Did you know that qualifying marks and cutoff scores have two different meanings? Are you also confused by the words Percentile and percentage? As a candidate preparing or planning to write NEET, one of the most competitive exams in the country, you must know what is cutoff marks in NEET are and their significance in getting admission to medical colleges.
What are Qualifying Marks?
Qualifying marks are the minimum marks a NEET candidate must score in Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and the aggregate to become eligible for the counselling process. This is set by the National Testing Agency (NTA) that conducts the NEET exam, and the qualifying marks remain the same for all candidates irrespective of location or category.
What are Cutoff Marks?
Cutoff marks are the least marks that a NEET candidate must score in order to become eligible for admission to a particular medical or dental college. These marks are based on various factors such as the availability of seats in a specific college, the difficulty level of the exam, the number of candidates, and the category of the candidate. Therefore, the cutoff marks may differ for each college and category, such as general, SC, ST, OBC, and PwD.
Significance of Cutoff Marks
The cutoff marks hold great significance as they can get you into your dream college. Every medical and dental college takes into account the rank of the candidate and the cutoff marks set by the institute for each course. If you score above the cutoff marks, you can attend the counselling. However, the seats get allocated based on the rank of the candidate and the availability of seats in the college.
The cutoff marks for the NEET vary every year, and the cutoff for the year 2024 will be announced along with the results.
Also see:
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Previous Year Cutoff Table
The NTA and colleges announce the qualifying and cutoff marks after the NEET exam results. The following is the cutoff that was required for NEET 2022.
Category | Marks Range | Qualifying Criteria |
UR/EWS | 715-117 | 50th Percentile |
OBC/SC/ST | 116-93 | 40th Percentile |
UR / EWS & PH | 116-105 | 45th Percentile |
OBC/SC/ST & PH | 104-93 | 40th Percentile |
What Does the Word Percentile Mean?
Regarding NEET, Percentile means the percentage of candidates who have scored equal to or above a particular score in the exam. For instance, if a candidate has scored in the 80th Percentile, it means that their score is equal to or higher than 80% of the total number of candidates who had appeared for the exam. The percentile score gives a relative measure of a candidate’s performance in the exam.
Conclusion
Now that you understand the meaning and significance of cutoff marks, you should aim to score better than that. Make sure you prepare a study timetable, solve different mock papers and previous years’ question papers to get a clear understanding of the pattern, and know where you need to improve.
Frequently Asked Questions on NEET Qualifying Marks
How are cutoff marks determined for NEET?
Several factors determine the cutoff marks for NEET, such as the total number of candidates who attempted the exam, the difficulty level, the number of seats available, and the candidate's category.
What happens if a candidate scores less than the cutoff marks?
If a candidate scores less than the cutoff marks, they are not considered for admission to the college or course of their choice. However, candidates can apply to other colleges or courses which require fewer cutoff marks or reappear for NEET the following year.
Is it enough to score cutoff marks to get admission to medical and dental courses?
No. The cutoff marks are just one of the criteria for admission to medical and dental courses. Your rank, availability of seats, reservation policy, etc., are also taken into account.