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NEET Biology PYQ NCERT Analysis 2019–2026 | How Many Questions From NCERT | Asfak Hossain

NEET UG Biology · Verified Research · 2019 – 2026

How Many NEET Biology Questions Come From NCERT? — 8 Years, 760 Questions, Every Answer

A rigorous, question-by-question cross-reference of every NEET Biology paper from 2019 to 2026 against NCERT Class 11 and 12 textbooks. Every out-of-NCERT question is identified, with chapter source and reasoning.

8Papers Analysed (2019–2026)
760Total Biology Questions
98.4%Questions from NCERT
12Confirmed Non-NCERT Qs
2022100% NCERT year
2025Highest OON (5 questions)
01

Why This Analysis Matters for NEET 2027

The single most important fact about NEET Biology: Over 8 years and 760 questions, 98.4% of all NEET Biology questions came directly from NCERT Class 11 and 12 textbooks. Only 12 questions — spread across 8 years — were outside the NCERT syllabus entirely. This is not an estimate. Every question in this analysis has been cross-referenced against NCERT chapter text, tables, diagrams, and examples.

✓ NCERT is non-negotiable

98.4% of questions are traceable to specific NCERT lines, diagrams, or tables. No other book gives this return. Line-by-line NCERT reading is your highest-yield strategy.

⚠ 1–2% can change your rank

Those 12 non-NCERT questions across 8 years could cost 48 marks. The difference between rank 500 and rank 5000 is often just 10–15 marks. These questions matter.

↑ 2025 broke the pattern

NEET 2025 had 5 out-of-NCERT Biology questions — a clear outlier and a signal that NTA is slowly increasing conceptual depth. NEET 2026 returned to just 1 OON question.

02

Year-wise Master Summary (2019–2026)

Year Exam Pattern Total Bio Qs Direct NCERT NCERT-Applied* Out of NCERT % NCERT
2019180 Qs, all compulsory, 3 hrs90881198.9%
2020180 Qs, all compulsory, 3 hrs90881198.9%
2021200 Qs, attempt 180, 3 hrs 20 min100971298.0%
2022200 Qs, attempt 180, 3 hrs 20 min1009820100.0% ✓
2023200 Qs, attempt 180, 3 hrs 20 min100972199.0%
2024200 Qs, attempt 180, 3 hrs 20 min100972199.0%
2025180 Qs, all compulsory, 3 hrs90832594.4%
2026180 Qs, all compulsory, 3 hrs90863198.9%
8-Year Total760734141298.4%

* NCERT-Applied = The concept is explicitly in NCERT, but the question requires a Punnett square, calculation, or inference (e.g., RQ calculation, ABO blood group probability). These are NOT outside the syllabus — NCERT preparation fully covers them.

03

Detailed Year-by-Year Analysis

Click any year to expand the full analysis including out-of-NCERT questions, their NCERT chapter, and exact reasoning.

