NEET SS 2024 DM Recall: Expert Analysis Reveals Key Patterns [March 30 Update]
NEET SS 2024, the premier entrance exam for super-specialty medical courses in India, wrapped up its two-day assessment on March 30, 2025. The exam turned out to be quite challenging for candidates. The first day had moderate to tough questions, while the second day became more intense for students appearing in various specialties.
The exam's structure included 150 multiple-choice questions split into three 50-minute sections. Students managed to attempt between 140 to 145 questions on day two. The evaluation covered 13 course groups and tested vital subjects such as Medical Oncology, Critical Care, Radiodiagnosis, and Pathology over both days.
Our analysis will break down the exam patterns and give you a subject-wise distribution of questions. You'll get a full picture of difficulty levels to better understand your performance. On top of that, our experts will predict the expected cutoffs for various DM specialties based on this year's paper analysis.
NEET SS 2024 Exam Overview: Structure and Format Changes
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) made major changes to NEET SS 2024's structure. These changes affected how candidates prepared for this vital super-specialty entrance exam. The board designed these updates to boost security and keep the assessment's integrity while creating new challenges for students.
New time-bound section implementation
NEET SS 2024's biggest change was the addition of mandatory time-bound sections. The NBEMS notification stated that the question paper had three distinct sections—A, B, and C. Each section contained 50 questions with a strict 50-minute time limit [1]. The total exam lasted 2 hours and 30 minutes for all 150 questions.
This new format created specific challenges. Candidates could not:
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Move to the next section until their current section's time ran out
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Go back to check or change answers from finished sections
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Choose when to move between sections, as the next one started automatically [1]
NBEMS helped candidates adjust by putting a demo test on their website. Students could access it from March 20, 2025, through the NEET SS 2024 Application Link webpage [1].
DM specialty paper distribution
NEET SS 2024 kept its group-based exam structure but added some key changes. The board split all DM/MCh/DrNB courses into 15 different groups, so there were 15 separate question papers [2].
This year brought a notable change for two specialty groups:
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DM/DrNB Medical Oncology got its own question paper with only Medical Oncology topics
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DM/DrNB Critical Care Medicine had a dedicated paper that focused just on Critical Care Medicine [3]
The exam ran over two days with this schedule:
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Day 1 (March 29, 2025): ENT Group, Respiratory Medicine Group, Obstetrics & Gynecology Group, Medical Oncology Group, Orthopedics Group, and Critical Care Medicine Group
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Day 2 (March 30, 2025): Medical Group, Radiodiagnosis Group, Microbiology Group, Pathology Group, Psychiatry Group, Surgical Group, Pediatric Group, Anaesthesiology Group, and Pharmacology Group [2]
Marking scheme and negative marking impact
NEET SS 2024 used a strict marking system that rewarded correct answers and penalized guessing. Each question followed this pattern:
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Right answer: 4 marks
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Wrong answer: minus 1 mark
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Skipped question: no deduction [2]
The 25% negative marking made candidates think twice before guessing answers. Students could flag questions to review during the exam. Once time ran out for a section, these marked questions got scored normally [2].
Overall difficulty assessment
Test-takers' feedback showed different difficulty levels across both days. Day 1 (March 29) students found the papers moderately tough, but the time-bound sections gave them enough time to answer questions [4].
Day 2 (March 30) turned out harder. The Medical, Surgical, Microbiology, and Psychiatry groups proved especially challenging. Other groups stayed moderately difficult [5]. Unlike Day 1, new questions dominated the papers. This forced candidates to rely on their core knowledge instead of remembering past patterns [4].
Most students answered between 140-145 questions out of 150. This showed that despite time limits and higher difficulty, they managed to tackle most questions [4]. Different difficulty levels among specialty groups suggest that cutoffs will vary. This makes it essential for candidates to analyze their performance by specialty.
NBEMS plans to announce NEET SS 2024 results before April 30, 2025. This gives candidates about a month to check their performance and get ready for counseling [4].
