The sharp rise in NEET-UG qualifying cut-off marks has left several medical aspirants worried about their chances of getting seats in government medical colleges. Students have expressed their disappointment at the higher cut-off following the new test, with many questioning whether scores between 500 and 600 points will be sufficient for admission this year.Aspirants said the hike has created uncertainty, especially for students who have been preparing for the exam for years. Many noted that despite several years of preparation, their scores did not increase significantly, while several first-time participants scored high marks after the new test.• Rickshaw puller’s grandson first from Bihar village to crack NEET UG, advises consistency to aspirants
The classification cutoff represents a significant jump between categories
The minimum qualifying marks of NEET-UG have increased significantly from the previous year. The cut-off for General and EWS categories increased from 144 to 213 marks, while the cut-off for OBC, SC and ST categories increased from 113 to 177 marks.
Students said the sudden increase in qualifying marks has added pressure during the admission process. They also noted that the percentage of candidates in the General category among the qualified students has decreased by about 3 percent compared to last year.
Aspirants seek clarity about admission possibilities
Several students expressed concern about the impact of higher scores on admissions to government medical colleges. They questioned how candidates scoring between 500 and 600 would compete when a larger number of students had entered the higher scoring bracket.According to the students, the re-test played a major role in the increase in scores, with many candidates scoring close to 700. Some aspirants also questioned why their performance did not improve despite three years of preparation, especially when some students found the re-test paper easier.
CBSE Counseling Cell receives queries related to stress
The rise in cut-off marks led to a surge in inquiries to the CBSE counseling cell. Counselors received several calls from students seeking guidance on admissions possibilities and future options.CBSE councilor Dr Pramod Kumar said the highest number of inquiries came from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. He added that most of the students were worried about the rise in the cut-off and uncertainty about admissions.Individual experts in the counseling cell received more than 100 calls in a single day, with many students expressing stress over their scores after years of preparation.
Experts explain the impact on medical income
NEET preparation expert Aditya explained that the rise in the cut-off indicates that more students secured higher scores compared to previous years. He said the change is likely to affect admission requirements, especially for government medical colleges.According to him, competition for government medical seats is expected to be tougher, and even candidates with scores of up to 600 points may face uncertainty during the admission process.