The NEET UG 2026 exam is being conducted today (May 3) by the National Testing Agency (NTA), and candidates can expect the release of unofficial answer keys and solutions shortly after the exam, followed by the official answer key in the coming days.
Answer Key & Question Paper Updates
Coaching institutes will first release memory-based answer keys and solutions (code-wise PDFs) to help students estimate their scores. The official NTA answer key is expected to be released within 10–15 days after the exam on the official website.
Candidates will also be able to download their OMR response sheets and match answers to calculate expected marks.
How to Calculate NEET Score
- +4 marks for each correct answer
- -1 mark for each incorrect answer
- 0 marks for unanswered questions
This allows students to predict their probable rank even before results are announced.
Expected Cut-Off 2026
Based on early analysis and past trends:
- General/EWS (50th percentile): ~686 to 144 marks
- OBC/SC/ST (40th percentile): ~143 to 113 marks
Other estimates suggest:
- General qualifying marks could be around 135+
- Reserved categories around 107+
Safe Score for MBBS
For top government MBBS colleges, a safe score is expected to be much higher due to intense competition:
- General category: ~650–700
- OBC: ~590–640
- SC: ~520–570
Exam Pattern
The NEET 2026 paper follows the standard format:
- 180 questions (Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology)
- Total marks: 720
What Happens Next
After the provisional answer key:
- Students can raise objections by paying a fee
- NTA reviews challenges and releases the final answer key
- Results are declared based on the revised key
Key Insight
With over 22 lakh candidates appearing, competition remains extremely high, meaning even small differences in marks can significantly impact rank and admission chances.