High-Yield Topics That Dominated the March 30 Paper
The March 30 NEET SS 2024 paper showed some interesting patterns that made this test quite challenging. Students faced tough questions that went beyond simple memorization to test how well they could apply super-specialty concepts.
Recurring clinical scenarios
Clinical scenarios made up most of the questions [3]. These case-based questions tested students' complete understanding rather than just theory. The test included several ECG images and ventilator graphs to check practical diagnostic skills [3]. Topics like Pediatric Nephrology, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric GIT, IEMs, and Emergency Management got the most attention [3]. Medical specialists saw questions mostly about Genetics, Cardiology, and Gastroenterology [3].
Students who took the test said many questions came from old NEET SS papers [3]. This shows that going through past question papers is still one of the best ways to prepare [12].
Diagnostic approach questions
The diagnostic part focused heavily on advanced imaging and lab techniques. Questions took a closer look at diagnostic tools like PET scans, MRIs, and biopsies [13]. Students needed to show they could identify cancer types and stage various conditions correctly [13].
The paper also tested students' knowledge of diagnostic algorithms and decision-making paths. Some students found the paper quite long [3]. They had to think fast to guide themselves through complex diagnostic scenarios under time pressure.
Management protocol assessments
Treatment approaches made up much of the test. It focused on:
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Latest treatment methods including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy [13]
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Patient management skills including pain control and palliative care [13]
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Ethical decision-making in terminal cases [13]
Questions pushed students to rank treatment options based on different clinical cases. Instead of just remembering facts, students needed to apply management protocols to real-life scenarios that super-specialists face daily.
Research and recent advances coverage
State-of-the-art drugs and new trends in individual-specific medicine featured heavily in the paper [13]. This part was especially tough because it needed knowledge of recent research beyond textbooks.
The test checked how well students could use these advances in clinical practice. Super-specialty medicine changes fast, and this section clearly showed which students kept up with current knowledge versus those who stuck to old protocols.
Simple memorization wasn't enough to pass this test. The NEET SS 2024 paper targeted students who could apply complex concepts to real-life clinical cases [13]. Success needed complete preparation and regular practice with clinical cases.
Expert Breakdown of Question Difficulty Levels
The NEET SS 2024 difficulty levels showed remarkable differences between exam days. Each specialty group faced varying challenges based on their test day.
Easy vs moderate vs difficult question distribution
Question difficulty levels varied noticeably across examination days. The first day (March 29) had a moderate to tough range of questions, and students managed decent attempt rates [1]. The second day (March 30) turned out to be much harder, as test-takers described the paper as quite challenging [1][14].
Students on Day 2 attempted between 140-145 questions out of 150 [14][15], which shows the exam was tough but doable. Student feedback suggests that previous NEET SS Medicine papers had about 50% easy questions (NEET PG level), while 25% were most important ones, especially in genetics [3].
Comparison with previous year patterns
NEET SS 2023 was moderately difficult with good attempts around 120 out of 150 questions [3]. The 2024 exam—Day 2 in particular—proved much harder. Some specialty papers showed interesting changes from last year.
Obstetrics and Gynecology questions were easier compared to last year [16][17], giving candidates some breathing room. Medical Oncology and Critical Care Medicine, however, were much tougher than before [16][17], requiring students to become skilled at their subjects.
Day 1 had several questions from previous years [1][16]. Day 2 papers didn't follow this trend [15], which suggests different approaches to question selection each day.
Subject-wise difficulty variations
Different specialty groups showed clear variations in difficulty. Medical, Surgical, Microbiology, and Psychiatry groups had the toughest questions [14][16][15]. Students needed excellent preparation and analytical skills to tackle these.
Other specialty groups managed to keep moderate difficulty levels [15], creating a somewhat balanced test environment. These differences might affect cutoff scores, with harder subjects likely getting adjusted thresholds.
Looking back at 2023, Medicine and Pediatrics papers stayed moderately difficult [3]. The 2024 exam included 48.8% clinical-based and 34.9% concept-based questions [3]. This year's assessment followed similar patterns, focusing on practical application rather than memorization.
