The National Testing Agency (NTA) has changed the NEET 2025 exam pattern. The optional questions have been removed. Instead of 200 questions, there will now be 180 questions. The total duration of NEET 2025 has been reduced from 200 minutes to 180 minutes or three hours now.

Announcing the same, NTA has stated, “Aspirants are hereby informed that the question paper pattern and examination duration will revert to the pre-COVID format. where there will not be any Section B anymore. Hence, there will be a total of 180 compulsory questions (45 questions each in Physics and Chemistry and 90 in Biology) which will be attempted by the candidates in 180 minutes thereby removing any optional questions and extra time introduced due to COVID.”

NTA has confirmed that the NEET 2025 exam will be conducted in a paper-pencil-based (offline) mode and in a single day and shift. Unlike the speculations indicating that NTA may conduct NEET 2025 exam in online mode and in multiple phases, as per the recommendation of the NTA Expert Committee, the mode and shift of the exam has remained the same as last year. In the official notification dated January 16, 2025, NTA has stated, "As decided by National Medical Commission, it is informed that the NEET (UG) 2025 shall be conducted in Pen and Paper mode (OMR based) in Single day and Single Shift.”