NEET 2019 90 Bio Qs · Q91–Q180 · 5 May 2019 · 180 Qs all compulsory
88 Direct NCERT 1 Applied 1 Non-NCERT
NCERT Coverage98.9%
Q No.StatusQuestion TopicNCERT ChapterWhy Out of NCERT / Verification
Q93 Non-NCERT Insulin-dependent glucose transporter (GLUT I / II / III / IV) Ch.9 Biomolecules, Class 11 GLUT isoforms (GLUT I, II, III, IV) and their insulin-dependency are not mentioned anywhere in NCERT Class 11 or 12 Biology. This requires knowledge from advanced biochemistry references.
NCERT Coverage98.9%
Q No.StatusQuestion TopicNCERT ChapterWhy Out of NCERT / Verification
Q105 Non-NCERT Floridean starch has structure similar to amylopectin and glycogen Ch.3 Plant Kingdom, Class 11 NCERT Class 11 Ch.3 mentions Floridean starch as the reserve food of red algae (Rhodophyta) but does not discuss its structural similarity to amylopectin or glycogen. The detailed structural comparison is beyond NCERT scope.
NCERT Coverage98.0%
Q No.StatusQuestion TopicNCERT ChapterWhy Out of NCERT / Verification
Q103 Non-NCERT Which are NOT secondary metabolites — curcumin, vinblastin classification Ch.9 Biomolecules, Class 11 NCERT Class 11 Ch.9 lists secondary metabolites broadly (rubber, gums, alkaloids, pigments), but the specific identification of curcumin and vinblastin as secondary metabolites — and distinguishing them from amino acids and glucose as primary metabolites — requires reference-level knowledge beyond NCERT text.
Q106 Non-NCERT Which algae contains mannitol as reserve food — options: Gracilaria, Volvox, Ulothrix, Ectocarpus Ch.3 Plant Kingdom, Class 11 NCERT Class 11 Ch.3 states that brown algae (Phaeophyta) store food as mannitol and laminarin, but does not name specific genera for this fact. Identifying Ectocarpus specifically as the mannitol-storing genus requires genus-level knowledge not present in NCERT.
NCERT Coverage100.0%
Zero non-NCERT questions. Every single Biology question in NEET 2022 is directly traceable to NCERT Class 11 or 12 Biology textbooks. This is the cleanest NEET Biology paper of the 2019–2026 period and the benchmark for what NCERT-only preparation can achieve. Students who read NCERT thoroughly would have found zero surprises in the Biology section of NEET 2022.
NCERT Coverage99.0%
Q No.StatusQuestion TopicNCERT ChapterWhy Out of NCERT / Verification
Q103 Non-NCERT The thickness of ozone in the atmosphere is measured in — Dobson units Ch.16 Environmental Issues, Class 12 NCERT Class 12 Ch.16 discusses ozone layer depletion in detail, but "Dobson units" as the measurement unit for ozone column thickness is never mentioned in NCERT Biology. This unit is from atmospheric science and is outside the NCERT Biology syllabus.
NCERT Coverage99.0%
Q No.StatusQuestion TopicNCERT ChapterWhy Out of NCERT / Verification
Q106 Non-NCERT Reasons for greatest species richness in tropical regions — multi-statement including niche specialization in constant environments Ch.15 Biodiversity & Conservation, Class 12 NCERT Class 12 Ch.15 gives general reasons for tropical species richness (undisturbed over millions of years, more solar energy). However, the specific ecological concept of "niche specialization due to constant, predictable tropical environments" uses phrasing and theoretical framing from ecology texts beyond NCERT scope.
NCERT Coverage94.4%
⚠ NEET 2025 is the outlier year. Five non-NCERT Biology questions is unprecedented across the 2019–2026 period. Combined with the removal of Section B (making all 180 questions compulsory), this paper was strategically more challenging. NEET 2026 reversed this trend with just 1 OON question.
Q No.StatusQuestion TopicNCERT ChapterWhy Out of NCERT / Verification
Q93 Non-NCERT Potential drawbacks of IVF — options included "less adoption of orphans" and "not available in India" Ch.4 Reproductive Health, Class 12 IVF is mentioned in NCERT Class 12 Ch.4, but the specific societal and practical drawbacks listed in the options (less adoption of orphans, availability in India) are opinion-based and value-loaded statements absent from NCERT text entirely.
Q95 Non-NCERT Which statement refers to Reductionist Biology — physico-chemical / physiological / chemical / behavioural approach Ch.1 The Living World, Class 11 The term "Reductionist Biology" appears briefly in NCERT Class 11 Ch.1. However, the specific characterisation of physico-chemical approach as the definition of Reductionist Biology, and the multi-option format used, goes beyond what is directly stated in NCERT text.
Q117 Non-NCERT Enzyme class catalyzing: S–G + S# → S + S#–G (group transfer, G ≠ hydrogen) Ch.9 Biomolecules, Class 11 NCERT Class 11 Ch.9 names the six enzyme classes briefly. However, the formal symbolic reaction notation for Transferases (group transfer where G is a group other than hydrogen) is not presented in this notation in NCERT. This level of enzyme nomenclature is from advanced biochemistry.
Q131 Non-NCERT Which enzyme contains Haem as prosthetic group — options: RuBisCO, Carbonic anhydrase, Catalase Ch.9 Biomolecules, Class 11 NCERT Class 11 Ch.9 discusses cofactors and prosthetic groups conceptually, but does not explicitly state that Catalase contains Haem as its prosthetic group. This specific fact requires knowledge beyond NCERT Biology.
Q133 Non-NCERT Who is known as the Father of Ecology in India — Ramdeo Misra Not in any NCERT chapter This question is completely outside the NCERT Class 11 and 12 Biology syllabus. No NCERT chapter mentions the "Father of Ecology in India" or any Indian ecologist by name. This is general ecological history knowledge, not part of the prescribed syllabus.
NCERT Coverage98.9%
Q No.StatusQuestion TopicNCERT ChapterWhy Out of NCERT / Verification
Q130 Non-NCERT Match: Trypsin / Morphine / Concanavalin A / Collagen with Intercellular ground substance / Lectin / Enzyme / Alkaloid Ch.9 Biomolecules, Class 11 While Trypsin (enzyme), Morphine (alkaloid), and Collagen (structural protein) are NCERT concepts, Concanavalin A — a plant lectin from jack beans — and "Lectin" as a category of bioactive proteins are entirely absent from NCERT Class 11 and 12 Biology. This requires knowledge from plant biochemistry beyond the NCERT syllabus.

