27-11-2023

Comparing Medical and Engineering Entrance Exams: NEET vs. JEE

One of the most common dilemmas faced by students is determining the superior option between JEE and NEET. Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE) and the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) are regarded as two of India's foremost national entrance exams. While JEE helps students to pursue a career in engineering fields, NEET prepares the students to build a career in the field of medicine. Both of these exams are highly competitive and possess distinct features. Today, we shall compare these two entrance examinations in detail:

NEET vs. JEE: An Overview

Parameters	NEET	JEE
Full Form	National Eligibility cum Entrance Test	Joint Entrance Examinations
Nature	Pen and Paper-based National Entrance Examination	Computer-Based National Entrance Examination
Conducted For	Admissions for undergraduate engineering and architecture courses	Admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses in government and private colleges
Regulated by	National Testing Agency (NTA)	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Number & type of questions	180 MCQ-based questions	90 questions 60 MCQ-based + 30 questions with answers in numerical value
Duration	3 hours	3 hours
Marking Scheme	+4 for each correct answer and -1 for each incorrect answer	For MCQs: +4 for each correct answer and -1 for each incorrect answer For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct answer and no negative marking for incorrect answers
Cut-off for eligibility	General – 50%, OBC- 45% and ST/SC/PWD – 40%	General – 75%, Reserved – 65%
Languages	English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Odiya, Gujarati, Urdu	English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Odiya, Gujarati, Urdu, Punjabi & Malayalam

NEET vs. JEE: Subject Curriculum

NEET is the single entrance test for admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses in India, including the coveted MBBS and BDS programmes. Administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA), NEET plays a crucial role in assessing the qualification for medical programmes in both public and private institutions nationwide. The NEET curriculum comprises of three fundamental subjects, namely, physics, chemistry, and biology, which are elaborated upon below:

Section A: Physics	Section B: Chemistry	Section C: Biology
Physics and Measurement	Some basic concepts in Chemistry	Diversity in Living World
Kinematics	Atomic Structure	Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants
Law and Motion	Chemical Bonding & Molecular Structure	Cell Structure and Function
Work, Energy and Power	Chemical Thermodynamics	Plant Physiology
Rotational Motion	Solutions	Human Physiology
Gravitation	Equilibrium	Reproduction
Properties of Solids and Liquids	Redox Reactions & Electrochemistry	Genetics and Evolution
Thermodynamics	Chemical Kinetics	Biology' and Human Welfare
Kinetic Theory of Gases	Classification Of Elements & Periodicity In Properties	Biotechnology and its Applications
Oscillation and Waves	P- Block Elements	Ecology and Environment
Electrostatics	D - and F- Block Elements
Current Electricity	Co-ordination Compounds
Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism	Purification And Characterisation of Organic Compounds
Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents	Some Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry
Electromagnetic Waves	Hydrocarbons
Optics	Organic Compounds containing Halogens
Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation	Organic Compounds containing Oxygen
Atoms and Nuclei	Organic Compounds containing Nitrogen
Electronic Devices	Biomolecules

On the other hand, JEE is conducted in two phases: JEE Main and JEE Advanced. JEE Main is the first level of the examination, and it is a common entrance test for various undergraduate engineering programmes in India. The students who perform exceptionally well in JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced, securing their positions in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), among other premier engineering institutions. The JEE syllabus is divided into two papers, as discussed below:
Paper 1: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics

