NEET physics exam pattern
| Feature | Details (latest official pattern) |
|---|---|
| Physics questions | 45 compulsory multiple-choice questions |
| Physics marks | 180 out of 720 |
| Marking | +4 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong answer, 0 if unanswered |
| Whole paper | 180 questions in 180 minutes: Physics 45, Chemistry 45, Biology 90 |
| Syllabus | Class 11 and Class 12 physics, based on NCERT |
This is the pattern of the latest official NEET UG paper. At the time of writing, NTA had not published a bulletin for NEET 2027. Always check the official bulletin and syllabus at neet.nta.nic.in before you finalise your plan.
Chapter-wise guide to NEET physics
The syllabus has 20 units. The table shows what each unit usually tests and where to practise on eduPhysics. The topics are based on patterns in past papers, not official weightage, because NTA does not publish topic weightage.
| Unit | What NEET usually tests | Practise |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Physics and measurement | Units, dimensions, significant figures, error propagation, least count | Screw gauge hub |
| 2. Kinematics | Equations of motion, v–t and x–t graphs, projectile motion, relative velocity | PYQs |
| 3. Laws of motion | Friction, connected bodies, inclined planes, circular motion, impulse | PYQs |
| 4. Work, energy and power | Work–energy theorem, spring energy, collisions, power | PYQs |
| 5. Rotational motion | Moment of inertia, torque, angular momentum, rolling | PYQs |
| 6. Gravitation | Variation of g, escape and orbital velocity, satellites, Kepler’s laws | PYQs |
| 7. Solids and liquids | Elasticity, Bernoulli, viscosity, surface tension, thermal expansion, heat transfer | PYQs |
| 8. Thermodynamics | First law, P–V processes, Carnot engine, efficiency | PYQs |
| 9. Kinetic theory | RMS speed, degrees of freedom, specific heats, mean free path | PYQs |
| 10. Oscillations and waves | SHM, spring and pendulum, Doppler effect, pipes, beats, standing waves | PYQs |
| 11. Electrostatics | Coulomb’s law, Gauss’s law, potential, dipoles, capacitors with dielectrics | PYQs |
| 12. Current electricity | Kirchhoff’s laws, meter bridge, potentiometer, cells, drift velocity, power | Current electricity hub |
| 13. Magnetism | Lorentz force, Biot–Savart law, Ampere’s law, torque, galvanometer, magnetic materials | Magnetism hub |
| 14. EMI and AC | Faraday and Lenz laws, motional emf, LCR circuits, resonance, transformers | EMI hub |
| 15. Electromagnetic waves | Order of the spectrum, properties, relations between E, B and c | PYQs |
| 16. Optics | Mirrors, lenses, prism, total internal reflection, instruments, YDSE, polarisation | PYQs |
| 17. Dual nature | Photoelectric effect, graphs, stopping potential, de Broglie wavelength | Dual nature hub |
| 18. Atoms and nuclei | Bohr model, spectral series, radioactivity, binding energy, fission and fusion | Fission & fusion post |
| 19. Electronic devices | Diodes, rectifiers, Zener diode, transistors, logic gates | PYQs |
| 20. Experimental skills | Vernier, screw gauge, meter bridge, potentiometer, lens, prism, diode | Practical viva hub |
A study strategy for NEET physics
- Build the base from NCERTRead each chapter, note every formula and work through the in-text examples and exercises.
- Practise chapter by chapterAfter each chapter, solve MCQs and previous year questions on that chapter before moving on.
- Revise with a formula sheetGo through your formulas daily, and recall them without looking before you check.
- Take timed mock testsPractise full papers under exam conditions, and review every wrong answer afterwards.
Managing time and negative marking
Time
The paper gives you 180 minutes for 180 questions, which is one minute per question on average. Physics numericals often take longer than theory questions, so plan a time budget for each subject during your mock tests, and skip any question that is taking too long.
Negative marking
A wrong answer costs 1 mark and a correct one earns 4. A blind guess among four options has an expected gain of only 0.25 marks, so it is not worth relying on. If you can eliminate at least one option with a clear reason, attempting the question is worthwhile.
How to use PYQs well
- Solve by chapter first. Attempt all the previous year questions of one chapter, so you see the question types and the usual traps.
- Time yourself. Aim for about a minute for a theory question and a little longer for a numerical.