NCERT-Applied questions in 2026 (concept from NCERT, calculation or inference needed): Q128 — Respiratory Quotient calculation from a given equation (RQ = CO₂/O₂ = 102/145 ≈ 0.70; fat respiration, Between 0.5–0.95); Q144 — ABO blood group probability (both parents heterozygous IAi × IBi cross gives 25% O group); Q155 — WBC differential count calculation (eosinophils 2–3%, lymphocytes 20–25% of 8000 cells). All three require Punnett squares or arithmetic, but the underlying concepts are squarely from NCERT.

04

All 12 Confirmed Out-of-NCERT Biology Questions (2019–2026)

These are the only questions across 8 years and 760 questions that were definitively outside NCERT. Note the chapters they cluster in — Biomolecules (Class 11 Ch.9) and Plant Kingdom (Class 11 Ch.3) together account for 5 of the 12 OON questions.
YearQ No.Topic / KeywordNearest NCERT ChapterWhat NCERT Says / What Is Missing
2019Q93Insulin-dependent glucose transporter — GLUT IVCh.9 Biomolecules, Class 11GLUT isoform names and their insulin dependency are absent from NCERT
2020Q105Floridean starch similar to amylopectin and glycogenCh.3 Plant Kingdom, Class 11NCERT names Floridean starch as red algae reserve food but gives no structural comparison
2021Q103Curcumin / vinblastin — secondary metabolites classificationCh.9 Biomolecules, Class 11NCERT lists secondary metabolite types broadly; specific molecules like curcumin not named
2021Q106Mannitol as reserve food in Ectocarpus specificallyCh.3 Plant Kingdom, Class 11NCERT says brown algae store mannitol; does not identify Ectocarpus specifically
2023Q103Ozone thickness measured in Dobson unitsCh.16 Environmental Issues, Class 12NCERT discusses ozone depletion extensively but never uses "Dobson units"
2024Q106Niche specialization in constant tropical environmentsCh.15 Biodiversity, Class 12NCERT gives different reasons for tropical richness; niche specialization theory phrasing is beyond NCERT
2025Q93IVF societal drawbacks — less adoption, unavailabilityCh.4 Reproductive Health, Class 12IVF is in NCERT; opinion-based drawback statements are not
2025Q95Reductionist Biology = physico-chemical approachCh.1 The Living World, Class 11Term appears in NCERT briefly; the specific definitional answer option is an inference beyond NCERT text
2025Q117Transferase — symbolic group-transfer reaction notationCh.9 Biomolecules, Class 11NCERT names six enzyme classes; symbolic reaction notation for Transferases is not in NCERT
2025Q131Haem as prosthetic group in CatalaseCh.9 Biomolecules, Class 11NCERT discusses prosthetic groups conceptually; does not specify Haem in Catalase
2025Q133Father of Ecology in India — Ramdeo MisraNot in any NCERT chapterCompletely absent from NCERT. No Indian ecologist is named in any NCERT Biology chapter.
2026Q130Concanavalin A / Lectin classificationCh.9 Biomolecules, Class 11Trypsin, Morphine, Collagen are NCERT; Concanavalin A and plant lectins are not in NCERT
05

Highest-Yield NCERT Chapters for NEET Biology

Ranked by average questions per year across 2019–2026. These chapters are your highest-return investments for NEET Biology preparation.

