The NORCET syllabus is drawn from the nursing course you studied (fundamentals, medical surgical, obstetrics, child health, community health, mental health and the basic sciences), with a small share of general knowledge and aptitude in the first stage. AIIMS New Delhi runs the Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test in two computer based stages: a 100 question prelims and a 160 question mains.
One score decides Nursing Officer posts across AIIMS institutions and a few other central hospitals, so this is the most important exam for many B.Sc nursing and GNM graduates. This page lays out the NORCET exam pattern for both stages, the subjects to cover and how to plan the weeks before the test.
Exam at a glance
Conducted by
AIIMS New DelhiPosts
Nursing Officer in AIIMS and other listed central institutionsStages
Prelims (Stage I) and Mains (Stage II), both computer basedPrelims
100 questions in 90 minutes, five timed sectionsMains
160 questions in 180 minutes, four timed sectionsNegative marking
1/3 mark for each wrong answer in both stagesMedium
EnglishOfficial website
NORCET exam stages in brief
Since the switch to a two stage format, the test works like this. Stage I, the prelims, is a screening round: you need to clear it to sit Stage II, and its marks do not count towards your final rank. Stage II, the mains, decides your merit and therefore which institute and post you can get. Reports on the latest cycle say a number of candidates equal to about five times the seats is called to the mains, though the prospectus is the final word on that.
Both stages are online, in English, with four options per question. The gap between the two can be as short as a few weeks, so you should be ready for the mains before you sit the prelims.
NORCET exam pattern for prelims and mains
| Feature | Prelims (Stage I) | Mains (Stage II) |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 100 | 160 |
| Time | 90 minutes | 180 minutes |
| Sections | 5 sections, 18 minutes each | 4 sections, 45 minutes each |
| Content | About 80 nursing and 20 general knowledge and aptitude questions | Nursing subjects, mostly case based |
| Marking | +1 right, 1/3 deducted if wrong | Same as prelims |
| Role | Screening (qualifying) | Merit ranking |
Every section closes when its clock runs out and the next one opens automatically. Leftover minutes vanish, so pace yourself section by section rather than across the whole paper.
NORCET syllabus subject wise
AIIMS does not publish a chapter by chapter list. The questions follow the B.Sc nursing and GNM curricula, and past papers show these areas recurring:
- Medical surgical nursing: cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, neurological, endocrine and gastrointestinal disorders, perioperative care, burns, oncology and emergency care. This is usually the largest block.
- Fundamentals of nursing: vital signs, infection control, asepsis, drug administration, wound care, positioning, records and the nursing process.
- Obstetrics and gynaecological nursing: antenatal, intranatal and postnatal care, high risk pregnancy, family planning and newborn care at birth.
- Child health nursing: growth and development, immunisation, common childhood illnesses and neonatal care.
- Community health nursing: national health programmes, epidemiology, nutrition, primary health care and vital statistics.
- Mental health nursing: psychiatric disorders, therapies, psychopharmacology and therapeutic communication.
- Pharmacology: drug classes, dosage calculation, antidotes and side effects.
- Basic sciences: anatomy, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry and pathology.
- Nursing management and research: ward administration, staffing, quality and basic statistics.
General knowledge and aptitude in the prelims
The non nursing share in Stage I is small but costs no extra study time if you plan for it. Expect questions on national and international current affairs, Indian history, geography and polity basics, science in daily life, health related news, and simple aptitude such as number series, percentages, ratios, analogies and coding. Fifteen minutes a day with a monthly news digest and a basic reasoning book is enough.
What the mains tests differently
The NORCET mains exam pattern leans on clinical scenarios. Instead of asking what the normal potassium level is, a question may describe a patient on a diuretic with muscle cramps and ask for the first nursing action. To handle these you need to understand priorities of care, not just facts.
A twelve week plan for NORCET
- Weeks 1 to 4: medical surgical nursing system by system, with fundamentals alongside.
- Weeks 5 to 7: obstetrics, paediatrics and community health, including national programmes and immunisation schedules.
- Weeks 8 and 9: mental health, pharmacology and basic sciences; build a drug and antidote sheet.
- Weeks 10 to 12: sectional mocks with the 18 and 45 minute limits, prior papers released by AIIMS, and daily GK practice.
With a deduction of one third per error, three misses erase one correct response. Leave a question alone unless you can rule out two of its options. The standard textbooks prescribed in your nursing course and the Indian Nursing Council curriculum are the best sources. Candidates also writing the B.Sc entrance can compare the AIIMS B.Sc nursing syllabus, and those looking at defence nursing roles can see the Army nursing assistant syllabus.
Eligibility for the nursing officer test
You need either a B.Sc (Hons) Nursing, B.Sc Nursing or Post Basic B.Sc Nursing from an institute recognised by the Indian Nursing Council or a state nursing council, or a GNM diploma backed by two years of experience in a hospital of at least 50 beds after qualifying. Registration as a nurse and midwife with a state or the Indian Nursing Council is also required. The latest notice set an age band of 18 to 30 years, relaxed for SC, ST, OBC, PwBD applicants and serving government staff under central rules; the exact years appear in each new notice.
Other nursing and medical tests sit in our entrance exams hub, and the AIIMS nursing syllabus page covers related papers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the syllabus for NORCET exam?
The syllabus for NORCET exam covers the nursing subjects of the B.Sc nursing and GNM courses, with medical surgical nursing as the biggest area, plus fundamentals, obstetrics, child health, community health, mental health, pharmacology and basic sciences. The prelims also includes general knowledge and aptitude.
What is the NORCET mains exam pattern?
The mains has 160 multiple choice questions in 180 minutes, split into four sections of 45 minutes each. You gain 1 for every right choice and lose 1/3 for every error. The questions are mostly clinical scenarios.
Do prelims marks count in the final merit?
As reported for recent cycles, the prelims is a screening stage and merit is drawn up from Stage II marks only. Read the prospectus for your cycle to be sure.
Can I skip between sections in NORCET?
No. Every block runs on its own clock, 18 minutes in the prelims and 45 minutes in the mains, and you move on when it ends. Unused time in one section does not carry over.
Can GNM diploma holders apply for NORCET?
Yes, if they have two years of experience in a hospital with at least 50 beds after the diploma and are registered as a nurse and midwife. B.Sc nursing graduates do not need experience.
Is NORCET held in Hindi?
The question paper has been in English in recent cycles. Prepare your nursing terminology in English.