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NEET vs AIIMS Entrance Exam: What’s the Real Challenge?

NEET is now the only medical entrance exam used to determine admissions to AIIMS.
UniList Desk

Updated Jan 25, 2026 | 11:18 PM IST
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Every year, thousands of students in India aspire to become doctors. In this journey, medical entrance examinations such as the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Entrance Exam are frequently discussed. These exams play a crucial role in medical admissions and are known for their competitiveness.
This article explains NEET and the AIIMS Entrance Exam in simple terms and highlights what makes them challenging for medical aspirants.

NEET and AIIMS Entrance Exam: An Overview

NEET is a national-level entrance examination for students seeking admission to medical courses in India. It is mandatory for admission to MBBS, BDS, and other undergraduate medical programmes across government and private colleges.
The AIIMS Entrance Exam was previously conducted separately for admission to MBBS programmes at AIIMS institutions. However, since 2020, admissions to AIIMS have been based solely on NEET scores. As a result, NEET has become the single entrance examination for almost all medical admissions in India.
NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)
NEET is conducted once a year and serves as the primary medical entrance examination in India. Candidates must qualify in NEET to secure admission to undergraduate medical courses in recognised institutions.
AIIMS Entrance Exam (Before 2019)
Before 2019, AIIMS conducted its own entrance examination for MBBS admissions. From 2020 onwards, AIIMS admissions have been merged with NEET, making NEET scores the basis for selection.
This change has made NEET the most important examination for medical aspirants, as it determines admission to nearly all medical colleges, including AIIMS.

Exam Pattern: Earlier Differences

Before the merger, NEET and AIIMS had different examination patterns.
Mode & Duration
NEET: Offline, paper-based exam of 3 hours
AIIMS: Online exam of 3 hours 30 minutes
Number of Questions
NEET: 180 questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
AIIMS: 200 questions, including Biology, General Knowledge, and Aptitude
Marking Scheme
NEET: +4 marks for each correct answer and −1 mark for each incorrect answer
AIIMS: +1 mark for each correct answer and −⅓ mark for each incorrect answer
These differences made the AIIMS exam more varied and challenging before 2019.

Syllabus & Preparation

Both exams focused on Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. AIIMS also included sections on General Knowledge and Aptitude, requiring broader preparation.
NEET Preparation (2026)
  • Closely follows the NCERT Class 11 and 12 syllabus
  • Most questions are directly based on syllabus topics
  • Abundant study materials and test series are available
AIIMS Preparation (Pre-2019)
  • Included more analytical and reasoning-based questions
  • Required wider reading beyond textbooks
  • Demanded strong problem-solving skills

Which Exam Was Tougher?

Before 2019, many students and experts considered the AIIMS Entrance Exam more challenging due to its additional sections and reasoning-based questions. NEET, although highly competitive, followed a more predictable syllabus-based pattern.
Currently, admission to AIIMS and other top medical colleges depends entirely on NEET ranks, making high performance in NEET essential.

Seat Availability & Competition

NEET provides access to thousands of MBBS seats across India, significantly increasing competition among candidates. Previously, AIIMS had a limited number of seats, which made admission extremely competitive.
Today, all candidates compete through NEET, and seats are allotted based on merit and rank.

Final Takeaway for 2026 Aspirants

NEET is the single gateway to medical colleges in India, including AIIMS. Success in NEET depends not only on answering questions correctly but on achieving a high rank to secure top institutions. Strong NCERT fundamentals, regular mock tests, and effective time management are essential.
With focused and consistent preparation, students can achieve their goal of pursuing a medical career.

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