PriorityClassChapterAvg Qs / YearOON RiskPreparation Note
#1Class 12 Ch.5 Principles of Inheritance & Variation 8–10 Very Low Mendel's laws, codominance, sex determination, genetic disorders — every word of NCERT matters here
#2Class 12 Ch.6 Molecular Basis of Inheritance 6–8 Very Low DNA structure, replication, transcription, translation, lac operon, DNA fingerprinting — high density of questions
#3Class 12 Ch.2 Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants 5–7 Very Low Microsporogenesis, embryo sac, pollination types, xenogamy, sexual deceit — all direct NCERT
#4Class 11 Ch.4 Animal Kingdom 5–7 Very Low Systematic characters of each phylum and class — tabular NCERT content. High direct-recall yield.
#5Class 12 Ch.11 & 12 Biotechnology 5–7 Very Low Restriction enzymes, PCR, pBR322, GMOs, Bt cotton — all very NCERT-faithful
#6Class 12 Ch.14 Ecosystem 4–6 Very Low Productivity types, ecological pyramids, decomposition, biogeochemical cycles
#7Class 11 Ch.17 Breathing & Exchange of Gases 4–6 Very Low Respiratory volumes with exact mL values — high calculation/match question yield
#8Class 12 Ch.3 Human Reproduction 4–6 Very Low Gametogenesis, embryo development milestones, GIFT, IVF — milestone weeks appear repeatedly
#9Class 11 Ch.9 Biomolecules 4–6 Medium OON Risk Enzyme classes, cofactors, protein structure, secondary metabolites — 3 of 12 OON questions came from here
#10Class 12 Ch.15 Biodiversity & Conservation 4–6 Medium OON Risk Evil Quartet, hotspots, in situ/ex situ, mass extinction — 2 OON questions from this chapter across 8 years
06

Frequently Asked Questions

Over 8 years (2019–2026), 98.4% of NEET Biology questions came from NCERT Class 11 and 12 textbooks. Out of 760 Biology questions analysed, only 12 were confirmed as completely outside the NCERT syllabus. This percentage has remained above 94% even in the toughest year (NEET 2025), underscoring that NCERT is the foundation for NEET Biology.

Yes — NCERT is the single most important resource for NEET Biology. The data from 2019 to 2026 is unambiguous: more than 98% of Biology questions are directly traceable to NCERT Class 11 and 12. Students who read NCERT thoroughly, including diagrams, tables, in-text examples, and even footnotes, consistently outperform those who rely on summaries or notes. Deep NCERT reading is non-negotiable for 340+ in Biology.

NEET 2025 had the highest number of out-of-NCERT Biology questions — 5 questions. This includes: IVF societal drawbacks (Q93), Reductionist Biology definition (Q95), Transferase reaction notation (Q117), Haem as prosthetic group in Catalase (Q131), and the Father of Ecology in India (Q133). NEET 2026 returned to just 1 out-of-NCERT question, suggesting 2025 was an outlier rather than a new trend.

NEET 2022 was the cleanest NEET Biology paper — every single one of the 100 Biology questions was directly traceable to NCERT Class 11 or 12 Biology textbooks. Zero out-of-NCERT questions. This demonstrates that NTA's benchmark for NEET Biology remains firmly rooted in NCERT, and thorough NCERT preparation alone can get a student to maximum marks in Biology in some years.

Based on the current NTA pattern (which reverted in 2025), NEET 2027 is expected to have 90 Biology questions out of 180 total questions. Biology carries 360 marks (90 × 4 marks each), which is 50% of the total 720 marks. There is no optional section in the current format — all 180 questions must be attempted. NTA can change the pattern, so always check the official notification for NEET 2027.

The top chapters by average question count (2019–2026) are: Ch.5 Principles of Inheritance & Variation (8–10 Qs/year), Ch.6 Molecular Basis of Inheritance (6–8 Qs/year), Ch.2 Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants (5–7 Qs/year), Ch.4 Animal Kingdom (5–7 Qs/year), and Ch.11 & 12 Biotechnology (5–7 Qs/year). Class 12 chapters collectively contribute about 55–60% of NEET Biology questions.

Source & Methodology: This analysis is based on actual NEET UG question papers (2019–2025 from official NTA sources via New Light Institute compilations; 2026 from the official paper Code 12, Booklet 110553454, KAILASH series, 3 May 2026). Every question was individually cross-referenced against the NCERT Class 11 Biology (NCERT, 2023 reprint) and Class 12 Biology (NCERT, 2023 reprint) textbooks. A question is classified as "out of NCERT" only when the specific fact, term, unit, or concept is provably absent from NCERT text, diagrams, tables, examples, or exercises. Questions requiring Punnett square calculations, arithmetic, or inference from NCERT-defined concepts are classified as "NCERT-Applied," not out-of-NCERT. Last updated: May 2026.