted of only six numerical questions.
- When compared with the NEET UG 2022 question paper, the ratio of assertion-reason type questions was high, and there were fewer matrix-match questions.
NEET 2023 Botany Analysis:
- NEET exam difficulty level: moderate to difficult.
- The majority of the questions took more time to complete.
- There were only a few questions that were outside of the NCERT syllabus, but the majority were within the NCERT syllabus.
- Some of the questions were given in the NCERT books.
- Most of the questions were factual, with a few concept-based questions.
- The majority of the questions were statement-based and assertion-reason-type.
- When compared with NEET UG 2022, there were no incorrect questions.
NEET 2023 Zoology Analysis:
- NEET exam difficulty level: easy to moderate
- This section was also time-consuming and lengthy. It included match-the-column-type and statement-based questions.
- At first, some questions seemed simple, but while solving them, they became complex and required a lot of focus.
- NCERT placed a strong emphasis on the Zoology section.
- The majority of the Class 11th syllabus's questions come from the chapters that make up Unit: Human Physiology. Many of the questions come from the Class 12 syllabus's Biotechnology and Reproduction Units.
source: Aakash Institue
Comparison of NEET Exam 2023 and 2024 Difficulty Levels:
When comparing both NEET 2023 and 2024 difficulty levels, it will be similar to the previous year’s question paper. All the sections are almost going to carry a moderate level of difficulty this year, creating a balance.
| Comparison of NEET 2023 and 2024 Difficulty Levels | ||
| Factors | NEET 2023 | NEET 2024 |
| Difficulty level | Moderate to Difficult | Similar to NEET 2023 |
| Distribution of questions | Balanced | Balanced |
| Toughest section | Physics | Physics |
| Easiest section | Biology | Biology |
| Syllabus | NCERT + State Board | NCERT + State Board |
| Level of competition | High | High |
| Quality of questions | Good | Good |
source: Physics Wallah
Additionally, candidates should stay informed about any changes to the exams by visiting the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) official website.
Factors Affecting NEET Exam Difficulty Level 2024:
Various factors can affect the NEET exam difficulty level, like changes in the exam pattern, more registrations, subject-wise, and many more. Here are some of the factors that will significantly affect the level of difficulty:
- The physics section has seen a significant growth in the level of difficulty over the years. While revising, students should focus on the formulas, principles, and problem-solving techniques more precisely.
- Most people consider the biology portion to be simpler than physics and chemistry. So, focus on learning and remembering key biological ideas, such as ecology, genetics, and human anatomy.
- The chemistry part is often considered tough when compared with physics and biology. So, do your best to learn concepts and use chemical principles to solve issues efficiently.
- One of the important points the candidates should keep in mind is that, as per the latest update, the NTA has increased the time limit for attempts. It may affect the NEET exam difficulty level, according to experts. Earlier, the exam duration was 3 hours, but now it is 3 hours and 20 minutes.
- The last and most important thing is your preparation. For some candidates, the NEET exam difficulty level is different from others, which says a lot about how well-prepared they were.
NEET Exam Pattern 2024:
According to the NEET medical exam, every subject carries a weight of 180 marks. Here’s the detailed pattern for the NEET Exam 2024:
| NEET Exam Pattern 2024 | |||||
| Sr. No. | Subject(s) | Section(s) | No. Of Question(s) | Mark(s) (Each Question Carries 04 (Four) Marks) | Type Of Question(s) |
| 1. | PHYSICS | SECTION A | 35 | 140 | MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions). |
| SECTION B | 15 | 40 | |||
| 2. | CHEMISTRY | SECTION A | 35 | 140 | |
| SECTION B | 15 | 40 | |||
| 3. | BOTANY | SECTION A | 35 | 140 | |
| SECTION B | 15 | 40 | |||
| 4. | ZOOLOGY | SECTION A | 35 | 140 | |
| SECTION B | 15 | 40 | |||
| – | – | TOTAL MARKS | 720 | – | |
source: Physics Wallah
Conclusion:
Over the years, numerous students have been taking NEETs, and every year there has always been some variation in the difficulty level. But out of all the preparation, the student’s preparation stands out regardless of the NEET exam difficulty level. If you have studied hard, taken plenty of practice exams, and studied the curriculum in detail, you should find it easier to handle. So, keep yourself updated and focus on your preparation.
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All the very best for your NEET examination in 2024!
