Most Tested Topics in NEET (2010–2024)
| Rank | Topic | Format | Key Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isoelectronic ionic radii | Arrange in decreasing/increasing order | More protons = smaller; use > > > > > |
| 2 | IE exception: Be vs B | "Which has higher ?" | Be (899) > B (800); filled 2 is extra stable |
| 3 | IE exception: N vs O | "Which has higher ?" | N (1402) > O (1314); half-filled 2 stability |
| 4 | EGE anomaly | "Which halogen has most negative EGE?" | Cl (−349), not F (−328) |
| 5 | Block classification | "Which block does element X belong to?" | Identify last-filled subshell from config |
| 6 | Electronegativity | "Most electronegative element" | F = 4.0 (Pauling scale) |
| 7 | Diagonal relationships | "Which pair shows diagonal relationship?" | Li–Mg, Be–Al, B–Si |
High-Probability Question Stems
- "The correct order of among B, Be, C, N, O is…" → look for Be>B and N>O dips
- "The ionic radii of isoelectronic species increases in the order…" → apply 1/Z rule
- "Which of the following has the most negative electron gain enthalpy?" → Cl, not F
- "Which pair exhibits diagonal relationship?" → Be–Al most tested
- "Among halogens, the increasing order of EGE is…" → I < Br < F < Cl (Cl is highest)
Why These Topics Are Tested
These questions probe conceptual understanding beyond rote learning. They test whether students know WHY the exception occurs (subshell stability, orbital size) rather than just memorizing a trend. NEET favors questions where the "obvious" answer from the general trend is wrong.