The National Testing Agency has once again concluded the NEET UG exam successfully. The NEET 2025 was conducted on May 04, 2025. With NEET UG 2025 exam now over, applicants and experts are once again comparing the exam paper with the previous year to analyze this year’s cut offs. In this article, we have provided the comparison of NEET 2025 vs NEET 2024 cutoffs along with detailing the factors influencing these cut off trends.
NEET 2025 vs NEET 2024 Cut-off
The NEET 2025 question paper was much more difficult that NEET UG 2024 exam. This leads to the assumption that the NEET 2025 cut off marks will be lower than the last year. Also, the number of candidates registering for NEET UG 2025 was less than in 2024. This year, around 22.7 lakh candidates appeared for NEET exam while in 2024, more than 24 lakh students had appeared. As per experts, the reduced no. of candidates and difficulty question paper makes it highly likely that the NEET UG 2025 cut-off will decrease by 40 to 50 marks in every category.
NEET 2025 vs NEET 2024: How Cut-off Trends Are Evolving
From NEET 2024 to NEET 2025, one is sure to see change in cut off marks and qualifying percentile. The NEET UG cut off marks shows an evolutionary trends that fluctuates every year due to change in exam pattern, difficulty level and competition among candidates. The NEET 2024 qualifying cut off was 720-162, SC/ST/for general and 161-127 for OBC, which is expected to decrease this year. The NEET 2025 cut off is expected to be 700 to 135 for general candidates and 134 to 105 for SC/ST/OBC candidates.
NEET 2025 vs NEET 2024 Cut-off Trends
As the question paper difficulty rises, the cut off marks required for admission through NEET UG exam decreases. This years’ question paper was highly difficult, hence, every expert believe that the cut off will decrease, the range varies. Check NEET 2025 vs NEET 2024 cut off below.
| Category | 2024 cutoff | 2025 Cut-off (projection) |
| UR/EWS | 720-162 | 700-135 (slight decrease) |
| OBC | 161-129 | 134-115 (minor decrease) |
| SC | 130-107 | 114-95 (slightly less) |
| ST | 128-107 | 114-95 (similar trend) |
NEET 2025 vs NEET 2024 MBBS Admission Trend
The MBBS admission cut off, both through state quota and All India Quota (AIQ) is expected to decrease this year. Moreover, the experts believe that no student is likely to score full marks, i.e., 720 out of 720 this year. The predicted NEET cut-off for the all-India quota is expected to range from 530 to 560 marks, whereas the cut-off for AIIMS Delhi is forecasted to be between 660 and 670 marks. According to the national academic director (medical), for candidates in the general category, the expected qualifying marks are likely to range from 130 to 150.
NEET 2025 vs NEET 2024: What Changed this Year
This year’s NEET cut off is seeing decrease for the first time in many years due to change in the competition level. The number of candidates have decreased from the last year (a reversing trends observed for the first time in NEET UG), the question paper was highly difficulty (some experts believe most difficult in the last 3-4 decades) and the reversal of exam pattern led to increase in difficulty of the exam.
Factors Influencing NEET 2025 vs NEET 2024 Cut-off Trends
On observing the NEET 2025 and NEET 2024 exam on various parameters, we can conclude that NEET 2025 was a surprising factor, leading to an overall difficult exam experience. Check the changes in NEET 2025 exam that make it tougher than NEET 2024 below.
| Key Observation in NEET 2025 vs NEET 2024 Cut-off Trends | |
| Key Factors | Details |
| Competition Level | – Less number of candidates this year with no. of registered applicants dropping below 23 lakh mark (22.7 lakh candidates). This led to decrease in competition level from the last year |
| Exam Pattern | – The NEET 2025 exam pattern was revised to pre-COVID time with optional questions removed and duration changed to 180 minutes from the earlier time of 200 minutes. Less time to solve question increases the difficulty level, especially for students taking the exam afresh. |
| Difficulty Level | The most determining factor of the change in cut-off trends is difficulty level of NEET question paper. This year’s NEET exam question paper was difficult with extremely difficult Physics section and lengthy Biology section. This ensures decrease in cut off marks. |
| No. or Seats | The MBBS seats have been increased from the previous year. Less candidates and more seats means decreased marks requirement from the last year. |
| State-wise vs. All-India Quota | – State cut-offs vary (e.g., Tamil Nadu, Karnataka have higher cut-offs)
-AIQ cut-offs remain highest for top central institutes -Both cut offs will decrease this year |
| Reservation | – While the cut off marks will decrease across categories, more opportunities will be opened for reserved candidates.
– EWS & OBC candidates will see a decrease in cut-offs. – SC/ST candidates will also see a considerable decrease in cut off marks. |
Trends in NEET UG Cut-off over the Years
| Category | Cut-Off Percentile | Cut- Off 2024 | Cut-Off 2023 | Cut-Off 2022 | Cut-Off 2021 | Cut-Off 2020 | Cut-Off 2019 |
| General/ EWS | 50th | 720-162 | 720-137 | 715-117 | 720-138 | 720-147 | 701-134 |
| General-PH | 45th | 161-144 | 720-137 | 116-105 | 137-122 | 146-129 | 133-120 |
| SC | 40th | 161-127 | 136-107 | 116-93 | 137-108 | 146-113 | 133-107 |
| ST | 40th | 161- 127 | 136-107 | 116-93 | 137-108 | 146-113 | 133-107 |
| OBC | 40th | 161-127 | 136-107 | 116-93 | 137-108 | 146-113 | 133-107 |
| SC-PH/ OBC-PH | 40th | 143-127 | 120-107 | 104-93 | 121-108 | 128-113 | 119-107 |
| ST-PH | 40th | 142-127 | 120-107 | 104-93 | 121-108 | 128-113 | 119-107 |
NEET 2025 Cut-off for Private Medical Co...
Maharashtra NEET Cut-off 2025, Trends an...
NEET Official Answer Key 2025 (Provision...
