MCAT VS NEET – Which One is More Difficult?

Aspiring to become a doctor? Then you must have come across NEET and MCAT. Both of them are medical entrance exams conducted to test whether you have the potential to become a doctor or not! NEET is a mandatory exam for pursuing a medical profession in India whereas MCAT is an admission test for international colleges in the US, Canada, Australia and the Caribbean Islands. Wondering which one is more difficult to crack? Find out with this exclusive blog on MCAT vs NEET 2021!

What is NEET?  

Until 2013, NEET – the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test was called All India Pre-Medical Test. This is the entrance exam that students aspiring to be in the medical field have to undertake in order to start their education at the UG and PG level in the medical discipline for both medical and dental courses. Since 2019, the examinations have been supervised by the NTA, i.e. National Testing Agency, which conveys the results to the Directorate General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

However, due to the distinct laws under which they were authorized, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), do not fall under the NEET umbrella.

Check Out – NEET Books and NEET Eligibility Here!

What is MCAT?

Considered amongst the most prominent medical entrance exams in the world, the Medical College Admission Test [MCAT] is a standardized examination for medical ability testing which is offered by the Association of American Medical Colleges [AAMC]. Further, institutions utilize these exam scores to check the suitability of the candidate with the nature and requirements of the offered programs. While the degrees may vary, MCAT is most widely adopted for admissions into courses after MBBS or other first-cycle medical degrees. An important fact for prospective candidates is that if you wish to begin medical practice in India after completing your course from abroad, qualifying for the FMGE exam is mandatory.

MCAT vs NEET  

For the benefit of applicants we have compiled a list of all the details you would need to choose between NEET and MCAT: 

Comparison	NEET	MCAT
Conducting bodies	National Testing Agency [NTA]	The Association of American Medical Colleges [AAMC].
Degree	For MBBS in India	For MD in US, Canada, Australia
Eligibility criteria	For UG courses 1. Candidate should score according to the cut offset by the Medical Council of India (MCI). 2. Candidate should be from the medical stream. For PG courses 1. A valid MBBS degree from a recognized institution by MCI completion of rotatory internship before 31st March 2021. 2. Permanent or provisional medical registration certificate issued by MCI or State Medical Council.	1. Candidate should be planning to apply to a health professions school 2. As an international student, one must be enrolled or should hold and an MBBS degree
Number of applicants	Approximately 15 lack students	Approximately 85,000 students
Difficulty level	Tough	Moderate
Chances of passing on first try	About 0.5 – 5%	About 50%
Number of permissible attempts	No limit	7 times in a lifetime4 times in two consecutive years3 times in a single test year
Frequency in a year	Twice	Thrice
Validity of score	3 years	2-3 years
Application fees	General category – Rs.1500OBC category – Rs. 1400SC/ST – Rs.800	$320 application fees + $115 for international applicant = $435 (Approx. Rs. 30,750)

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We hope that this blog must have helped you in choosing what path you want for achieving your goals. For more information on the exams and help in the admission and application process for NEET or MCAT contact our experts and get guidance throughout the process on Leverage Edu.