NORCET 10 Syllabus & Exam Pattern: Complete Guide for AIIMS Nursing Officer Aspirants

NORCET 2026 Syllabus & Exam Pattern: Complete Guide for AIIMS Nursing Officer Aspirants

The Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET) is conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi to recruit Nursing Officers (Group B, Level 7) across AIIMS and other participating institutes.

The 2026 cycle (NORCET-10) will be held in two stages - Preliminary and Main, both conducted in online CBT mode.

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NORCET 10 Exam Structure at a Glance

Stage	Exam Type	Duration	Total Questions / Marks	Purpose
Stage I: NORCET Preliminary	Computer-Based Test (CBT)	90 mins	100 MCQs / 100 Marks	Qualifying exam to shortlist candidates for Mains
Stage II: NORCET Mains	Computer-Based Test (CBT)	180 mins	160 MCQs / 160 Marks	Final merit determination & seat allocation

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Stage I - NORCET Preliminary Exam Pattern (Qualifying Test)

Section	Topics Covered	No. of Questions	Duration
Nursing Course Subjects	Syllabus from B.Sc. Nursing / GNM level	80	-
General Knowledge & Aptitude	GK, English, Reasoning, Numerical Ability	20	-
Total	-	100 Questions (100 Marks)	90 Minutes

• Marking Scheme: +1 for correct, -⅓ for wrong answers
• Qualifying Percentile:
  • UR/EWS: 50th percentile
  • OBC: 45th percentile
  • SC/ST: 40th percentile
  • PWBD: Additional 5 percentile relaxation

💡 Insider’s Note: The Preliminary exam is only qualifying in nature. It does not count toward final merit, but passing it is mandatory to appear for Stage II (Mains).

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Stage II - NORCET Mains Exam Pattern (Final Merit Stage)

Component	Details
Mode	Online CBT
Duration	180 Minutes (3 hours)
Total Questions	160 MCQs (1 mark each)
Type of Questions	Case-based & concept-oriented nursing questions
Marking Scheme	+1 for correct, -⅓ for wrong answers
Qualifying Marks	UR/EWS: 50%, OBC: 45%, SC/ST: 40%, PWBD: +5% relaxation

💡 Nprep Faculty Tip: “The NORCET Mains exam evaluates clinical reasoning, patient care management, and applied nursing knowledge rather than rote memorization.”

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NORCET 10 Syllabus Overview

The syllabus is based on the core subjects taught in B.Sc. Nursing and GNM courses as per Indian Nursing Council (INC) guidelines.

Nursing Foundation

• Principles of Nursing & Ethics
• Nursing Process and Documentation
• Infection Control, Patient Safety & Hygiene

Medical-Surgical Nursing

• Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Gastrointestinal & Renal Systems
• Neurology, Orthopedics, Oncology, ENT & Eye Nursing
• Emergency, ICU & Operation Theatre Nursing

Obstetrics & Gynaecological Nursing

• Antenatal, Intranatal & Postnatal Care
• Complications of Pregnancy and Newborn Care

Mental Health Nursing

• Psychiatric Disorders, Therapies & Nursing Interventions
• Community-based Mental Health Services

Child Health (Pediatric) Nursing

• Growth & Development
• Pediatric Disorders and Nursing Interventions

Community Health Nursing

• Public Health Programs in India
• Communicable & Non-Communicable Diseases
• Immunization, Epidemiology & Health Education

Nursing Research & Statistics

• Research Process, Data Collection & Interpretation
• Basics of Biostatistics & Use of Statistical Tools

Professional Trends, Administration & Management

• Nursing Leadership, Hospital Administration
• Legal and Ethical Aspects of Nursing

General Aptitude & GK Section

• Current Affairs & General Knowledge
• English Comprehension
• Logical Reasoning & Basic Arithmetic

💡 Nprep Faculty Tips:

• Prioritize core nursing subjects (80% of questions in both exams).
• Practice time-bound tests to improve accuracy & speed.
• Focus on case-based scenarios for Mains.
• Do not ignore GK & aptitude; it helps clear Preliminary qualifying percentile.

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Next Step: Start Smart, Prepare Early

If you’ve understood the NORCET syllabus and exam structure, it’s time for focused preparation.

Get access to topic-wise classes, mock tests, and expert guidance designed for AIIMS-level Nursing exams. 👉 [Start Your NORCET 2026 Preparation Today]

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many stages are there in the NORCET 2026 exam? NORCET 2026 has two stages - Stage I (Preliminary) and Stage II (Mains). The Preliminary is qualifying, while the Mains determines final merit.

2. What is the total number of questions in the NORCET exam? Preliminary: 100 MCQs (100 marks) Mains: 160 MCQs (160 marks) Both stages have negative marking of 1/3 per wrong answer.

3. What topics are covered in NORCET 2026 syllabus? Nursing Foundation, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Pediatrics, Community Health, Mental Health Nursing, Nursing Research, and General Knowledge & Aptitude.

4. What were the qualifying marks for NORCET 2025?

• Preliminary: UR/EWS - 50th percentile, OBC - 45th, SC/ST - 40th
• Mains: UR/EWS - 50%, OBC - 45%, SC/ST - 40%, PWBD +5% relaxation

5. Is there negative marking in NORCET 2026? ✅ Yes, 1/3 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer in both Preliminary and Mains exams.

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