Time-bound sections, which worried many candidates at first, actually helped them. These sections allowed better time management for sectional questions [14] and helped alleviate the stress of increased difficulty through proper pacing.
🔬 Subject-Wise Analysis of NEET SS 2024 Medical Group DM Paper
The NEET SS 2024 examination held on March 30, 2025, presented a comprehensive assessment across super-specialty domains. The paper was challenging, with around 60% of the questions in the moderate-to-tough range. Notably, subject distribution showed clear deviations from previous trends, underscoring the unpredictability of NBE-conducted exams.
1. Gastroenterology & Hepatology (~27 Questions)
Weightage: Highest among all specialties.
Focus Areas: Viral hepatitis (C, E), Wilson’s disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, autoimmune hepatitis, fulminant hepatitis in pregnancy, and chronic pancreatitis.
Insights: Questions were moderately difficult, testing decision-making in liver pathologies and integration with hepatology. Overlap with GI pathology was high, and newer clinical guidelines were emphasized.
2. Rheumatology (~24–26 Questions)
Weightage: Second highest.
Focus Areas: RA (treatment, deformities), SLE, spondyloarthropathies, reactive arthritis, crystal arthropathies, adult Still’s disease, SAFO syndrome, and drug safety in pregnancy.
Insights: Majority of questions were straightforward to moderate. A few required nuanced understanding of prognostic markers and immunological associations.
3. Neurology (~11 Questions)
Weightage: Unexpectedly low compared to previous years.
Focus Areas: Multiple sclerosis (DMTs), glutaric acidemia (image-based), MR spectroscopy, Parkinsonism, seizures, and neurodegenerative disorders.
Insights: Despite fewer questions, the difficulty was high with INI SS-level framing. Many questions were image-based or from pediatric neurology and leukodystrophies, requiring advanced exposure.
4. Endocrinology & Nutrition (~13 Questions)
Weightage: Moderate.
Focus Areas: Craniopharyngioma, diabetes insipidus, MODY (HNF1-beta), MEN syndromes, SIADH, VHL, vitamin deficiencies (B1, B2, C, E), refeeding syndrome.
Insights: Questions blended clinical and biochemical reasoning. Pediatric endocrinology and nutritional overlaps were common. Overall moderate difficulty.
5. Infectious Diseases (~16 Questions)
Weightage: Consistently high, despite being underrated by candidates.
Focus Areas: HLH (secondary), toxoplasmosis, Q-SOFA, rabies, MDR organisms, Rifampin resistance, empirical antibiotics.
Insights: Tougher than previous years. High emphasis on antimicrobial stewardship, emerging infections, and deep-level ID knowledge beyond HIV/TB.
6. Cardiology (~10–12 Questions)
Weightage: Lower than usual, but difficulty high.
Focus Areas: Cardiomyopathies (HOCM, stress), echo interpretation, limb lead reversal ECG, inferior wall MI, cardiac toxins, cholesterol embolism.
Insights: Questions leaned toward DM-level understanding. Classic cardiology questions (valvular, JVP, murmurs) were missing. Complex hemodynamic scenarios were included.
7. Hematology (~8–10 Questions)
Weightage: Moderate.
Focus Areas: Sickle cell disease, iron deficiency, mastocytosis, peripheral smear interpretation (e.g., biscaratocytosis), hemoglobinopathies.
Insights: Shifted away from leukemias/lymphomas; focused on RBC pathology. Questions were conceptually tricky with close answer choices.
8. Nephrology (~6–8 Questions)
Weightage: Surprisingly low.
Focus Areas: ADPKD pain causes, renal artery stenosis vs. renal vein thrombosis (diagnostic imaging), cholesterol embolism, GFR targets.
Insights: Even with fewer questions, they were deep and detailed. Required time-consuming reading and critical interpretation.
9. Medical Oncology & Toxicology (~8–10 Questions)
Weightage: Often overlooked, but high-yield.
Focus Areas: Tumor lysis syndrome, opioid toxicity, barbiturate poisoning, naloxone dosage, Belladonna poisoning, chemotherapy-related questions.
