NEET PG 2025 Two Shift Exam Format, Dates, Score Normalization Details

 

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) recently announced that the NEET PG 2025 examination will be conducted in two shifts on 15th June 2025, raising widespread concerns among candidates and medical professionals. The decision, outlined in a notification issued on 17th March 2025, has drawn significant criticism due to fears over the fairness of the statistical normalization process used to equate scores across different exam papers.

This will be only the second time that the NEET PG 2025 examination, a gateway for admissions to postgraduate medical programs across India, will be conducted in multiple shifts. The previous instance, during NEET PG 2024, resulted in substantial controversy and legal challenges over the statistical normalization process, with candidates alleging score discrepancies and unfair disadvantages.

NEET PG 2025 Format, Date, Statistical Normalization Method Official PDF Download Link.

NEET PG 2025: Key Exam Details

NEET PG 2025 Controversy Surrounding the Two Shift Format

Implications of Score Normalisation in NEET PG 2025

The core issue with the Two Shift Format is the statistical normalization method, which is applied to equate scores across different shifts. The difficulty level may vary since each shift's candidates face different questions. The statistical normalization method adjusts scores and creates parity between the two shifts to ensure fairness.

How the Score Normalisation Method Works

1. Raw Score Calculation: NEET PG 2025 Candidates receive four marks for each correct answer, lose one mark for each incorrect response, and receive zero for unanswered questions.
   
   
2. Percentile Score Calculation: The percentile score indicates how a candidate’s performance compares to others. For example, a NEET PG 2025 candidate in the 85th percentile has performed better than 85 percent of all test-takers.
   
   
3. Equating and Scaling: Since the exam is conducted in multiple shifts, equating and scaling methods are applied to balance scores across shifts. This is intended to compensate for any difficulty variations between the two NEET PG 2025 exam papers.
   
   

Challenges with the Score Normalisation Method

• Inconsistency in Scoring: Many candidates argue that the score normalization method fails to adequately compensate for differences in question difficulty, leading to discrepancies in final scores.
  
  
• Undermining Meritocracy: Since the scores are adjusted statistically, students with differing raw performances may have similar normalized scores. This has raised questions about the credibility of the ranking process.
  
  
• Legal Challenges: Following NEET PG 2024, multiple candidates filed petitions in the Supreme Court, questioning the transparency and fairness of the score normalization method.
  
  

Also Read NEET 2025 Registrations Drop as 23 Lakh Apply: Know Marks vs. Rank

FAIMA’s Opposition to the Two Shift Format

In response to the NEET PG 2025 Two Shift Format, the Federation of All Indian Medical Associations (FAIMA) issued a letter to the executive director of NBEMS on 18 March 2025, urging the board to reconsider its decision.

FAIMA’s Key Concerns

• Uniformity in Difficulty: FAIMA argues that a single-shift exam ensures that all candidates face the same difficulty level, eliminating the need for normalization.
  
  
• Fairness and Transparency: A single-shift format guarantees greater transparency and prevents disputes over score adjustments.
  
  
• Legal Certainty: FAIMA warns that a multiple-shift NEET PG 2025 exam could result in legal challenges, which may delay the admission process and create uncertainty among candidates.
  
  
  

Impact of the Two Shift Pattern Format of NEET PG 2024 Exam

Advantages of a Single-Shift Examination

Experts and candidates have strongly preferred a single-shift format, citing several advantages over the current two shift model.

Benefits of a Single-Shift Exam

1. Uniform Difficulty: All NEET PG 2025 candidates face the same questions, ensuring a level playing field.
   
   
2. No Need for Normalisation: A single shift eliminates the need for statistical adjustments, thereby preventing score discrepancies.
   
   
3. Minimized Legal Challenges: Without score variations, the risk of legal disputes over score inconsistencies is significantly reduced.
   
   
4. Enhanced Trust: A single-shift format boosts public confidence in the exam’s integrity by ensuring transparency and fairness.
   
   
5. Efficient Admission Process: With fewer disputes and legal hurdles, the admission process can proceed smoothly and efficiently.
   
   

The decision to implement the Two Shift Format again for NEET PG 2025 has reignited similar frustrations. The NEET PG 2025 exam in two shifts raises concerns over score normalization, with medical aspirants and professionals questioning the efficacy of the process. Critics argue that variations in paper difficulty levels across shifts make the normalization formula highly debatable. Previously, the move was also condemned by Medical Education Activist Dr. Vivek Pandey, who urged NBEMS to reconsider its decision. Additionally, several doctors' associations, including the All India MBBS Doctors Association (AIMDA), United Doctors Front (UDF), and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), have vehemently opposed the Two Shift Format.

As the exam date approaches, the demands for reconsidering the Two Shift Format continue to gain momentum, with more doctors’ associations joining the protest. Medical professionals emphasize the need for a single-shift format to ensure a fair and transparent evaluation process and prevent discrepancies caused by score normalization issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is NEET PG 2025 being conducted in two shifts?

The NBEMS has decided to conduct the NEET PG 2025 exam in two shifts to accommodate more candidates. However, this format has raised concerns due to the flawed statistical normalization method, which many candidates consider unfair.

2. What is statistical normalization in NEET PG?

Statistical normalization is a method for equating scores across multiple shifts by adjusting for differences in question difficulty. It involves calculating raw scores, converting them into percentiles, and applying equating and scaling methods.

3. Why are candidates opposing the Two Shift Format?

Candidates argue that the Two Shift Format leads to score inconsistencies due to the statistical normalization method. They prefer a single-shift format to ensure uniform difficulty and fairness.

4. What were the issues with NEET PG 2024?

The NEET PG 2024 exam faced legal challenges due to score discrepancies from the score normalization method. Candidates filed petitions in the Supreme Court, questioning the fairness of the scoring methodology.

5. Will NEET PG 2025 face legal challenges?

Given the controversy surrounding NEET PG 2024, it is highly likely that NEET PG 2025 may face legal challenges if candidates perceive unfairness in the score normalization method.

 

The decision to conduct NEET PG 2025 in two shifts has reignited concerns over the fairness of the score normalization process. The NEET PG 2024 controversy is a cautionary tale, highlighting the Two Shift Format's potential legal and procedural challenges.

To uphold the integrity and transparency of the examination, NBEMS should reconsider its decision and adopt a single-shift format, ensuring fairness, consistency, and credibility in the medical entrance examination process.

 

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