Expected Cut-off for NEET 2020 - General and Reserved Category Candidates
The NEET 2020 result is most likely to be released by the NTA in the coming weeks. The NEET 2020 cut-off for candidates belonging to the general category and other reserved categories will be released along with the NEET 2020 results. Usually, the National Testing Agency (NTA) releases the NEET results nearly after a month from the day of the examination. However, this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET 2020) had to be rescheduled to September 13, 2020. So, NEET 2020 results are already delayed by a few months.
Therefore, to cut down any further delay in resuming the new session, the NEET 2020 results are anticipated to be released very soon.
The NEET cut-off is the minimum percentile and marks that candidates must score to qualify in this examination. Going by the NEET cut-off trends of the previous years, the expected NEET 2020 cut-off for the general category candidates is 50th percentile. Also, for candidates belonging to the general EWS category, the expected NEET 2020 cut-off is the same as that for the general category, that is,50th percentile. The NEET cut-off percentiles for other reserved categories are lower than that for the general category candidates. The expected NEET 2020 cut-off is 45th percentile for candidates belonging to the PWD category, and 40th percentile for candidates belonging to SC, ST, and OBC category.
NEET Previous Year's Cut-off Analysis
As per the analysis of the previous year's NEET cut-off trends, it can be inferred that the cut-off marks for NEET 2020 are likely to be more than that for NEET 2019. Even though the NEET cut-off percentiles for various categories mostly remain the same, the marks equivalent to the percentiles vary almost every year. To a certain extent, the NEET cut-off marks depend on the total number of candidates appearing in the exam as well.
For the record, the cut-off marks for the general category candidates was 119 in NEET 2018 results. Whereas, the NEET 2019 cut-off marks for the general category candidates was 134. Likewise, the cut-off marks for the candidates belonging to the reserved categories of SC, ST, and OBC were 96 in NEET 2018 and 107 in NEET 2019. It must be noted here that the NEET cut-off percentiles for the general and reserved categories were the same for both the years, 2018 and 2019.
NEET 2020 was conducted last Sunday, September 13, and about 90 percent of the total 15.97 lacs registered candidates have appeared in the examination. When the National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the NEET 2020 results, all candidates will be able to check their results, along with the final NEET 2020 cut-off percentile and marks on its official website. The expected NEET 2020 cut-off percentiles and marks are determined based on the previous year NEET cut-off trends and may vary slightly from the final NEET 2020 cut-off percentiles. Candidates may take a cue from the NEET 2020 expected cut-off to plan on the courses and colleges for their admissions.
FAQs on Expected Cut-off for NEET 2020 - General and Reserved Category Candidates
1. What are the expected qualifying cut-off percentiles for NEET 2026 for different categories?
The qualifying cut-off for NEET is determined by percentiles, not specific scores. For NEET 2026, the expected qualifying percentiles are:
- General / EWS Category: 50th percentile
- SC/ST/OBC (NCL) Category: 40th percentile
- General-PH (Persons with Handicap): 45th percentile
- SC/ST/OBC-PH: 40th percentile
2. What is the difference between the NEET qualifying cut-off and the admission cut-off?
This is a crucial distinction. The NEET qualifying cut-off is the minimum percentile required to pass the exam and become eligible for counselling. The NEET admission cut-off is the last rank or score at which a student is admitted to a specific college and course (e.g., MBBS at a government college). The admission cut-off is always much higher than the qualifying cut-off and varies significantly by college, course, and quota.
3. How do factors like exam difficulty and number of applicants affect the NEET cut-off scores each year?
Several dynamic factors influence the NEET cut-off scores annually.
- Exam Difficulty: An easier paper generally leads to higher scores, pushing the cut-off marks upwards. A tougher paper may result in lower overall scores and a lower cut-off.
- Number of Applicants: A larger pool of candidates increases competition, which typically raises the admission cut-offs for top colleges.
- Seat Matrix: Any increase or decrease in the number of available MBBS/BDS seats in government colleges directly impacts the admission cut-offs.
- Overall Candidate Performance: The collective performance of all students sets the benchmark for each percentile, directly influencing the score corresponding to the cut-off percentile.
4. What is the difference between All India Quota (AIQ) and State Quota cut-offs for NEET?
The NEET counselling process is divided into two main quotas with different cut-offs:
- All India Quota (AIQ): This includes 15% of MBBS/BDS seats in all government medical colleges across India. The AIQ cut-off is generally higher because students from any state can compete for these seats, leading to nationwide competition.
- State Quota: This comprises the remaining 85% of seats in government medical colleges within a particular state. These seats are reserved for students with that state's domicile. The State Quota cut-off is typically lower than the AIQ cut-off and varies from state to state based on local competition and the number of available colleges.
5. Why do NEET cut-offs for government medical colleges vary significantly between different states?
The variation in State Quota cut-offs is due to several state-specific factors. States with a high number of medical colleges and a relatively lower number of high-scoring applicants (e.g., some northeastern states) may have lower cut-offs. Conversely, states with intense competition, a high number of aspirants, and fewer medical colleges (e.g., Rajasthan, Delhi, Kerala) often have much higher State Quota cut-offs. State reservation policies also play a significant role in determining category-wise cut-offs.
6. How does the cut-off for an OBC candidate typically compare to the General category cut-off for an MBBS seat?
The admission cut-off for an OBC (Other Backward Classes - Non-Creamy Layer) candidate is usually lower than that for the General category due to constitutional reservation policies. While the qualifying percentile for OBC is the 40th percentile (compared to 50th for General), the admission cut-off score difference can range from a few marks to over 20-30 marks, depending on the college's prestige and the specific quota (AIQ or State).
7. Is achieving the minimum qualifying percentile in NEET 2026 enough to secure an MBBS seat in a government college?
No, this is a common misconception. Merely achieving the qualifying percentile (e.g., 50th for General) only makes you eligible to participate in the counselling process. To secure an MBBS seat, especially in a government college through the All India Quota, a candidate needs a much higher percentile and rank. The actual admission cut-off is determined by the last rank that gets a seat, which is often in the 97th-99th percentile range or higher for top colleges.
