NEET 2027 negative marking: NTA shares tips to reduce loss of marks

The National Testing Agency (NTA) today, 22 October 2026, released tips for aspirants of the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Exam (NEET) 2027 to help them reduce negative marking and improve their final scores. NEET is a competitive medical entrance examination for admission to MBBS, BDS, and other medical courses across India.

Understanding how to reduce negative marking is considered as crucial as covering the syllabus for NEET 2027 aspirants, as negative marking can significantly impact overall results. The NTA introduced this system to discourage random guessing and reward students who answer with confidence.

NEET 2027 Examination Structure and Marking Scheme

The NEET UG 2027 examination is tentatively scheduled to be conducted on 02 May 2027. Candidates can expect the admit card in the last week of April 2027, with results likely to be declared in June 2027. The exam consists of three subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany & Zoology).

The NEET 2027 exam paper will have a total of 200 questions, from which candidates must answer 180 questions, leading to a maximum score of 720 marks. According to the current NEET marking scheme, four marks are awarded for each correct answer, while one mark is deducted for every incorrect answer. No marks are deducted for unanswered questions. If multiple answers are marked for a question, one mark is deducted. The marking scheme of +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect, and 0 for unattempted has remained consistent across recent NEET cycles, as indicated by the NEET 2026 information bulletin.

Strategies to Minimise Negative Marking

The NTA highlights that negative marking is applicable to all sections in NEET: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Overconfidence can lead to careless mistakes, while spending too much time on one question can affect speed and overall outcome. Answering questions at the last minute increases the chances of errors, and an anxious or panicked mind tends to commit more mistakes. The formula to compute NEET scores is: (Correct answers X 4), (Incorrect answers X 1).

For instance, if a candidate attempts 160 questions, answers 140 correctly, and 20 incorrectly, their score would be (140 x 4) – (20 x 1) = 560 – 20 = 540. A blank answer retains 0 marks, whereas an incorrect guess results in a deduction of one mark. Candidates are advised to attempt a question only when they are 60-70% confident in their answer.

Further reading

• Bihar NEET UG 2026 stray round registration begins today; apply by October 21
• NEET UG Stray Round 2026 registration opens for Haryana MBBS, BDS seats; apply by October 19
• NEET application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply Next step
• CUET 2027: Register by November 25
• KCET registration 2027 to open tentatively in January, application fee details
• KEAM 2026: Apply for 84 MBBS, 106 BDS stray seats. CEE to announce dates Applications open

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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