Criteria for application and appearance for the NEET exam June 2018

NEET or the National Entrance cum Eligibility Test, is to be conducted by the National Testing Agency from 2019. The test will be held twice a year, once in February and then again in May. The test aims to evaluate the eligibility of students for admission to medical and dental courses across the country. The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) courses are both of 5 years duration. More than 10 lakh students appear for NEET every year from around the country. The number of seats available in total is around a lakh.

The Medical Council of India will prescribe the syllabus for the NEET exam which will cover Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Bio-technology subjects. The exam consisting of 180 questions is conducted for 3 hours and is compulsorily only in online mode. Questions are of multiple choice and with negative marking.

While the NEET official website has all the required information, this article will try and simplify the major ones.

The online registration for the February exam will start from 1st October 2018 and the application can be accessed on the official website of NTA. It can be submitted till 31st October 2018.

The online registration for the May exam will commence from the second week of March and will be open for a month. A one-time correction window is allowed a month after the application.

Examination Dates:

• February 3rd to 17th, 2019
• May 12th to 26th, 2019

There are 8 dates in each of these periods and candidates can choose the date of their convenience. There is no limit to the number of attempts a candidate can make but upper age limit is 25 years.

The exam can be taken in English or in any one of the 10 Indian languages offered.

Points to note for application:

• Keep your identity proofs handy before beginning to fill your application. Aadhar card is not mandatory but there must be other identity proofs like passport, ration card, etc.
• Application must be done only through the online portal.
• Fees once paid will not be carried over to any future session.
• Any wrongly entered information could render your application rejected.
• Carefully go through the information given in the NTA website regarding how your photograph and signature should be prepared and scanned.

Application Criteria:

• Candidate must have completed 17 years of age.
• He/She must have obtained a minimum of 50% of marks (40% for those outside of General category) in the Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects put together in the Class 12 qualifying examination.
• Those appearing for the qualifying exam in 2019 are also eligible provided they clear the 50% criteria later.
• There is a quota system for people of various categories which can be seen in the website.
• The Online Self Declaration is an important feature and if any information on it is found incorrect or false, it will make your application void.

The NEET admit card can be downloaded only from the NEET website. It is not sent by post.

Criteria for appearance for NEET exam:

There is a very strong and detailed dress code declared for both boys and girls. A simplified form of the code is given below. More details can be found on the website.

• Candidates should wear light colour half sleeve clothes with no protrusions like big buttons, badges, flowers, etc. Best is a light coloured T shirt or top.
• Only salwar for girls and trousers for boys. Jeans, leggings or shorts are not allowed for anybody.
• No shoes; only slippers or low-heeled sandals.
• In case any candidate has to wear something different or in addition to the above because of medical, religion or cultural reasons, the candidate must reach the exam hall atleast one full hour prior to the commencement of the exam.
• No accessories allowed like cap, sunglasses, watches, or any ornament.
• No refreshments allowed including water, in any form, packed or unpacked.
• Phones, calculators, camera, etc. are also not allowed.

With such detailed instructions, it is obvious that the NTA takes these matters very seriously and it is in the candidate’s interests to follow them all without fail and go on to take up their dream job.