NEET 2023 sees 97% attendance; students say chemistry paper was most challenging

 NEET 2023 sees 97% attendance; students say chemistry paper was most challenging

MUMBAI: The undergraduate NEET 2023 was taken by over two million candidates on Sunday across India except in Manipur. The National Testing Agency recorded an attendance rate of 97%. Aspirants who took the test found the questions moderately difficult.

Students found chemistry to be the most challenging; physics and biology were easier in comparison. Inorganic chemistry was the toughest, for most students. But physics was a pleasant surprise for it was not as tough as the previous years, said students. In biology, students found the zoology questions easier than those from botany.
Golden Gate University

“The overall reaction of students suggests that the exam was rather easy and we are expecting higher cut-off scores this year,” said parent representative Sudha Shenoy. “Biology may pump up scores for many. But this year it is being felt that students who performed better in physics and chemistry will have an edge over other students,” she added. Last year, the cut-off for general category students was 117, the top scorer bagged 715.

In Mumbai, students who did not follow the dress code mandated by the NTA had a tough time getting into the exam centre. Full sleeve shirts and shorts were not allowed and candidates were asked to change their clothes. Parents who were at various centres across Mumbai said, aspirants were asked to remove their earrings, chains, shoes and even threads tied around their wrist.

Students who were even a minute or two late were not permitted to enter the exam hall. At Ramsheth Thakur School, Kharghar, a student who came at 1.32 pm, was not allowed in as gate had closed after the announcement at sharp 1.30. The exam was held from 2 pm to 5:20 pm in paper-pen mode at 4,075 centres across India, barring the 22 centres in Manipur.

A total of 20. 9 lakh candidates had registered this year for over 1. 4 lakh seats, including in private colleges. The gender gap also breached the 2 lakh-mark with 11. 8 lakh female candidates, 2.8 lakh more than males, registered for the test. Two states recorded over 2 lakh registrations — Maharashtra (2. 8 lakh) and UP (2. 7 lakh) — and seven over 1 lakh — Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.

Source : The Times of India