The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the single gateway for admissions to medical and dental courses (MBBS/BDS) in India. As aspirants gear up for NEET 2026, understanding the expected cut-off is crucial for setting realistic preparation goals.

It’s important to differentiate between two types of cut-offs: the Qualifying Cut-off (minimum marks required to be eligible for counseling) and the Admission Cut-off (the closing rank/score for securing a seat in a specific college). The Admission Cut-off is always significantly higher, especially for government colleges.

Understanding the Expected Qualifying Cut-off for NEET 2026

The qualifying cut-off is released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in the form of a percentile. Based on the reservation criteria and trends from previous years, here is the expected qualifying percentile and score range for NEET 2026:

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Target Scores for Government MBBS/BDS Admission

While the qualifying marks make you eligible for counseling, securing a seat in a government medical college requires a much higher score. These scores fluctuate yearly based on competition and paper difficulty.

(Note: Scores for AIIMS Delhi, MAMC, and other top-tier colleges are generally 670+ for the General category.)

Key Factors Influencing the NEET 2026 Cut-off

The final cut-off scores are dynamic and depend on several crucial factors:

1. Difficulty Level of the Exam: A tougher paper generally leads to lower cut-off scores, while an easier paper can inflate scores and raise the cut-off.
2. Number of Candidates: An increase in the number of candidates appearing for the exam raises the competition, which typically pushes the cut-off higher.
3. Availability of Seats: Any increase in the number of MBBS/BDS seats in colleges across India can help lower the admission cut-off, while stable seat counts against rising applicants will increase it.
4. Previous Year Trends: Historically, cut-offs have generally shown an upward trend, which acts as a baseline for future predictions.

How to Prepare: Your Action Plan

Instead of fixating on the minimum qualifying score, your goal should be to maximize your score to secure a good rank and college.

• Aim High: Target at least 10–15 marks above the previous year’s closing cut-off for your desired college and category.
• Master NCERT: The NEET syllabus is primarily based on NCERT books for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Class 11 & 12). Strong foundational knowledge is non-negotiable.
• Practice with Mock Tests: Regularly take full-length mock tests to improve your speed, accuracy, and time management, especially focusing on avoiding negative marking.

Check Your Score: The Formula

To estimate your raw score after the exam, you can use the official answer key and the following marking scheme:

NEET Score=((Number of Correct Answers×4)−(Number of Incorrect Answers×1))

Final cut-offs and official score ranges will only be announced by the NTA after the declaration of the NEET 2026 results. Until then, use these expected ranges to guide your preparation and stay focused!

2026 NEET Qualifying Percentile and Expected Marks

The NEET cut-off is announced in two forms: the Qualifying Percentile (the minimum needed to be eligible for counseling) and the Admission Cut-off (the final score/rank at which seats close for various colleges).

Here are the expected qualifying percentiles and a broad expected qualifying marks range based on recent trends:

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Note: The exact qualifying marks are released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) with the results. These figures are based on the previous year’s trends.

Expected “Safe Score” for Government MBBS Seats

While the qualifying marks are the minimum to be eligible, a much higher score is required to secure a seat in a Government Medical College (GMC).

A safe score is an estimated score range that generally gives a high probability of securing an MBBS seat under the All India Quota (AIQ) or a State Quota. These are based on past year closing ranks:

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For admission to top-tier colleges like AIIMS Delhi, the target score for the General category usually exceeds 680+ marks, with similarly high, but slightly lower, requirements for reserved categories.

Factors Influencing the Final Cut-Off

The actual NEET cut-off marks for admission fluctuate annually due to several key factors:

1. Number of Candidates: An increase in the number of students appearing leads to higher competition and potentially higher cut-offs.
2. Difficulty Level of the Exam: An easier paper generally results in higher scores and therefore a higher cut-off.
3. Total Number of Seats: Any change in the number of MBBS seats available nationally or within a state directly impacts the final cut-off.
4. Overall Performance of Candidates: The general score distribution and the number of students scoring high marks.
5. Reservation Policies: The fixed percentage of seats reserved for different categories (OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD) ensures lower admission cut-offs for these groups compared to the General category.

NEET-UGNational Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Undergraduate. The single mandatory entrance examination for admission to MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH (BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, etc.) courses in all medical/dental colleges in India.

Exam Structure & Pattern

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NEET UG 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Exam Structure & Pattern

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2. Eligibility Criteria

3. Reservation Policy (For All India Quota – AIQ)