NEET PG Exam Pattern 2026 - Marking Scheme, Questions Type, Exam Mode

If you are a NEET PG 2026 aspirant and are giving your 100% to the preparation, you must know that it is no small feat. A competitive exam like this requires a well-thought-out strategy.

First things first, you must understand the exam pattern, syllabus, and marks distribution. If you wish to focus on the right topics, manage your time, and streamline your preparation, understanding the basics is crucial 

In this bog, we have included all the insights into the latest NEET PG exam pattern, subject wise weightage, and other details. Read further for all the information. 

Subject-Wise Weightage for NEET PG 2026

If you are preparing for NEET PG 2026, you must be aware of the fact that it is never about how many hours you put in. It is more about how effectively you leverage whatever time you get. Everyone gets the same amount of hours in a day/ But, what makes a topper stand out is how much of their effort and dedication they invest in when it comes to high yield subjects. 

With typically 200 questions spread across 19 subjects, every aspirant has one question in mind. Where should I spend most of my time? 

To be able to answer this question, it’s crucial that you understand subject-ise weightage. Not every subject should be given equal importance. While subjects like Medicine and Surgery can decide half your score, others like Ophthalmology and ENT might have fewer questions. However, the latter subjects can still make a big difference when it comes to rank. 

If you plan according to the actual distribution, you are preparing smarter to ace the exam like a pro. 

NEET PG 2026 Subject-Wise Weightage

Based on recent exam trends, here’s the approximate subject-wise breakdown for NEET PG 2026:

• Anatomy (15–17 questions) – Moderately important; often tested through applied and image-based questions.
• Physiology (15–17 questions) – Moderately important; cardiac and respiratory physiology remain favorites.
• Biochemistry (12–15 questions) – Moderate; metabolic pathways, enzymes, and molecular biology are high-yield.
• Pathology (25 questions) – High importance; both conceptual and image-based questions are frequent.
• Pharmacology (20 questions) – High importance; antimicrobials, mechanisms of action, and side effects dominate.
• Microbiology (20 questions) – High importance; bacteriology, virology, and immunology are repeatedly tested.
• Forensic Medicine (10 questions) – Lower weightage but easy scoring if revised well.
• Social & Preventive Medicine (25 questions) – High importance; epidemiology, biostatistics, and national programs are must-do.
• General Medicine (including Dermatology & Psychiatry) (45–50 questions) – Very high importance; cardiology, neurology, infectious diseases, and systemic medicine are all heavily tested.
• General Surgery (including Orthopedics & Anesthesia) (45 questions) – Very high importance; trauma, GI surgery, orthopedics basics, and perioperative care feature regularly.
• Pediatrics (15 questions) – Moderate; vaccines, growth & development, and neonatology are crucial.
• Obstetrics & Gynecology (30–35 questions) – High importance; labor, obstetric emergencies, and gynecological malignancies are frequently asked.
• ENT (10 questions) – Low weightage; quick revision can fetch easy marks.
• Ophthalmology (10 questions) – Low weightage but image-based questions are common.
• Radiology (12–15 questions) – Moderate; X-rays, CT, and MRI image identification are frequent.
• Orthopedics (10 questions) – Low weightage; fractures and bone tumors are exam favorites.
• Dermatology (8–10 questions) – Moderate; image-based questions on common skin disorders.
• Psychiatry (8–10 questions) – Moderate; diagnostic criteria and common therapies are tested.
• Anesthesia (8–10 questions) – Moderate; basics of anesthesia, CPR, and perioperative care are key.

In total, the paper will have ~200 questions, with clinical and image-based cases forming a significant portion.

How to Use the Weightage in Your Preparation

Understanding the numbers is only half the battle. The real trick is knowing how to plan around them.

Allocate Time Proportionally

As all the subjects don’t hold equal importance in the exam, you must also not treat all the subjects equally. It’s advised that you spend maximum time on subjects including Medicine, Surgery, OBSGYN, Pathology, Pharmacology, and PSM. These subjects are known to cover half the paper. 

And short subjects like ENT, Ophthalmology, Forensic Medicine might smell small and insignificant but they can help you score extra crucial marks if you revise them strategically in the final weeks. 

Focus on Integration

Recent NEET PG papers are highly integrated. For example, a clinical case of pneumonia may require knowledge of Medicine, Microbiology, and Pharmacology in a single question. So, study in a way that connects subjects rather than treating them in isolation.

Rely on PYQs as a Guide

Previous year questions aren’t just practice—they are a roadmap. Many concepts repeat year after year. Antimicrobial drugs in Pharmacology, reproductive physiology in OBG, or cardiac conditions in Medicine are recurring themes that should always be high on your list.

Revise Short Subjects Before the Exam

Unlike common thinking, short subjects can act as rank differentiators. Just a quick 10-15 day quick revision cycle for subjects including Ophthalmology, ENT, Forensic Medicine, and Dermatology can do wonders to your score. 

Wrapping Up

If you wish to succeed in NEET PG 2026, give up on the perception of reading everything under the sun. You should focus on revising what matters the most and in the most effective manner. 

Once you understand the subject-wise weightage, you can easily plan your study hours ina  way that maximises marks and minimizes wasted effort. 

You must focus on high weightage subjects, revise short subjects, and use previous years’ questions to stay exam-oriented. 

NEET PG 2025 Exam Pattern

What is the Marking Scheme in NEET PG 2025?

The NEET PG 2025 exam is expected to comprise of 5 sections, each section containing 40 questions, with 42 minutes allocated for each section. 

Each question carries 4 marks for the correct answer and -1 for the incorrect answer. There are no marks for unanswered questions.

Students can mark any attempted or unattempted question for review while giving the examination. Before the end of the exam, you can go back to review the marked questions and answer them. It must be noted that questions marked for review will be assessed as per the marking scheme mentioned above.

NEET PG Subject-Wise Weightage

The NEET PG exam comprises 5 sections, each containing 40 questions that will be asked from the MBBS curriculum. Subject-wise weightage in NEET PG is mentioned in the table below:

Latest Exam Pattern

The important details regarding the upcoming NEET PG exam pattern are mentioned below:

• Exam Date: To be Announced
• Exam Mode: NEET PG is a computer-based exam conducted in English only. The questions are multiple-choice.
• Duration of Exam: 3 hours 30 mins
• Total marks: NEET PG 2025 will consist of multiple-choice questions, and the maximum marks are 800.
• Total number of questions & marks: As per the latest NEET PG exam pattern, The exam comprises 5 sections, each containing 40 questions, that makes it 200 questions in total. Each question carries 4 marks, with a negative marking of -1 for every incorrect answer.
• Sections: The question paper will be divided into three sections.
• Syllabus: The syllabus for the examination will include all 19 subjects from the MBBS curriculum.

Also read our blogs on high-yield topics (subject-wise) for NEET PG Preparation:

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