- Keep an error log. Record each mistake and sort it by cause: concept gap, calculation slip, careless error or lack of time.
- Revisit the log weekly. Retry the questions you got wrong after a week, without looking at the solution.
- Solve full papers later. Once the chapters are done, attempt complete past papers in 45 questions and the time you have set for physics.
| Question | Chapter | Mistake type | What to fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example | Current electricity | Concept gap | Revise Kirchhoff’s loop rule and sign convention |
| Example | Optics | Calculation slip | Use the sign convention for u and f before substituting |
Sample NEET-style MCQs with solutions
Try each question first, then click to see the answer.
Q1. A proton moves at 2 × 10⁶ m/s perpendicular to a magnetic field of 0.1 T. What is the radius of its path?
- (A) 0.021 m
- (B) 0.21 m
- (C) 2.1 m
- (D) 21 m
Answer: (B). r = mv/qB = (1.67 × 10⁻²⁷ × 2 × 10⁶) / (1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ × 0.1) ≈ 0.21 m.
Q2. Resistors of 10 Ω and 20 Ω are connected in parallel. What is the equivalent resistance?
- (A) 30 Ω
- (B) 15 Ω
- (C) 6.67 Ω
- (D) 5 Ω
Answer: (C). R = (10 × 20)/(10 + 20) = 200/30 ≈ 6.67 Ω.
Q3. Light of wavelength 400 nm falls on a metal of work function 2.3 eV. What is the stopping potential?
- (A) 0.4 V
- (B) 0.8 V
- (C) 1.6 V
- (D) 3.1 V
Answer: (B). Photon energy = 1240/400 = 3.1 eV. Kmax = 3.1 − 2.3 = 0.8 eV, so V₀ = 0.8 V.
Q4. Two projectiles are launched with the same speed at 30° and 60°. What is the ratio of their ranges?
- (A) 1 : 2
- (B) 1 : 1
- (C) 1 : √3
- (D) 2 : 1
Answer: (B). R = u² sin2θ / g. Since sin 60° = sin 120°, the two ranges are equal.
Q5. A radioactive sample falls to 1/16 of its original amount in 40 days. What is its half-life?
- (A) 5 days
- (B) 10 days
- (C) 20 days
- (D) 40 days
Answer: (B). 1/16 = (1/2)⁴, so 4 half-lives = 40 days and T½ = 10 days.
Q6. A Carnot engine works between 600 K and 300 K. What is its efficiency?
- (A) 25%
- (B) 33%
- (C) 50%
- (D) 100%
Answer: (C). η = 1 − T₂/T₁ = 1 − 300/600 = 0.5, or 50%.
Q7. Statement I: A magnetic force does no work on a moving charge. Statement II: The magnetic force is always perpendicular to the velocity.
- (A) Both true, and II explains I
- (B) Both true, but II does not explain I
- (C) I true, II false
- (D) I false, II true
Answer: (A). Because the force is perpendicular to the velocity, the displacement along the force is zero, so no work is done.
NEET physics FAQs
How many physics questions are there in NEET?
In the latest official pattern there are 45 physics questions worth 180 marks, out of a total of 180 questions and 720 marks. All questions are compulsory.
Is NCERT enough for NEET physics?
The syllabus is based on the NCERT Class 11 and 12 textbooks, so NCERT is the essential base. To score well you also need plenty of practice with previous year questions and extra MCQs, because the paper tests how you apply the concepts.
Which physics chapters are the most important for NEET?
NTA does not publish topic-wise weightage, so any list of the “most important” chapters is only an estimate from past papers. A safer approach is to cover all 20 units and put extra effort into the ones where your PYQ error log shows the most mistakes.
How should I handle negative marking in physics?
Each wrong answer costs 1 mark. Attempt a question when you can justify your answer, or can eliminate at least one option for a clear reason. Practise this in timed mock tests, and do not guess blindly.
How do I remember so many physics formulas?
Keep one formula sheet, revise it a little every day, and write each formula from memory before you check it. Link each formula to a numerical you have solved, so that you remember how it is used.
Has the NEET 2027 pattern been announced?
At the time of writing, NTA had not released a bulletin for NEET UG 2027, so the latest official pattern is the one on this page. Check the official bulletin at neet.nta.nic.in when it is published.