If you are a science student who has just completed 12th grade, this is the to wonder which entrance exam you should take: NEET or JEE? These exams jointly are highly competitive and can open up many opportunities for your future career.
However, do not think they are the same as they also have some drastic differences you should consider before making a choice. In this blog post, we will compare NEET and JEE in terms of their difficulty level, syllabus, eligibility criteria, salary, competition level, seat intake, number of attempts, success rate, college options, and career opportunities. Not only that but here you will also find tips and tricks to prepare for both exams and choose the one that suits you best. Hence, this is a one-shot manual for you to consider all the options and then make a decision.
How to Decide Between NEET and JEE?
What is NEET?
NEET stands for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. It is a national-level exam conducted for admission into undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental courses in India. NEET tests your knowledge of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. If you want to become a doctor or a dentist, you must clear NEET.
What is JEE?
JEE stands for Joint Entrance Examination. It is also a national-level exam conducted for admission into engineering courses in India. This JEE exam has two stages: JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
JEE Main tests your knowledge of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. If you want to get into the top engineering colleges like IITs, NITs, and IIITs, you must clear both JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
NEET vs JEE: Key Differences
NEET vs JEE Eligibility Criteria
- To appear for NEET, you must pass 12th grade with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as compulsory subjects. You also have to score at least 50% marks in aggregate (40% for SC/ST/OBC) in these subjects.
- To appear for JEE Main, you must pass 12th grade with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and English as compulsory subjects. Here again, you also have to score at least 75% marks in aggregate (65% for SC/ST) or be in the top 20 percentile of your board. To appear for JEE Advanced, you need to qualify for JEE Main and be among the top 2.5 lakh candidates.
NEET vs JEE Syllabus
- NEET syllabus covers the topics from 11th and 12th grade NCERT books of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
- JEE Main syllabus includes topics from 11th and 12th grade NCERT books of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. JEE Advanced syllabus covers additional topics not included in NCERT books.
NEET vs JEE Salary
- The salary of a doctor or a dentist is influenced by their specialization, experience, location, reputation, and more. However, on average, a doctor in India can earn around Rs. 10 lakh per annum, while a dentist can earn around Rs. 6 lakh per annum.
- An engineer in India can earn around Rs. 5 lakhs per year, but the salary may vary according to their branch, company, and skills.
NEET vs JEE Competition Level
NEET and JEE are highly competitive exams, with lakhs of aspirants appearing each year. However, NEET has more competition than JEE Main because of the higher number of applicants and the limited number of seats. In 2024, around 16 lakh candidates appeared for NEET, while around 9 lakh candidates appeared for JEE Main.
NEET vs JEE Seat Intake
- The number of seats available for admission through NEET and JEE also varies significantly. According to the latest data from MHRD (Ministry of Human Resource Development), there are around 83 thousand seats for MBBS/BDS courses in India through NEET.
- There are around 13 thousand seats for B.Tech/B.E courses in IITs through JEE Advanced. There are around 31 thousand seats for B.Tech/B.E courses in NITs through JEE Main.
NEET vs JEE Number of Attempts
- You can attempt NEET as many times as you want until you reach the upper age limit of 25 years (30 years for SC/ST/OBC).
- You can attempt JEE Main three times in consecutive years, while you can attempt JEE Advanced two times in consecutive years.
NEET vs JEE Success Rate
The NEET and JEE exams are known for their high level of difficulty and competition, resulting in a low success rate. Approximately 15% of NEET test-takers and 10% of JEE Main test-takers clear the exams. The success rate of JEE Advanced is even lower, with only about 2% of test-takers passing.
NEET vs JEE: College Options
Various colleges across India offer admission based on NEET or JEE scores and ranks. Here are some of the top colleges that accept NEET or JEE scores:
Top Colleges for NEET
- AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), New Delhi;
- Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi;
- Christian Medical College, Vellore;
- Armed Forces Medical College, Pune;
- King George’s Medical University, Lucknow; etc.
Top Colleges for JEE Advanced
IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, etc.
Top Colleges for JEE Main
NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal, NIT Rourkela, NIT Calicut, etc.
NEET vs JEE: Career Opportunities
After completing your graduation through NEET or JEE, you can pursue various career options in the field of medicine or engineering.
Career Options for NEET
- You can opt for postgraduate courses like MD/MS/MDS in various specializations like Surgery, Medicine, Pediatrics, Gynecology, Orthopedics, etc.
- You can also go for super-speciality courses like, DM/MCh in fields like Cardiology, Neurology, Urology, etc.
- Other than these, you can work as a doctor or a dentist in hospitals, clinics, research institutes, etc.
- But if you do not want to opt for a traditional career in the healthcare industry, you can also prepare for exams like UPSC or join the defence services as a medical officer.
Career Options for JEE
- You can opt for postgraduate courses like M.Tech/M.E/M.S in various branches like Computer Science, Electronics, Mechanical, Civil, etc.
- You can also go for research-oriented courses like Ph.D. in fields like Artificial Intelligence, Nanotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, etc.
- You can work as an engineer or a scientist in industries, organizations, research institutes, etc.
- Other than these, you can also prepare for exams like GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) or join the defence services as an engineering officer.
NEET vs JEE: Which is Tough?
Choosing between NEET and JEE depends on your interest and aptitude. Factors that can make one exam tougher than the other include:
- NEET has three subjects while JEE has four subjects (including JEE Advanced). This means that you have to cover more topics and syllabus for JEE than NEET.
- NEET gives equal weightage to all three subjects, while JEE gives more weightage to Mathematics than Physics or Chemistry. This means that you have to be more proficient in Mathematics for JEE than NEET.
- NEET questions are mostly based on NCERT books, while JEE questions are more conceptual and application-based. This means that you have to be more analytical and logical for JEE than NEET.
However, these factors do not necessarily mean that one exam is easier or harder than the other. If you study smartly and practice well, you can crack any exam with confidence.
How to Choose Between NEET and JEE?
The final decision is completely on you, so ask some questions to yourself. Ask,
- Do I enjoy studying Biology or Mathematics?
- Am I ready for the commitment?
- Do I want to save lives or build things?
If you know the answer to these questions, join Learning Ant and learn like an ant to be the doctor or engineer of the next generation.
