What stays the same
The minister said the format and marking will stay as they are: 720 marks across Physics, Chemistry and Biology (Botany and Zoology). On the current pattern, that is 180 questions, +4 for each correct answer and −1 for each wrong one. The syllabus is unchanged, so NCERT remains the base.
What changes
- You read questions on a screen and click answers, instead of shading an OMR sheet.
- With over 20 lakh candidates, a CBT will likely run in multiple shifts. That means different papers for different candidates and a normalisation process for scores. NTA will publish the details in the information bulletin.
- You can change an answer without the worry of an unclean OMR bubble, but you also lose the habit of scanning a printed paper with a pen.
How to adjust your preparation
Begin taking your full mocks on a screen now rather than on paper. Reading long biology statements and chemistry structures on a monitor for three hours feels different, and the adjustment takes weeks, not days. Practise working out physics problems on rough paper while reading from the screen, since that is how it will happen on the day.
Use the question palette (answered, not answered, marked for review) in every mock, so that review becomes a habit rather than something you figure out in the exam hall.
Timeline to expect
Based on recent cycles, registration usually opens around February, with city slips and admit cards in April and the exam in early May. None of the 2027 dates are official yet. Check neet.nta.nic.in for the information bulletin.
Key takeaways
- NEET UG moves to a computer-based test from 2027, as announced by the Education Minister on 15 May 2026.
- The 720-mark format and the syllabus stay the same; multiple shifts with normalisation are likely.
- Start taking full mocks on a screen now. The NEET UG 2027 date is not official yet.
Sources
Dates and patterns change — always confirm on the official website before applying.
