NTA Rewinds the Clock: NEET 2025 Dumps Optional Questions, Brings Back Rigid 180/180 Format

 

NTA Rewinds the Clock: NEET 2025 Dumps Optional Questions, Brings Back Rigid 180/180 Format

In a significant policy reversal, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced that NEET 2025 will return to its earlier rigid format — 180 questions for 180 marks with no optional questions. This change marks the end of the flexibility introduced during the pandemic years when aspirants were given choices within sections to ease the burden caused by disrupted education.

The new guidelines mean that candidates must now answer all 180 questions — 45 each from Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology — leaving no room for skipping or selecting preferred questions. The move has triggered mixed reactions among NEET aspirants, coaching institutions, and educational experts across the country.

What Was the Optional Question Pattern?

During NEET 2021–2024, the NTA allowed candidates to attempt any 10 out of 15 questions in Section B of each subject. This meant:

Students had the flexibility to leave out tricky or time-consuming questions.

Coaching institutes focused more on high-scoring topics.

Students with weaker conceptual understanding had some breathing space.

This system was introduced as a temporary measure to support students affected by the pandemic's academic disruptions.

NEET 2025 Format: What's New (or Old)?

180 Questions Mandatory (No optional questions)

Total Marks: 720

Subjects Covered: Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology (45 questions each)

Marking Scheme: +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect

Time Limit: 3 hours

The NTA has confirmed that this pattern is finalised and will remain in place for NEET 2025.

Why This Sudden Rollback?

The NTA has cited three major reasons for removing optional questions:

1. Standardisation: Optional questions were leading to variation in difficulty level, making it harder to maintain uniformity in evaluation.

2. Paper-setting complexity: It was difficult to design multiple sets of optional questions with equal difficulty, which could lead to legal challenges.

3. Misuse of Flexibility: Some coaching institutes were exploiting the pattern by preparing students to skip entire topics, diluting the core intent of the syllabus.

Reactions from the Ground

Students: The change has led to anxiety for many students who had adapted to the optional question model. Now, they must strengthen their weaker areas, leaving no room to “leave out” topics.

Coaching Institutes: Many centres like Aakash, Allen, and Physics Wallah are now revising their test series, focusing on full syllabus coverage rather than selective strengths.

Experts: Some educators feel the move is positive, as it promotes comprehensive learning, while others feel it might disadvantage average performers.

A Historical Flashback: NEET Pattern Timeline

2013–2020: NEET followed a rigid 180-question format.

2021–2024: Optional questions were introduced post-COVID.

2025: Full rollback to the original format.

This return to roots seems to signal a "back to basics" approach from the NTA, focusing on rigour, depth, and consistency.

Advantages of the New 180/180 Pattern

1. Level playing field: All students are evaluated on the same 180 questions.

2. Encourages full syllabus study: No shortcuts or guesswork.

3. Better merit differentiation: Avoids multiple toppers with the same score.

4. Smoother paper-setting and evaluation: Reduces complexity and legal ambiguity.

Disadvantages for Aspirants

1. More pressure: Students cannot skip weak areas.

2. Time crunch: Requires strategic management of difficult questions.

3. Increase in student stress levels: Many relied on optional questions to ease pressure.

4. Greater coaching dependency: Average students may need extra support now.

Who Benefits from This Change?

Top-tier students with consistent preparation across all subjects.

Coaching institutes that specialise in full syllabus preparation.

Students from strong academic backgrounds with robust conceptual clarity.

Who May Be Affected Negatively?

Students who relied on smart selection strategies.

Rural or under-resourced students who focus only on scoring topics.

Repeaters who had trained under the old optional system.

The Bigger Picture: What Lies Ahead?

This change comes amid a series of dramatic NEET 2025 reforms:

Reduction of exam time back to 3 hours

Random draw in tie-breaker cases

Talk of dual-phase exam models

Five cities removed as NEET centres

APAAR card not mandatory for registration

The education system is clearly undergoing a transformation — aiming to bring more rigour, standardisation, and seriousness to one of the most competitive exams in the world.

Conclusion: Is This the Right Move?

While the return to the 180/180 format may seem regressive to some, it aligns with the core intent of NEET — to test a student’s holistic understanding. The optional questions were always a temporary relief, and their removal now sets a new tone for academic discipline.

However, it's important that along with stricter exam formats, students also receive better mental health support, accessible resources, and transparent evaluation systems.

The message from the NTA is clear: There are no shortcuts to success. Not anymore.

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