Read the detailed INI CET Exam Analysis 2026 with difficulty level, subject-wise review, important topics, good attempts, and expected cut off for MD/MS/MDS admissions.
For admission to MD, MS, DM, M.Ch., and MDS programs at prestigious universities like AIIMS, JIPMER, PGIMER, and NIMHANS, AIIMS, New Delhi, administers the INI CET (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test) 2026 twice a year. Since the November 2025 session is the year's final exam cycle, candidates are keen to learn about the anticipated paper analysis, degree of difficulty, and cutoff trends.
In addition to offering a brief synopsis of the January 2025 and July 2025 sessions for comparison, this article concentrates on the anticipated exam analysis for INI CET November 2025.
INI CET Exam Analysis November Session
While the November 2025 session has not yet begun, candidates can anticipate that the exam will follow a similar pattern based on the year's first two papers (January and July 2025) and general trends.
| Particulars | Details |
| Overall Difficulty Level | To be updated |
Tip: Candidates should be prepared for integrated questions requiring cross-disciplinary knowledge, a format that AIIMS has consistently emphasized in recent years.
INI CET Exam Analysis 2025: January & July Sessions
Looking over the January and July 2025 INI CET exams will help you better understand the anticipated level of difficulty of the upcoming November session.
Aspirants gained important insights into how the exam changed throughout the year from both sessions, which emphasized different question patterns and subject priorities. A comparison of these two sessions can be found below.
| Exam Session | Difficulty Level | Key Subject Focus | Special Features |
| January 2025 | Moderate |
|
6–8 image-based questions; balance between pre-clinical & clinical subjects |
| July 2025 | Moderate to Tough |
|
More clinical scenarios; 10+ case-based questions; slightly tougher than January |
This demonstrates how January balanced fundamentals and clinical knowledge, whereas July was more clinically focused. Both components are anticipated to be included in the November 2026 exam, with clinical questions predominating.
INI CET Question Paper Pattern 2026
Candidates can get a clear understanding of the exam format, scoring system, and question types by using the INI CET Question Paper Pattern 2026. Aspirants can better organize their study and manage their time during the test by being aware of the pattern.
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Number of Questions | 200 MCQs |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for correct, –⅓ for incorrect, 0 for unattempted |
INI CET 2025 January & July Paper Pattern
To understand the exam pattern, you can refer to the table given below, which will help you with an overview of the INI CET 2026 with July 2026 and January 2026 session
| Feature | January 2026 Session | July 2025 Session |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (CBT) | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Questions | 200 (MCQs & clinical case-based) | 200 (MCQs & clinical case-based) |
| Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Type of Questions | Single-best answer MCQs, image-based, and case studies | Single-best answer MCQs, image-based, and case studies |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for correct answer, –⅓ for incorrect answer | +1 for correct answer, –⅓ for incorrect answer |
| Difficulty Level (Overall) | Moderate to Tough (more emphasis on clinical case-based questions) | Moderate (balanced mix of direct and applied concepts) |
| High Weightage Subjects | Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pathology | Pharmacology, Microbiology, Medicine, Anatomy |
| Special Highlights | More conceptual and clinical integration questions | More image-based and recall-based questions compared to January |
INI CET Section-Wise Weightage 2026
Based on Jan & Jul 2025 papers, the section-wise weightage is expected to remain the same for November 2025.
| Section | Weightage |
| Pre-Clinical (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry) | 20% |
| Para-Clinical (Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Forensic Medicine) | 30% |
| Clinical (Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, OBGYN, ENT, Ophthalmology, etc.) | 50% |
Key Highlights of INI CET 2026 Paper Pattern
- Paper that is moderate to difficult throughout sessions.
- November is anticipated to be dominated by clinical questions, which dominated July.
- The number of case-study and image-based questions is continuously rising.
- Pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical subjects were given equal weight.
- The anticipated qualifying cutoff is the 45th percentile for SC/ST/PwBD and the 50th percentile for General/OBC/EWS.
Conclusion
According to the INI CET November 2025 exam analysis, candidates should anticipate a moderately challenging paper, with clinical application being the most important component. Although July focused primarily on clinical subjects and January was more balanced, November is anticipated to combine both approaches, so preparation for all subjects is crucial.
To increase their chances of receiving a high score, candidates should concentrate on high-yield clinical topics, practice image-based questions, and develop their conceptual understanding. Candidates can perform with confidence in the November session by going over the patterns from the previous 2025 papers and modifying their preparation accordingly.
