Students across India said the physics section of the NEET-UG 2026 re-test was tougher than previous versions of the exam.

The perceived difficulty of the physics paper may influence the final cut-off scores for medical admissions, as students struggled with the length and complexity of the questions.

The re-test took place on Sunday, June 21, across 551 cities and 14 international locations [1]. Approximately 2.2 million candidates appeared for the examination [1].

In Ranchi, Jharkhand, a student aspirant said that physics was tougher this time [2]. This sentiment was echoed by other candidates, including a student from Kota who said the physics paper was tough and lengthier than before [3].

While physics presented a challenge, other sections were viewed more favorably. Students reported that the chemistry section was moderate, while biology was easier [2, 3]. One unnamed student said biology was easy and NCERT-based [3].

According to reports, the difficulty in physics stemmed from the exam setters making the paper longer and more concept-heavy [3]. This contrast in difficulty across the three subjects has led some aspirants to expect a lower cut-off for the current cycle [3].

“"Physics was tougher this time."”

The disparity in difficulty between the physics and biology sections suggests a shift in the exam's weighting toward conceptual application over rote memorization. If the physics section was universally more difficult, the National Testing Agency may face pressure to adjust the qualifying cut-off scores to ensure that student performance is not unfairly penalized by a sudden spike in paper complexity.