Physics	Chemistry	Mathematics
Physics and Measurement	Basic Concepts in Chemistry	Sets, Relations, and Functions
Thermodynamics	States of Matter	Complex Numbers
Kinematics	Chemical Bonding	Determinant
Rotational Motion	Atomic Structure	Quadratic Equations
Gravitation	Molecular Structure	Matrices
Work and Energy	Solutions	Permutations Combinations
Power	Redox Reactions	Mathematical Induction
Properties of Solids and Liquids	Chemical Thermodynamics	Sequence Series
Laws of Motion	Equilibrium	Binomial Theorem
Electronic Devices	Electrochemistry	Limits and Continuity
Oscillations	Surface Chemistry	Differentiability
Waves	Chemical Kinetics	Statistics
Current Electricity	Polymers	Differential Equations
Electromagnetic Waves	Principles of Practical Chemistry	Integral Calculus
Communication Systems	Organic Compounds – Characterisation and Purification	Trigonometry
Electromagnetic Induction	Oxygen, Halogens, and Nitrogen Organic Compounds	Vector Algebra
Magnetism	Hydrocarbons	Coordinate Geometry
Alternating Currents	Biomolecules	Mathematical Reasoning
Magnetic Effects of Current	Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry	3D Geometry
Kinetic Theory of Gases	Chemistry in Everyday Life	Probability
Dual Nature of Matter	Hydrogen
Radiation	Classification of Elements
Atoms	Periodicity
Optics	Alkali metals
Physics and Measurement	Group 13 to Group 18 Elements
	Alkaline Earth Metals
	D and f Block Elements
	Coordination Compounds
	Environmental Chemistry
	Isolation of Metals

Paper 2: Aptitude, Drawing and Planning

Part 2A

Awareness of persons, places, buildings, materials.
Objects, texture related to architecture and build—environment.
Visualising three-dimensional objects from two-dimensional drawings.
Visualising different sides of three-dimensional objects.
Analytical reasoning mental ability (visual, numerical and verbal)

Part 2B

Three-dimensional perception: Understanding and appreciation of scale and proportion of objects
Building forms and elements
Colour texture, harmony and contrast
Design and drawing of geometrical or abstract shapes and patterns in pencil.
Transformation of forms
Both 2D and 3D union
Subtraction
Rotation
Development of surfaces and volumes
Generation of plan
Elevations and 3D views of objects
Creating 2D and 3D compositions using given shapes and forms

NEET vs. JEE: Scope

NEET offers aspiring medical professionals in the fields of healthcare and allied services. Students can pursue careers as doctors, surgeons, dentists, or engage in research and other medical-related fields. The scope of NEET extends to a wide range of specialisations, opening doors to diverse career opportunities in both government and private healthcare institutions.

JEE, on the other hand, caters to the field of engineering and technology, preparing students for careers in areas such as computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, and many more. The scope of JEE encompasses not only traditional engineering disciplines but also emerging fields like artificial intelligence, data science, and robotics.

NEET vs. JEE: Which one is harder?

The aggregate number of seats for engineering aspirants in prestigious institutions is substantially higher than the combined total of MBBS and BDS seats available through the NEET. There is an availability of 24 lakh engineering seats across the country, while the number of MBBS and BDS seats is a mere 1 lakh and 18 thousand. However, NEET, despite having a smaller pool of seats, witnesses even more rigorous competition due to the greater number of candidates appearing for the exams. This is partly attributed to the higher number of NEET repeaters, or "droppers," compared to JEE pursuers. Furthermore, the challenge presented by JEE Advanced, the gateway to IITs, is often perceived as more formidable than NEET. The reason behind this perception is the elevated level of difficulty in JEE questions, which require a deep understanding of core scientific concepts and problem-solving abilities. In contrast, NEET requires the memorisation of vast biological and medical content, with a need to tackle a greater number of questions within a limited time frame.

Summing Up

The two entrance examinations, JEE and NEET, differ based on their career prospects and exam patterns. JEE is for those aiming for an engineering career, while NEET acts like a gateway to the medical field. Due to the limited number of seats, NEET is generally considered slightly more competitive than JEE. Although the syllabus of both exams includes subjects like physics and chemistry, aspirants should have a solid understanding of both subjects. Ultimately, the choice between two exams depends on your individual interests, career aspirations, interests, and expertise. However, if students are unsure about which career path to take after 12th grade, they can choose subject combinations of both mathematics and biology. Including these two subjects in the higher secondary can help students prepare for both exams simultaneously.