NEET-UG today: Don't forget these things when you head to the exam hall

NEET-UG 2024 (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test - Undergraduate), the qualifying exam for admission to medical and allied courses in the country this year, will take place today (May 5) at 557 cities in India and 14 locations abroad. Over 24 lakh students have registered for the test, to be conducted in pen-and-paper mode.

NEET-UG 2024 timing
The timing of the test is 2 pm to 5.20 pm. 

Ensure that you arrive at the exam centre earlier than the reporting time mentioned in the Admit Card. The physical check of candidates will start at 11 am.

The gate of the exam centre will be closed at 1.30 pm. Candidates will not be allowed into the premises after this time. Similarly, no candidate can enter the exam hall after 1.40 pm.

NEET-UG 2024 dress code

• Candidates should stick to the dress code in the exam hall. Heavy or long-sleeved shirts/tops will not be allowed.
• Only thin-heeled footwear should be worn.
• Candidates wearing religious attire should reach the centre sufficiently early for the physical check.
• Candidates should not hide their faces while the video of the exam is recorded in the hall.
• Candidates will be subjected to checking with metal detectors. Female candidates will be examined in a secure room.
• There would be no arrangements at the exam centre to safe-keep the belongings of candidates.

Items banned in exam hall
Paper slips, printed as well as written
Geometry/pencil box
Plastic box
Pen
Scale
Writing pad
Pen-drive
Eraser (rubber)
Calculator
Logarithm table
Electronic devices
Scanner
Mobile phone
Bluetooth
Earphone
Microphone
Pager
Health band
Wallet
Cooling glass (dark glasses)
Handbag
Belt
Cap
Watch
Bracelet
Camera
ATM card
Ornaments, including earrings and nose-rings
Other metallic items
Food items

Water bottle
Even though pages 45 and 49 in the information bulletin say that water bottles are banned inside the exam hall, page 3 of the Admit Card mentions that a transparent water bottle is allowed. Instructions have also been given to provide water bottles to candidates if they request for it.

Candidates having diabetes can carry fruits and sugar tablets after obtaining permission in advance.

Items to be carried to exam hall

1. Admit card affixed with passport and postcard-sized photos
2. Another passport-sized photo for pasting on attendance sheet
3. An original identity card with photo (Aadhaar card/admit card of Class 12 board exam/ration card/voter’s ID/passport/driving licence/PAN card)
4. All these government documents should be original. Attested photocopies and scanned copies from mobile phones will not be allowed.
5. Differently-abled students should bring the related documents. If the service of a scribe is sought, carry the necessary papers.
6. Candidates who have downloaded the ‘City Intimation Slip’ should download ‘Admit Card’. Admit Card is mandatory.

Admit card

• Before heading to the exam hall, candidates have to download a three-page Admit Card on A4-size paper from the website https://exams.nta.ac.in/NEET
• If the photo or signature of the candidate on the Admit Card is different from the ‘Confirmation Page’ received while submitting the application, immediately inform the authorities on the Helpline number. Also, send an email to neet@nta.ac.in
• The candidate should reach the centre with the same Admit Card. The corrections sought will be implemented in the records. A duplicate Admit Card will not be issued.
• The Helpline number is 011-40759000.

Exam centre

Find out the location of the exam centre in advance. If you are not sure about it, visit the centre on Saturday. Instructions for candidates are given on pages 44, 45 of the information bulletin and pages 2, 3 of Admit Card.

NEET UG 2024 Guidelines
Before the exam:
You have to perform the following tasks before travelling to exam centre:

• Fill up the affidavit in the lower half on the first page of the Admit Card. Affix a copy of the passport-size photo uploaded on the application on the left column below. On the column immediately on the right, affix your left thumb impression clearly. But, the candidate should sign on the column next to it only in the presence of the invigilator in the exam hall. In other words, the signature should not be affixed earlier.
• Inside the large square on the second page of the admit card, affix a postcard-size colour photo (size six inches X four inches) of the candidate. In the exam hall, the candidate should sign on the left side and invigilator on the right of this photo. The candidate and the invigilator have to affix another sign under this photo also. The candidate should not sign in advance.

Inside exam hall:

1. Once inside the hall, candidates will be given a black ballpoint pen by the invigilator to fill up the test booklet, attendance sheet and OMR sheet.
2. Candidates can enter the hall from 11.30 am to 1.40 pm. Their documents will be verified from 1.40 pm to 1.50 pm.
3. A photo of the candidate should be affixed on the attendance sheet. The name of father and mother has to be entered. The left thumb impression has to be made; the candidate should write the time and affix signature.
4. When a single bell is heard at 1.50 pm, the test booklet will be distributed to candidates. Do not open its paper seal then.
5. Open the seal only when a double bell is heard and the invigilator instructs to do so.
6. Fill in the necessary details on the first page of the test booklet and wait.
7. Candidates can take out the OMR sheet from inside the test booklet without opening the seal and fill in the details.
8. The OMR sheet has two sections – Original and Office copy – which should not be separated. Handle them carefully and do not scribble. They have to be returned after the exam.
9. Check whether the code on the test booklet and OMR sheet is the same. If the code is different, immediately alert the invigilator and get the correct OMR sheet. Read the instructions behind the office copy. Sign at the designated space on the OMR sheet in the presence of the invigilator after entering the time and make the left thumb impression.
10. The invigilator will give a signal to the candidates to start answering the questions at 2 pm sharp.
11. Utilize only the space in the test booklet for rough work.
12. After the exam, sign on the attendance sheet again, enter the time and return both the OMR sheets.
13. Candidates will not be allowed to leave the exam hall before the scheduled time - 5.20 pm.
14. Candidates have to take two printouts of the Admit Card, as the one taken to the exam hall will be kept by the invigilator. The second Admit Card has to be stored safely at home as it has to be produced for admission.

Question pattern

There is a single paper for the exam, with 180 questions which have to be answered in 200 minutes. Each correct answer carries four marks and the maximum marks are 720.

There will be four subjects – physics, chemistry, botany and zoology. Each subject will have two sections – A and B. There will be 35 questions in A section and 15 in B.

Candidates have to choose one answer from among the four options for each question.

A wrong answer will lead to one negative mark.

In the B section, candidates need to answer only 10 among the 15 questions. If more than 10 questions are answered, only the first 10 would be evaluated.

Candidates should exercise caution while filling answers on the OMR sheet.

Don’t waste time in reading all the questions in A section before starting to answer.

In the B section, read all the 15 questions and answer 10 which are familiar.

Avoid spending time on questions which are unfamiliar. Skip to the next question as a wrong answer will invite a negative mark.

After skipping a question, ensure that you mark the answer of the next question at the right place on the OMR sheet.

As it is not possible to change your answer on the OMR sheet, think twice before marking the answer.

Avoid becoming tense and be confident. All the best!