MCAT vs NEET: Which is More Difficult

In 2024, 23.81 lakhs of aspirants have registered for the NEET (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test) to study medicine in India. On the other hand, MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), which is for studying medicine in the US and Canada is taken by around 85,000 candidates annually. To choose the right one for yourself, here’s a closer look at the MCAT vs NEET. 

What is MCAT

Conducted by AAMC (American Association of Medical Colleges), MCAT is a multiple-choice and computer-based standardized test for studying medicine in the US. The scores are also accepted by several medical schools in Canada. Various graduate programs and health-profession institutions also take MCAT scores. 

What is NEET

NEET is conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency). The examination is taken by aspirants for admission into undergraduate MBBS, BDS, and Ayush courses each year. It is a mandatory standardized test to qualify in order to study medicine in India and even abroad. NEET currently acts as a benchmark examination for admissions into 313 dental colleges, 542 medical colleges, 914 Ayush colleges, and 47 BVSc (Bachelor of Veterinary Science) and AH (Animal Husbandry) colleges in the country. 

It is conducted in various languages including English, Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Odia, Marathi, Tamil, Punjabi, Urdu, and Telugu. 

MCAT vs NEET: Exam Syllabus

Here is the lowdown that will help you examine the MCAT vs NEET syllabus. 

MCAT (Four sections)	NEET (Three sections)
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior	Physics  Chemistry Biology (divided into Zoology and Botany)

MCAT vs NEET: Difficulty Level

The MCAT examination is regarded as highly challenging per the US News & World Report and other reputed organizations. It is the same story for the NEET, which is held as one of the toughest examinations to study medicine in India. 

MCAT is designed to assess the candidate’s factual and analytical knowledge, combining various disciplines. Whereas NEET examines the understanding of deep concepts Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

MCAT vs NEET: Exam Format

Here are the respective examination formats of MCAT and NEET: 

MCAT
Section	Number of Questions	Duration
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems	59 questions	95 minutes
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems	59 questions	95 minutes
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior	59 questions	95 minutes
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills	53 questions	90 minutes

NEET
Section	Number of Questions and Division	Duration
Physics	Section A (35 questions), Section B (15 questions)	3 hours 20  minutes
Chemistry	Section A (35 questions), Section B (15 questions)
Botany	Section A (35 questions), Section B (15 questions)
Zoology	Section A (35 questions), Section B (15 questions)

180 questions have to be answered in total by aspirants in the NEET examination. 

MCAT vs NEET: Scoring System

Here are the scoring systems of both examinations. 

MCAT:

• Five results- one for each of the four test sections and one for a combined total score.
• Each section scores between 118 and 132.
• Total score ranges between 472 and 528.

NEET: 

• Four marks for every correct answer.
• The examination has a total of 720 marks.
• One mark is deducted for every incorrect response.
• No marks are deducted for unanswered questions.

MCAT vs NEET: Test Duration

The duration of the NEET examination is 3 hours and 20 minutes. The MCAT examination has a duration of 6 hours and 15 minutes. It has a total seat time of approximately 7.5 hours. 

MCAT vs NEET: Exam Frequency

The MCAT examination is administered several times every year, between late-January to September. The NEET examination is held once a year in May. 

MCAT or NEET: Which One to Take 

With regard to the MCAT vs NEET debate, you might wonder which one to take. It all depends on your future goals and priorities. NEET is mainly for those who wish to gain admission into medical schools in India. MCAT is majorly for admission into medical schools in the US and Canada. 

Conclusion

Both NEET and MCAT are important examinations for gaining admission into medical schools. These examinations have their fundamental differences while requiring hard work, persistence, and, in some cases, a consideration for study abroad opportunities among aspirants.