NEET-2021: Tie-breaking criteria changed, Details

Following this, no candidates would get any upper hand for being older in age while NTA prepares the merit list.

Previously, in order to ensure that the same scoring candidates do not get assigned with the same ranks, age used to be considered as a factor for breaking ties between the candidates who scored same marks in NEET exam.

As per the Information Bulletin released by NTA back in 2020-

In case of two or more candidates obtaining equal marks/percentile score in the NEET (UG) - 2020, the inter-se-merit shall be determined as follows:

a) Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by,

b) Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Chemistry in the Test, followed by,

c) Candidate with less proportion of number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in all the subjects in the Test, followed by,

d) Candidate older in age.

Also Read: NEET Results OUT: Check out the 10 toppers

In fact, this age factor was taken into consideration while announcing the topper of NEET 2020 as well. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that last year two candidates who had secured full marks in the medical entrance exam were Shoyeb Aftab from Odisha and Akanksha Singh from Uttar Pradesh.

However, despite securing the same marks, Akanksha was ranked 2 in AIR because of the tiebreaker policy as both the students had scored a perfect tonne. She lost the top rank to Odisha''s Soyeb Aftab due to her younger age which was one of the factors accounted in the National Testing Agency's tie-breaking policy.

Back then, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath had mentioned that he would be writing a letter to the NEET board asking to rank her first topper.

This age factor, however has been eliminated by the NTA this year. The Information Bulletin 2021 clearly shows that there is no mention of giving any advantage to older candidates in the merit list.

It mentions only three factors for breaking ties,

a. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by,

b. Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Chemistry in the Test, followed by,

c. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in all the subjects in the Test.

Although this new 'no age factor' policy of NTA would ensure that merit would be the first and foremost priority while preparing the merit list, this also means that in 2021, the merit list of NEET is likely to offer several candidates with the same rank.