NEET PG exam pattern: questions, sections, timing and marking
The official 2025 pattern, what was reported for 2026, and what has not been confirmed. Check the latest NBEMS bulletin before you rely on any number.
NBEMS publishes the NEET PG pattern in each year’s Information Bulletin on natboard.edu.in. We read the 2025 bulletin directly. The 2026 bulletin could not be retrieved, so 2026 figures below are as reported by news sites. The 2027 pattern has not been announced.
How many questions are in NEET PG?
| Item | NEET PG 2025 (official bulletin) | NEET PG 2026 (as reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 200 MCQs | 180 MCQs, four options, English only (Medical Dialogues, quoting the 2026 bulletin) |
| Total marks | 800 | 720 (Careers360, from the result) |
| Duration | 3 hours 30 minutes | 3 hours 30 minutes (news reports) |
| Sections | 5 sections, A to E, 40 questions each | Not confirmed |
| Time per section | 42 minutes | Not confirmed |
| Shifts | Two shifts were originally planned | One shift (news reports) |
The 2026 section count is not confirmed. Do not assume the 2025 structure simply scaled down.
What are time-bound sections?
Under the 2025 bulletin, the paper was split into five sections, A to E. Each had 40 questions and its own 42-minute time limit. Once a section’s time ended, you could not return to it.
This changes how you manage time. You cannot “bank” spare minutes from an easy section and spend them on a hard one later. Each block of time has to be used inside its own section.
What is the NEET PG marking scheme?
| Response | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct answer | +4 |
| Incorrect answer | −1 |
| Not attempted | 0 |
This is from the 2025 bulletin. News reports say it was unchanged for 2026. A wrong answer costs a quarter of what a right answer gains, which is 25% negative marking.
Is it worth guessing in NEET PG?
The arithmetic on a four-option question:
| Your position | Average marks from answering |
|---|---|
| Blind guess (1 in 4) | +0.25 |
| One option ruled out (1 in 3) | about +0.67 |
| Two options ruled out (1 in 2) | +1.5 |
A blind guess gains very little on average and adds risk. Ruling out options for a real reason changes the odds quickly.
Is NEET PG a computer-based test?
Yes. NEET PG is a computer-based test held on a single day. Practise on screen, with a timer per section, so the format is not new on exam day.
What does the paper cover?
The whole MBBS course, as set out in the NMC’s Graduate Medical Education Regulations. The syllabus page lists the subjects.
What to read next
- Eligibility: MBBS, registration and the internship cut-off.
- Cutoff: qualifying percentiles and the reported 2026 scores.
- Preparation strategy: how to plan for time-locked sections.
TestGuru’s NEET PG mock tests are not open yet. When they are, they will follow the current official pattern.