NEET UG 2025 Expected Category-Wise Cut-Off and Safe Score: What Students Should Know

With the NEET UG 2025 exam concluded, lakhs of aspiring medical students are eagerly waiting for the results and official cut-off scores. This year’s exam was considered slightly tougher, especially in the Biology section, which may result in a slight dip in cut-off marks compared to previous years. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the expected category-wise cut-off ranges and safe scores needed for admission to government medical colleges in India.
NEET UG 2025: Expected Category-Wise Cut-Off and Safe Scores

As the NEET UG 2025 exam has been conducted, students are now turning their focus towards cut-off predictions and the likelihood of securing a seat in government medical colleges. This year, the exam was reportedly more challenging—particularly the Biology section, which featured complex and in-depth questions that caught many students off guard. As a result, experts are predicting a 10–15 mark dip in cut-off scores compared to last year.

Expected NEET UG 2025 Cut-Off & Safe Scores by Category
Category
Expected Cut-Off Range (2025)
Safe Score for Govt. Colleges
General / EWS
720–162
600–640 marks
General-PH
161–144
580–630 marks
OBC / SC / ST
161–127
500–560 marks
SC / OBC-PH
143–127
480–550 marks
ST-PH
142–127
470–540 marks

Impact of Paper Difficulty on Cut-Offs

The 2025 NEET paper was reportedly more difficult compared to the previous year. Due to higher-level and conceptual questions—especially in the Biology section—many students found the paper challenging. This could lead to a 10–15 mark reduction in cut-offs, increasing the chances for students who scored slightly lower.

What Is a Safe Score for Government Medical Colleges?

Admission to a government MBBS college remains the top goal for most NEET aspirants. Here’s what qualifies as a “safe score” this year:
• General/EWS: 600+ marks considered safe.
• OBC, SC, ST: 500+ marks may be sufficient depending on competition and seat availability.

Keep in mind that safe scores can vary slightly depending on the state quota, reservation policies, and counseling round dynamics.

Key Factors Influencing the NEET Cut-Off

Several factors affect the NEET UG 2025 cut-off scores:
1. Difficulty level of the exam.
2. Total number of candidates.
3. Availability of government medical seats.
4. Reservation policies of central and state governments.
5. Distribution of seats under state quotas.

Golden Opportunity for 600+ Scorers

Students scoring between 600 and 650 marks stand a strong chance of securing a seat through the All India Quota (AIQ) in government medical colleges. Those belonging to OBC, SC, ST, or EWS categories with scores in the 500–550 range may also qualify for seats, depending on the state and counseling round.

It is recommended to use online NEET rank predictors, although the final rank and seat allotment depend on actual seat matrix and competition levels.

Role of State Quotas in Seat Allotment

Each state has different numbers of government medical colleges and seats. Thus, the state quota seat allotment process differs across regions. Keep in mind:
• State-specific reservation rules and domicile criteria play a crucial role.
• Seats may shift during multiple counseling rounds.
• Regular updates from the state counseling websites are essential.

Conclusion

To succeed in NEET UG 2025 and secure a government medical college seat, students must estimate their chances based on their category-wise safe scores. If you’ve scored above 500–600 marks, your chances are strong. Now is the time to stay alert about counseling dates, keep all documents ready, and monitor your state’s counseling portal for updates.