NEET Botany Photosynthesis in Higher Plants PYQ Analysis 2020–2026: Topic-wise Trends & Practice
Photosynthesis in Higher Plants (NEET Botany): 22 questions in 2020–2026, 5.4% of the subject. Topic-wise trends, difficulty split, repeated topics and PYQ practice.
Edurack Team
October 13, 2026
Photosynthesis in Higher Plants gave 22 of the 405 NEET Botany questions asked between 2020 and 2026 (Re-NEET 2026 included). That is 5.4% of the subject and the #10 chapter out of 21 by weightage, about 2.8 questions per paper. It peaked at 5 in Re-NEET 2026.
Of the 22 questions tagged for difficulty, 41% were easy, 41% medium and 18% hard, so this is a fairly balanced mix of easy and moderate questions.
It has been asked more often lately: 3.3 questions per paper across 2025, 2026 and Re-NEET 2026, against 2 per paper in 2020–2022.
Year-wise questions from Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
| Paper | Questions |
|---|---|
| NEET 2020 | 2 |
| NEET 2021 | 2 |
| NEET 2022 | 2 |
| NEET 2023 | 3 |
| NEET 2024 | 3 |
| NEET 2025 | 2 |
| NEET 2026 | 3 |
| Re-NEET 2026 | 5 |
Difficulty split
| Level | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 9 | 41% |
| Medium | 9 | 41% |
| Hard | 4 | 18% |
Topic-wise analysis
Every topic tagged under Photosynthesis in Higher Plants, most-asked first. "Papers" is the number of the 8 papers in which the topic appeared.
| Topic | Total Qs | Easy | Medium | Hard | Papers | Asked in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where are ATP and NADPH Used? (Calvin Cycle or C3 Cycle/Primary Acceptor of CO₂/St…) | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and Re-NEET 2026 |
| Photorespiration | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2020, 2024 and Re-NEET 2026 |
| What is Light Reaction? | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2020, 2021 and 2023 |
| The C4 Pathway (Hatch and Slack Pathway) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2021 and 2022 |
| The Electron Transport (Chemiosmotic Hypothesis) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2022 and 2023 |
| How Many Types of Pigments are Involved in Photosynthesis? (Chlorophyll 'a', Chlorophyll 'b' and c', etc.) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2025 |
| How Many Types of Pigments are Involved in Photosynthesisr? (Chlorophyll 'a', Chlorophyll 'b' and C', etc.) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Re-NEET 2026 |
| Introduction | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Re-NEET 2026 |
| The C4 Pathway (Kranz Anatomy, Importance and CAM Cycle) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2026 |
Which topics matter most
Most-tested topics
- Where are ATP and NADPH Used? (Calvin Cycle or C3 Cycle/Primary Acceptor of CO₂/St…): 7 Qs
- Photorespiration: 4 Qs
- What is Light Reaction?: 3 Qs
- The C4 Pathway (Hatch and Slack Pathway): 2 Qs
- The Electron Transport (Chemiosmotic Hypothesis): 2 Qs
Topics that keep coming back
These appeared in three or more different papers:
- Where are ATP and NADPH Used? (Calvin Cycle or C3 Cycle/Primary Acceptor of CO₂/St…): 5 papers (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and Re-NEET 2026)
- Photorespiration: 3 papers (2020, 2024 and Re-NEET 2026)
- What is Light Reaction?: 3 papers (2020, 2021 and 2023)
What the latest papers asked
Topics from NEET 2026 and Re-NEET 2026:
- Where are ATP and NADPH Used? (Calvin Cycle or C3 Cycle/Primary Acceptor of CO₂/St…)
- Photorespiration
- How Many Types of Pigments are Involved in Photosynthesisr? (Chlorophyll 'a', Chlorophyll 'b' and C', etc.)
- Introduction
- The C4 Pathway (Kranz Anatomy, Importance and CAM Cycle)
Where the hard questions came from
- Where are ATP and NADPH Used? (Calvin Cycle or C3 Cycle/Primary Acceptor of CO₂/St…): 1 hard of 7
- Photorespiration: 1 hard of 4
- Introduction: 1 hard of 1
- The C4 Pathway (Kranz Anatomy, Importance and CAM Cycle): 1 hard of 1
How to use this data
- Start with the 3 recurring topics above. They account for 14 of the chapter's 22 questions (64%).
- 41% of tagged questions were easy, so NCERT lines, definitions and standard examples are worth locking in first.
- Re-solve the 5 topics from NEET 2026 and Re-NEET 2026, since they show the current style of questions.
- Then attempt the chapter's past questions under a timer and note which topics cost you marks.
Practise Photosynthesis in Higher Plants PYQs
Solve every Photosynthesis in Higher Plants question from 2020–2026 with solutions on Edurack:
- Practise Photosynthesis in Higher Plants PYQs
- See the full Photosynthesis in Higher Plants blueprint page
- NEET Botany PYQ analysis: all chapters
Related chapters
- Organisms and Populations: #9 in Botany, 22 questions
- Biodiversity and Conservation: #11 in Botany, 20 questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions came from Photosynthesis in Higher Plants in NEET 2020–2026?
Photosynthesis in Higher Plants contributed 22 NEET Botany questions across the 8 papers from 2020–2026, which is 5.4% of the subject.
Which topics of Photosynthesis in Higher Plants are asked most often?
The most-tested topics are Where are ATP and NADPH Used? (Calvin Cycle or C3 Cycle/Primary Acceptor of CO₂/St…): 7 Qs, Photorespiration: 4 Qs and What is Light Reaction?: 3 Qs.
Is Photosynthesis in Higher Plants easy or difficult in NEET?
Of 22 difficulty-tagged questions, 41% were easy, 41% medium and 18% hard.
Was Photosynthesis in Higher Plants asked in NEET 2026?
Yes. It had 3 questions in NEET 2026 and 5 questions in Re-NEET 2026.