Check out NEET 2021 Paper Analysis

However, few experts have also claimed that the paper was a bit lengthy and most of the questions took more than one minute to solve. It has been further claimed that being a lengthy paper, this year the cut-off for the exam is expected to dip a little when compared to the last-year paper, adds Hindustan Times.

This year, the number of NEET aspirants was higher than ever as more than 16 lakh candidates had registered for appearing in the examination, which took place on September 12.

NEET 2021 was earlier set to be conducted on August 1, 2021. However, due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, along with several other exams, NEET 2021 also got delayed and finally the Union Minister of Education announced that the exam would be conducted on September 12 instead.

NEET-UG is the qualifying exam for the candidates wishing to pursue their education in MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BSMS, BUMS and BHMS Courses. However, this year, NTA had mentioned that "Result of NEET (UG) - 2021 may be utilized by other Entities of Central/State Governments (including Indian Nursing Council/ Nursing Colleges/ Schools, JIPMER) for counselling / admission to relevant courses [including B.Sc. (Nursing) and B.Sc. (Life Sciences)] in accordance with their rules/norms/guidelines."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that several NEET candidates were demanding the deferment of the exam for some time and they cited that the exam was clashing with several other examinations such as CBSE private and improvement exam and ICAR.

However, the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Union Education Ministry recently confirmed that the exam date would not change and the test took place as per the schedule, i.e. on September 12.

This year, NTA introduced changes in the exam pattern as it provided the candidates with internal choice. The paper contained 180 Multiple Choice Questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology). There were two sections in the revised test pattern- 35 questions in Section A and 15 questions in Section B. Out of these 15 questions, candidates were asked to attempt any 10 questions.

Also Read: Numbers of NEET 2021 Candidates Cross 16 Lakh mark

As per the latest media report by Hindustan Times, experts have claimed that due to the pattern and time-consuming questions, this year's paper was difficult. The paper had new elements like match the column and assertion-reasoning questions like the AIIMS entrance examination paper of past year. In fact, in some match the column questions, candidates found two answers valid for the same question.

Further the experts at Vidyamandir classes told the daily that in Chemistry, all the chapters were covered in the question paper and numerical-related questions were more than the theoretical ones.

In case of Physics, the numerical questions were rather lengthy and tougher, the subject experts have claimed before the daily.

Besides, as per the experts many questions demanded more than one minute of time to be solved and this probably consumed the time of the candidates as it is expected that each question would take 1 minute to solve.

In respect of the Zoology paper, the expert opinion is that the paper being a lengthy one was difficult to answer. However, anyone who has clear concepts about the topics might find the paper easy to answer.

The latest media report by India Today, however, claims that the difficulty level of the NEET examination was of moderate difficulty. In Physics, the difficulty level has been claimed to be moderate to difficult, in Chemistry easy to moderate, in Botany easy to moderate, and in Zoology the difficulty level was moderate, adds the daily.

It has been further mentioned in the daily that most of the papers covered topic included within the NCERT syllabus and even though the Physics question was found to be lengthy, Chemistry and Botany were not lengthy at all. Further Zoology, Physics and Botany papers included some tricky questions as well, added the daily.

Meanwhile, students have started reacting to the paper on social media platforms as well. One user wrote, "200 questions/180 min. !!? Thumb impression Signature at 3 different places!! Photo pasting at attendance sheet!! So difficult paper."

"Why NEET 2021 is unfair?

• the authorities who conduct the exam will never understand the pressure it is on children

• if you're conducting it once, then make it easy. Not 200 ques and 180 min. Mains has 75 ques and 180 min," wrote another user.

Also Read: NEET 2021: Change in Exam Pattern, Students Write to NTA seeking Clarity