Will Assertion-Reason Questions Appear in NEET Exam?
The NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is a highly competitive examination for securing admission into medical and dental colleges in India. One question type that has generated a lot of discussion among students and educators is the assertion-reason (AR) question. This article addresses the current and future status of assertion-reason questions in NEET.
Current Status of Assertion-Reason Questions in NEET
The NEET examination has not included assertion-reason questions in its previous editions, and this pattern is expected to continue for the upcoming exams. While AIIMS and JIPMER had included AR questions in their entrance tests, NEET has maintained a consistent pattern, focusing on multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with a single correct answer.
Potential Future Changes
Although the NEET pattern is expected to remain the same for the foreseeable future, it is interesting to note that there have been speculative mentions of AR questions in the NEET format. According to some sources, there were similar multiple-choice questions in the 2019 NEET paper that could be considered a simplified version of AR questions. However, these were just a few in number, typically 1-2 questions overall.
NEET Examination Pattern
The NEET examination is structured to ensure that it accurately evaluates the knowledge and aptitude of the candidates. The NEET 2020 question paper consists of a total of 180 multiple-choice questions, each carrying 4 marks. A negative marking of one mark for every wrong answer acts as a deterrent to guessing and ensures that students are more selective in their responses. Out of the 180 questions, 90 are from biology, 45 are from physics, and 45 are from chemistry.
Admissions through NEET
Despite changes in certain medical institutions, such as AIIMS and JIPMER, which have been replaced by the NEET for admissions, the NEET examination pattern and content remain unchanged. Therefore, there is no expectation of assertion-reason questions appearing in the NEET examination. The NEET paper will strictly follow the NCERT curriculum and will not include general knowledge (GK) or English questions.
For candidates preparing for the NEET, it is important to focus on mastering the content within the NCERT syllabus. Understanding the question formats and practicing past papers will be key to performing well in the exam.
Overall, while the idea of assertion-reason questions has sparked interest and discussion, the absence of such questions in the NEET examination format is well-established and expected to remain so for the immediate future.