NEET (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Exam) is a highly competitive medical entrance exam that assures the fulfilment of your dream as a doctor. The exam is conducted by the NTA (National Test Agency) for admission to medical courses across the country. Negative marking plays a significant role in the total score as you lose one mark for every wrong answer. 

In this article, we will discuss some strategies that will help you to minimise the negative marking in the NEET 2025 preparation and achieve a good rank.

NEET 2025: Marking Scheme

NEET Question paper consists of 200 questions out of which students are required to attempt 180 questions. 50 questions are asked from each subject (Physics, Chemistry, Botany, & Zoology). The detailed marking scheme of the NEET 2025 exam paper is as follows:

Total Number of Questions	180
Marks for Each Question	4
Negative Marks	-1
Total Marks	720

Negative Marking Impact on NEET 2025 Score

The negative marking in the NEET exam will have the following consequences on the overall score:

1. Reduction in total marks: If you get a wrong answer you will lose one mark for each question which will reduce your overall score and hence the rank. Suppose you attempt 10 incorrect answers then you have to lose 10 marks from your total score.
2. Impact on the qualifying marks: Negative marking affects not just the final score but also the minimal qualifying marks for admission to medical colleges. Falling short of the required qualifying marks due to deductions from negative markings may limit your chances of being accepted for a medical seat in the best universities.
3. Wastage of Hard Work: You have worked hard to achieve success in the NEET exam but your hard work will wasted if you lose in attempting wrong answers. Therefore, you should think twice before marking the answers in the OMR sheet while attempting the NEET exam paper.

10 Tested Strategies to Minimise Negative Marking

Know Your Exam Pattern

Familiarise yourself with the latest NEET exam pattern including the type of questions, sections, marking scheme and time duration. Understanding the exam pattern can help you devise a strategy to get a good score and reduce the impact of negative marking.

Read the Question Carefully

Don’t be in a hurry! Read the questions carefully until you understand and can answer them correctly. If you doubt the answer leave it, as it can cost your marks. Take your time and go through the question paper before starting the exam.

Practice for Perfection

Practicing for the NEET is very important. Attempt as many questions as you can to become familiar with the type of questions asked in the exam. Solve previous year question papers, attend mock sessions, and test series to become a pro in solving multiple choice questions. Furthermore, this will help you in the identification of your strengths and weaknesses and overcoming them before the exam.

Avoid Gussess

Don’t answer by guessing it will reduce the overall score. Attempt only those questions for which you are sure the answer is correct. It is better to leave the questions as no marks are deducted for the incorrect answers. 

Turn Your Weaknesses into Strengths

Identify the areas where you most probably make mistakes. Work on your weaknesses and turn them into strengths so that the chance of making mistakes can be reduced and hence the impact of the negative marking. 

Time Management

The duration of the NEET exam is 3 hours and 20 minutes. Utilize the time effectively and leave some time for revision. Appropriate time allocation gives you enough time to complete the paper without hassle. To learn time management you must attempt last year’s papers, mock sessions, and test series in the simulated environment.

Seek Guidance

If you are troubled with the negative marking and its impact on your overall marks seek expert guidance from reputed NEET classes and clear your doubts before the exam. The expert tips for answering the multiple choice questions are useful for minimizing the negative marking.

Postpone the Challenging Problems

If you are stuck in between the challenging problem just leave it that time and come back once you finish the whole exam paper. It will save time which can be utilized to earn more marks in the other questions. 

Be Calm

Nervousness can lead to more mistakes. Stay calm and composed while solving the NEET exam paper. With more concentration, you can attempt the paper more effectively and make an informed decision in answering the questions.

Be Informed

It is critical to stay informed of the recent changes and updates to the NEET exam format and syllabus. This will help you prepare for any changes in the exam format and give you a clear picture of what to expect in the exam. This will allow you to reduce the negative impact of inaccurate answers.

Conclusion

NEET is considered one of the most competitive exams for medical students. Preparing for the exam is very important and keeping an eye on the impact of the negative marking can give you good scoring. IIB Career Institute offers NEET classes for 11, 12, and repeaters in all branches Akola, Nanded, Chattrapati Shambhaji Nagar, Kolhapur, Latur, and Pune (Pimpri, FC Road, and Camp). The institute has a team of expert faculty who are capable of handling all the queries and doubts related to the NEET exam.