NEET Zoology Breathing and Exchange of Gases PYQ Analysis 2020–2026: Topic-wise Trends & Practice
Breathing and Exchange of Gases (NEET Zoology): 13 questions in 2020–2026, 3.4% of the subject. Topic-wise trends, difficulty split, repeated topics and PYQ practice.
Edurack Team
October 13, 2026
Breathing and Exchange of Gases gave 13 of the 388 NEET Zoology questions asked between 2020 and 2026 (Re-NEET 2026 included). That is 3.4% of the subject and the #14 chapter out of 16 by weightage, about 1.6 questions per paper. It peaked at 3 in NEET 2021.
Of the 13 questions tagged for difficulty, 15% were easy, 70% medium and 15% hard, so this is mostly medium-level questions that reward practice beyond one-line facts.
It has been asked less often lately: 1 questions per paper across 2025, 2026 and Re-NEET 2026, against 2.3 per paper in 2020–2022.
Year-wise questions from Breathing and Exchange of Gases
| Paper | Questions |
|---|---|
| NEET 2020 | 2 |
| NEET 2021 | 3 |
| NEET 2022 | 2 |
| NEET 2023 | 1 |
| NEET 2024 | 2 |
| NEET 2025 | 0 |
| NEET 2026 | 3 |
| Re-NEET 2026 | 0 |
Difficulty split
| Level | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 2 | 15% |
| Medium | 9 | 70% |
| Hard | 2 | 15% |
Topic-wise analysis
Every topic tagged under Breathing and Exchange of Gases, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport of Gases (O₂ and CO₂) (Transport of Oxygen) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2020, 2024 and 2026 |
| Exchange of Gases (O₂ and CO₂) (Atm pO₂ and pCO₂, Alveoli, etc.) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2021 and 2022 |
| Disorders of Respiratory System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2021 |
| Human Respiratory System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mechanism of Breathing (Inspiration and its Associated Muscle) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2020 |
| Respiratory Capacities (Vital Capacity) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2024 |
| Respiratory Organs (Gills, Trachea, etc.) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2026 |
| Respiratory Volume (Expiratory Reserve Volume) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2026 |
| Respiratory Volumes and Capacities (TV, IRV, etc.) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
Which topics matter most
Most-tested topics
- Transport of Gases (O₂ and CO₂) (Transport of Oxygen): 3 Qs
- Exchange of Gases (O₂ and CO₂) (Atm pO₂ and pCO₂, Alveoli, etc.): 3 Qs
- Disorders of Respiratory System: 1 Q
- Human Respiratory System: 1 Q
- Mechanism of Breathing (Inspiration and its Associated Muscle): 1 Q
Topics that keep coming back
These appeared in three or more different papers:
- Transport of Gases (O₂ and CO₂) (Transport of Oxygen): 3 papers (2020, 2024 and 2026)
What the latest papers asked
Topics from NEET 2026 and Re-NEET 2026:
- Transport of Gases (O₂ and CO₂) (Transport of Oxygen)
- Respiratory Organs (Gills, Trachea, etc.)
- Respiratory Volume (Expiratory Reserve Volume)
Where the hard questions came from
- Transport of Gases (O₂ and CO₂) (Transport of Oxygen): 1 hard of 3
- Respiratory Volumes and Capacities (TV, IRV, etc.): 1 hard of 1
How to use this data
- Only 1 topic appeared in three or more papers (23% of the chapter's questions), so repetition alone is a weak guide here. Cover the whole NCERT chapter.
- Re-solve the 3 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 Breathing and Exchange of Gases PYQs
Solve every Breathing and Exchange of Gases question from 2020–2026 with solutions on Edurack:
- Practise Breathing and Exchange of Gases PYQs
- See the full Breathing and Exchange of Gases blueprint page
- NEET Zoology PYQ analysis: all chapters
Related chapters
- Excretory Products and their Elimination: #13 in Zoology, 15 questions
- Digestion and Absorption: #15 in Zoology, 10 questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions came from Breathing and Exchange of Gases in NEET 2020–2026?
Breathing and Exchange of Gases contributed 13 NEET Zoology questions across the 8 papers from 2020–2026, which is 3.4% of the subject.
Which topics of Breathing and Exchange of Gases are asked most often?
The most-tested topics are Transport of Gases (O₂ and CO₂) (Transport of Oxygen): 3 Qs, Exchange of Gases (O₂ and CO₂) (Atm pO₂ and pCO₂, Alveoli, etc.): 3 Qs and Disorders of Respiratory System: 1 Q.
Is Breathing and Exchange of Gases easy or difficult in NEET?
Of 13 difficulty-tagged questions, 15% were easy, 70% medium and 15% hard.
Was Breathing and Exchange of Gases asked in NEET 2026?
Yes. It had 3 questions in NEET 2026 and 0 questions in Re-NEET 2026.