How AIR 4 Ayush Bhalotias re-NEET exam went from a 695 to a 710

A dramatic turnaround in the NEET UG 2026 re-examination has made Ayush Bhalotia one of the biggest success stories of this year's medical entrance exam. Initially, after the first NEET examination held on May 3, Ayush estimated that he had scored around 695 marks out of 720. While this was an excellent score, it was unlikely to secure admission to his dream college, AIIMS Delhi, due to the highly competitive cut-offs. However, after the original examination was cancelled following the alleged paper-leak controversy, the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted a re-examination on June 21. Ayush took the exam again and improved his score to 710 out of 720, earning All India Rank (AIR) 4 with a percentile of 99.99965. Ayush, who belongs to Bihar, had moved to Kota, Rajasthan, to prepare seriously for NEET. Speaking after the results, the 18-year-old said he never imagined finishing among the top ten candidates in the country. He explained that the re-examination gave him another opportunity to correct his mistakes and strengthen the areas where he had lost marks in the first attempt. Despite the uncertainty caused by the cancellation of the original exam, he remained calm and confident because he believed his preparation was strong enough to perform well again. According to Ayush, maintaining consistency throughout his preparation and avoiding panic during the controversy helped him achieve an even better result in the second examination.

Ayush also shared that he found the June 21 re-exam to be of better quality than the original paper. He said the questions were more clearly written, better balanced, and tested concepts more effectively. Although the paper was tougher, he felt the improved clarity allowed well-prepared students to perform according to their abilities. His improved score from 695 to 710 proved how effectively he used the additional preparation time after the first exam was cancelled. Coming from a non-medical family, Ayush will become the first doctor in his family. His father runs a business, while his mother is a homemaker. He said his interest in Biology inspired him to choose medicine over engineering and motivated him to work towards a career as a doctor. His journey highlights the importance of discipline, confidence, and making the best use of unexpected opportunities. The re-examination, which initially caused anxiety for many students, ultimately became the turning point that helped Ayush secure one of the highest ranks in the country and move closer to fulfilling his dream of studying at AIIMS Delhi.