Insights: Oncology content intersected with palliative care and toxicology. Opioid pharmacology was heavily tested.
10. Biostatistics (~4–5 Questions)
Weightage: Consistent with trend.
Focus Areas: Type 1 error, p-value interpretation, AUC, ROC curves.
Insights: Direct conceptual testing, likely in true/false format. Questions were basic but time-sensitive under pressure.
Key Takeaways from NEET SS 2024 Medical Group
60% of the paper was moderate to tough — higher difficulty than previous years.
Disproportionate subject weightage — Gastro, Rheumatology, and ID were dominant.
Neurology and Cardiology received fewer questions, though at a higher level.
Harrison textbook alone wasn’t sufficient — questions pulled from super-specialty resources.
Block A was toughest — time-bound format created added pressure.
DM-level question difficulty suggests increased influence of INI SS-style framing.
Strategy for Future Aspirants (NEET SS 2025 / INI SS 2025)
Diversify your prep — don’t rely solely on previous year’s subject patterns.
Solve MCQs with time tracking — especially long clinical scenarios.
Go beyond Harrison — include super-specialty texts and DocTutorials-style T&D resources.
Revise high-yield “minor subjects” — like Infectious Diseases, Oncology, Biostatistics.
Expected NEET SS 2024 Cutoff Predictions for DM Specialties
The prediction of NEET SS 2024 cutoffs for DM specialties needs a close look at past patterns and the current exam's difficulty level. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) will announce the official NEET SS cutoff with results on April 30, 2025 [18].
Historical cutoff trends analysis
NEET SS used to set a standard qualifying threshold at the 50th percentile for all categories [18]. The benchmarks have changed a lot in recent years. The cutoffs saw a sharp drop from the 50th to the 20th percentile in 2022 [19]. This change came after the Ministry of Health, Government of India, stepped in to fill empty seats across 13 specialization categories [20]. NBEMS took an even bigger step by reducing some specialty cutoffs to zero in earlier sessions [20]. These changes show how flexible NEET SS cutoff determination can be.
Specialty-wise cutoff variations
Each DM specialty tends to have its own cutoff threshold. Specialties like Gynecological Oncology and Neuroradiology have managed to keep higher cutoffs over the years [19]. The expected scores vary quite a bit by specialty group. Psychiatry Group (359), Obstetrics And Gynecology Group (357), and Respiratory Medicine Group (347) need higher scores than Anesthesia Group (293) and Medical Group (272) [19].
Impact of question difficulty on expected cutoffs
The tough nature of the March 30 examination will without doubt affect cutoff determinations. Day 2 paper proved especially challenging for candidates [4]. This suggests we might see lower cutoffs compared to previous years. NBEMS works with a simple rule - tougher questions lead to lower cutoffs [20].
Expert opinions on passing scores
Medical education specialists believe the 50th percentile requirement might stay in place at first [21]. Empty seats after counseling rounds could push cutoffs down to the 20th percentile, just like previous years [13]. The counseling process usually runs multiple rounds, and cutoffs might drop to fill empty seats [19]. The qualifying percentile ends up being valid only for the 2024 admission session and can't be used later [22].
CONCLUSION
NEET SS 2024 proved to be a tough test, especially for Day 2 candidates. The original time-bound sections worried many, but candidates adapted well. Most of them managed to answer 140-145 questions, which shows they handled the format changes effectively.
Medical experts expect different cutoffs for various specialties. These numbers might drop because of the test's difficulty level. Medical, Surgical, Microbiology, and Psychiatry groups were notably challenging. Looking at previous trends, cutoffs could fall from the 50th to the 20th percentile if seats remain empty after the first counseling rounds.
Success in NEET SS 2024 went beyond just theory knowledge. The exam focused heavily on clinical scenarios, diagnostic approaches, and recent advances. NBEMS clearly wanted to test practical skills. Future candidates should expect this trend to continue. They need detailed preparation and regular practice with clinical cases to succeed.
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