NEET 2024: Girls Outperform in Success Rate, Boys Dominate Top Scorer Category
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2024 results have revealed a mixed picture when it comes to gender performance. While female candidates have achieved a higher overall success rate, male candidates have secured a larger share of the top scores above the 690 mark.
According to data released by the National Testing Agency (NTA), a total of 18.72 lakh candidates appeared for the examination. Among them, 9.98 lakh were female and 8.74 lakh were male. The success rate for female candidates stood at 26.3%, compared to 22.1% for male candidates, indicating that a higher proportion of girls who took the test qualified.
However, in the high-scoring segment, boys outperformed girls. Out of the 1,286 candidates who scored 690 or above, 742 were male and 544 were female. This trend has been consistent over the past few years, with boys leading the pack in the top percentile despite lower overall pass rates.
Experts attribute this to several factors. “Girls often have better preparation strategies and are more disciplined, which leads to a higher success rate. However, boys tend to score higher marks at the extreme end, possibly due to risk-taking behavior in answering or differential coaching,” said Dr. Anjali Mehta, an education analyst.
The NEET exam is the gateway for admission to medical and dental colleges across India. This year, the cut-off for general category candidates was 720 out of 720, with three candidates achieving a perfect score. The overall pass percentage was 24.1%, a slight increase from last year’s 23.5%.
In terms of state-wise performance, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh produced the highest number of qualifiers. Among top scorers, the majority hailed from coaching hubs like Kota and Delhi.
The NTA has also released category-wise cut-offs, with SC candidates requiring a minimum of 630, ST 610, and OBC 650 marks. The results are available on the official website nta.ac.in.
While the gender gap in high scorers persists, the increase in female participation and success rates is a positive sign. Over the last five years, the number of female candidates appearing for NEET has risen by 15%, and their success rate has improved by nearly 3 percentage points.
