Last Updated on January 16, 2026 by Vinod Saini
Becoming a doctor is not just a career choice; for many of us in India, it’s a lifelong dream. But let’s be honest—the path to wearing that white coat is incredibly competitive. Every year, millions of students lose sleep over one massive question: How many marks are required in NEET for MBBS?
It’s not a simple number. The answer changes depending on whether you want a government seat (which is tough!) or a private college, and which category you fall under. If you are confused about “qualifying marks” versus the actual “cutoff for admission,” you are in the right place.
Let’s dig into everything you need to know to secure your spot in medical school.
What is a NEET?
Before we talk numbers, let’s get the basics right. What is a neet?
Simply put, it is the one single entrance test that stands between you and your medical career. In the past, students had to run around writing different exams for different states. Thankfully, that’s over. Now, the neet examination is the unified gateway for admission to MBBS, BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), and other medical programs courses across India.
What does NEET stand for? The NEET full form is the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which ensures the exam is fair and transparent for everyone.
NEET Exam Pattern and Syllabus
You cannot win a game if you don’t understand the rules, right? The neet exam pattern is designed to test your endurance and knowledge.
Here is what the paper looks like:
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Total Marks: 720
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Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany & Zoology).
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Questions: You get 200 questions, but you only have to answer 180.
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The Catch: For every correct answer, you get +4 marks. But be careful—for every wrong answer, you lose 1 mark. Negative marking is the real challenge here.
To score high, you need to practically live and breathe the neet syllabus. It is almost entirely based on the NCERT curriculum for Class 11 and 12. If you master your NCERT textbooks, especially Biology, you are already halfway there.
![Detailed Chart showing Subject-wise Weightage in NEET]
Registration to Exam Hall
The journey officially begins when you fill out your form. You need to keep an eye on the neet registration dates released on the official website. Make sure you fill in your details carefully because errors can cause headaches later.
Once you are registered, the NTA will eventually release the neet admit card. Treat this document like gold. It is your entry ticket to the exam center. Without it, you will not be allowed to sit for the test, so keep multiple copies safe until your admission is totally finished.
The Ultimate Goal: The MBBS Degree
Why go through all this stress? For the prestigious MBBS degree.
But what is MBBS? It stands for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. The mbbs full form actually comes from Latin words (Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae). It is a 5.5-year commitment—4.5 years of studying hard and 1 year of internship where you actually learn how to treat patients. Securing mbbs admission is just step one of a long, rewarding life of service.
So, How Many Marks are Required in NEET for MBBS?
Okay, let’s get to the part you are really here for. The marks you need depend entirely on your target.
1. Just Passing (Qualifying NEET Cutoff)
There is a difference between “passing” and “getting a seat.” The NEET Cutoff for qualification is just the minimum score required to be eligible to apply.
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General/EWS: 50th Percentile (Usually falls between 164–720 marks)
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OBC/SC/ST: 40th Percentile (Usually 129–163 marks)
When the nta neet result comes out, if you have crossed this score, you have qualified. But sadly, this score alone won’t get you a government college.
2. The Safe Score for Government Colleges
This is where the real competition happens. Government colleges are affordable and prestigious.
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General Category: To be safe for an All India Quota seat, you really need to aim for 655+ marks. If you are dreaming of top-tier colleges like AIIMS, the bar is even higher—think 710+ marks.
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OBC/EWS: It is very similar to the General category. Aim for 650+ marks to be safe.
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SC/ST: The cutoff is lower, usually around 550–600+ marks for a decent government seat.
3. Admission to Private Colleges
If you don’t hit the government cutoff, don’t worry. You can still get mbbs admission in private colleges.
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Top Private Colleges: These are still competitive and usually require 550–600 marks.
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Deemed Universities/Others: You can often secure a seat with 350–500 marks, but be prepared for significantly higher tuition fees.
NEET Marks vs Rank
Here is a pro tip: Marks aren’t everything; your rank is what gets you the seat. The neet marks vs rank trend has been crazy lately. Students are getting smarter and scoring higher every year.
| Marks Scored | 2020 Rank | 2021 Rank | 2022 Rank | 2023 Rank | 2024 Rank (Shocking) |
| 720 / 720 | Rank 1 | Rank 1 | Rank 1 (715) | Rank 1 | Rank 1 to 17 |
| 700+ | Top 100 | Top 200 | Top 200 | Top 350 | Top 2,250 |
| 650+ | ~4,000 | ~5,000 | ~4,500 | ~7,300 | ~29,000 |
| 600+ | ~20,000 | ~19,000 | ~21,000 | ~29,000 | ~80,000 |
See the drop? Scoring 600 is great, but because so many students score that high, your rank drops down to the 20,000s. This is why accuracy is so important.
[Graph showing the trend of NEET Mark vs Rank inflation over the last 5 years]
Final Thoughts
So, to answer “how many marks are required in NEET for MBBS?”—if you want a government seat, you should target 650 or higher. It sounds tough, but with consistent study and plenty of mock tests, it is absolutely possible.
Stay updated on your neet registration, download your neet admit card on time, and keep your focus on the syllabus. You have got this!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the minimum score required for MBBS in a government college?
For a General category student, a safe score is typically 650+ marks for the All India Quota. State quota cutoffs can be slightly lower, around 620–630 marks, depending on the difficulty of the paper and the state you belong to.
2. Is 400 marks a good score for MBBS admission?
Honestly, 400 marks is usually not enough for a government medical college. However, it is a decent score for admission into private medical colleges or Deemed Universities, provided you are comfortable with the higher fee structure associated with these institutions.
3. What is the difference between qualifying marks and admission cutoff?
Qualifying marks (like getting 164 marks) just mean you passed the exam and can register for counseling. The admission cutoff is the actual score required to get a seat in a college. Basically, qualifying lets you enter the race; the admission cutoff is the finish line.
4. Can I get admission to MBBS with 500 marks?
If you are in the General category, getting a government seat with 500 marks is very difficult. However, if you belong to SC/ST categories or are applying for private colleges under state quotas, you have a much better chance of securing admission.
5. How long is my NEET score valid?
Your NEET score is valid for just one year for admissions in India (for the current academic session). However, if you plan to study MBBS abroad, the Medical Council of India (now NMC) allows the score to be valid for three years.
6. Do the NEET syllabus or pattern change often?
The core NEET syllabus stays mostly the same, covering Class 11 and 12 NCERT topics. However, minor changes happen. Always check the official information bulletin during your neet registration to see if chapters have been added or removed for that specific year.