NEET Cutoff: What You Need to Know About Scores, Trends, and Admission Limits

When you hear NEET cutoff, the minimum score required to qualify for medical admissions in India. Also known as NEET qualifying marks, it’s not just a number—it’s the line between moving forward and starting over. Every year, lakhs of students cross their fingers hoping their score clears this bar. But the cutoff isn’t fixed. It changes based on how hard the paper was, how many seats are available, and which category you belong to. If you’re aiming for a government medical college, knowing the cutoff isn’t optional—it’s your first checklist item.

The NEET scores, the actual marks you get in the exam don’t tell the whole story. What matters more is your percentile, how you rank compared to everyone else who took the test. A score of 600 might be top 1000 in one year and top 5000 in another. The cutoff for General category students usually hovers between 50th and 72nd percentile, while SC/ST/OBC candidates get lower cutoffs as per government norms. States like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu have their own cutoffs for state quota seats, separate from the All India Quota. And if you’re targeting top colleges like AIIMS or JIPMER? Those are now merged into NEET, so you need a score far above the minimum just to be in the running.

Many students think cracking NEET means hitting the cutoff. But the cutoff is just the entrance ticket. The real competition starts after that—when colleges fill seats based on rank, preference, and seat availability. That’s why students who clear the cutoff still end up in private colleges or waitlists. Your score needs to be high enough to beat thousands of others, not just clear the minimum. If you’re scoring near the cutoff, you’re not guaranteed a seat. You’re just eligible to apply. And if you’re targeting a government college in a competitive state? You’ll likely need a score well above the cutoff to even get a call.

Looking at past data helps. In 2023, the cutoff for General category was 137 out of 720. But in 2022, it was 117. Why the drop? The paper was harder. In 2021, it was 138. So trends matter, but past cutoffs don’t predict the future—they only show you the range you’re playing in. What’s consistent? The top 10% of scorers almost always get government seats. The bottom 10% of qualifiers rarely do. And if you’re wondering whether coaching institutes like Aakash or Allen push students to target cutoffs or actual ranks? They focus on ranks. Because cutoffs are just the starting line.

You’ll find posts here that break down which coaching materials actually help you climb past the cutoff, what the average salary is for NEET teachers who know these trends inside out, and why chemistry is the most scoring subject in NEET—not because it’s easy, but because it’s predictable. You’ll also see how CBSE students, who make up the majority of NEET takers, have an edge because their syllabus matches the exam structure. And if you’re wondering whether skipping physical chemistry is safe? It’s not. That chapter alone can make or break your percentile.

There’s no magic number. No secret formula. Just one truth: if you want a government medical seat, your score must be high enough to beat the crowd. The cutoff tells you the minimum. Your goal should be to leave that minimum far behind.