The All India Institute of Medical Sciences conducts the Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET) in two stages — Preliminary and Mains. In this blog we talk about AIIMS NORCET 11 Exam Pattern 2026 The examination is held in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for recruitment of Nursing Officers in various AIIMS institutes and participating hospitals across India.
Table of Contents
AIIMS NORCET 11 2026 Selection Process
The following process will be taken into consideration for selection of Nursing Officer in AIIMS and Other Government hospitals in India
- NORCET Preliminary Examination
- NORCET Main Examination
- Document Verification
- Medical Examination
Candidates must qualify at each stage to proceed further.
AIIMS NORCET 11 Preliminary Exam Pattern
The Stage I NORCET Preliminary Examination conducted by All India Institute of Medical Sciences is a qualifying examination for selection to the NORCET Main Examination (Stage II). The marks obtained in the preliminary stage are not considered for final merit ranking.
Key Features Of Preliminary AIIMS NORCET 11 Exam Pattern 2026
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 90 Minutes |
| Total Questions | 100 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 100 Marks |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 Mark deduction for wrong answer |
| Sections | 5 Sections |
| Questions per Section | 20 Questions |
| Time Per Section | 18 Minutes |
Subject-wise Distribution
| Subject | Questions |
| General Knowledge & Aptitude | 20 |
| Nursing Subjects | 80 |
| Total | 100 |
The nursing section includes questions from subjects taught at the essential qualification level such as:
- Medical Surgical Nursing
- Community Health Nursing
- Child Health Nursing
- Mental Health Nursing
- Midwifery
- Pharmacology
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Fundamentals of Nursing
Sectional Timing Rules
The AIIMS NORCET 11 Exam Pattern 2026 question paper is divided into 5 separate sections.
Important Section Rules
- Each section remains active for only 18 minutes.
- Sections appear one after another automatically.
- Candidates can attempt questions only in the currently active section.
- Once the allotted time for a section ends, it closes permanently.
- Previous sections cannot be reopened for review or modification.
- The examination gets auto-submitted after 90 minutes.
Candidates are advised to:
- Attempt all possible questions within the active section time
- Review marked questions before the section closes
- Avoid spending excessive time on difficult questions
Negative Marking
Wrong Answer Penalty = -1/3
- Each correct answer carries 1 mark.
- 1/3 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer.
- No marks are deducted for unanswered questions.
Qualifying Percentile for NORCET Stage I
| Category | Qualifying Percentile |
| UR/EWS | 50 Percentile |
| OBC | 45 Percentile |
| SC/ST | 40 Percentile |
| UR/EWS-PwBD | 45 Percentile |
| OBC-PwBD | 40 Percentile |
| SC/ST-PwBD | 35 Percentile |
An additional relaxation of 5 percentile is provided to PwBD candidates as per Government rules.
Selection for NORCET Stage II (Mains)
Candidates qualifying the preliminary exam are shortlisted for Stage II based on category-wise merit.
Important Selection Rules
- Around 5 times the total vacancies in each category are called for NORCET Main.
- All qualified PwBD candidates are eligible for Stage II.
- Tie cases at the cutoff are also included in the Stage II list.
- Some candidates may qualify the preliminary cutoff but may still not be shortlisted for Stage II due to limited seats.
AIIMS NORCET 11 Mains Exam Pattern
The Stage II NORCET Main Examination conducted by All India Institute of Medical Sciences is the final competitive stage for selection of Nursing Officers. The merit list and NORCET score are prepared based on marks obtained in this examination.
The exam mainly focuses on:
- Nursing concepts
- Clinical competency
- Case scenario-based questions
- Practical nursing skills
NORCET Main Exam Pattern 2026
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 180 Minutes |
| Total Questions | 160 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 160 Marks |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 Mark deduction |
| Sections | 4 Sections |
| Questions per Section | 40 Questions |
| Time Per Section | 45 Minutes |
Nature of Questions
The NORCET Main exam contains:
- Case scenario-based nursing questions
- Clinical application questions
- Competency-based nursing practice questions
Questions are asked from the syllabus taught at the essential nursing qualification level.
Section-wise AIIMS NORCET 11 Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | Questions | Duration |
| Section 1 | 40 Questions | 45 Minutes |
| Section 2 | 40 Questions | 45 Minutes |
| Section 3 | 40 Questions | 45 Minutes |
| Section 4 | 40 Questions | 45 Minutes |
| Total | 160 Questions | 180 Minutes |
Important Sectional Rules
- Only one section remains active at a time.
- After 45 minutes, the current section automatically closes.
- Candidates cannot return to previous sections.
- The next section opens automatically after the previous section ends.
- The exam is automatically submitted after 180 minutes.
Important Instruction
Candidates should attempt and review all possible questions within the active section because unanswered or marked-for-review questions cannot be revisited later.
Negative Marking Scheme
Penalty for Wrong Answer = -1/3
- Each correct answer carries 1 mark.
- 1/3 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer.
- No deduction for unanswered questions.
NORCET Main Qualifying Marks
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
| UR/EWS | 50% |
| OBC | 45% |
| SC/ST | 40% |
| UR/EWS-PwBD | 45% |
| OBC-PwBD | 40% |
| SC/ST-PwBD | 35% |
An additional 5% relaxation is provided to PwBD candidates as per Government rules.
Normalization Process
If the NORCET Main examination is conducted in multiple shifts, AIIMS applies a normalization procedure to ensure fairness among candidates appearing in different sessions.
Tie-Breaking Criteria in NORCET Main
1. Older Candidate Gets Higher Rank
Candidates with an earlier date of birth are placed higher in merit.
2. Fewer Wrong Answers
If the tie still continues, candidates with fewer negative marks or wrong answers are ranked higher.
The final merit is reflected in the NORCET Score.
Key Topics Asked in AIIMS NORCET 11 Exam Pattern 2026
Nursing Subjects
- Medical Surgical Nursing
- Community Health Nursing
- Mental Health Nursing
- Child Health Nursing
- Midwifery & Gynecology
- Pharmacology
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Fundamentals of Nursing
- Nutrition
- Microbiology
- Nursing Management
Non-Nursing Subjects
- General Knowledge
- Current Affairs
- Reasoning
- Basic Aptitude
- English Language
Important Preparation Tips
- Focus more on Nursing subjects as they carry maximum weightage.
- Practice previous year NORCET papers regularly.
- Improve speed and accuracy because of sectional timing.
- Revise clinical concepts and nursing procedures thoroughly.
- Attempt mock tests in CBT format for better time management.
Reddit users preparing for NORCET frequently recommend sticking to one reliable MCQ source, solving previous year papers, and practicing sectional mock tests regularly for better performance.
Candidates preparing for NORCET should complete the NORCET 11 Application Form.
FAQs
1. How many stages are there in AIIMS NORCET 11?
AIIMS NORCET 11 consists of two stages:
Stage I: NORCET Preliminary
Stage II: NORCET Main
2. Is the NORCET Preliminary exam counted for final merit?
No. The Preliminary exam is only qualifying in nature. Final merit and ranking are prepared based on NORCET Main examination marks.
3. What is the duration of the NORCET Preliminary exam?
The Preliminary examination duration is 90 minutes.
4. How many questions are asked in NORCET Stage I?
A total of 100 MCQs are asked:
- 80 Nursing questions
- 20 General Knowledge & Aptitude questions
5. What is the duration of the NORCET Main exam?
The NORCET Main examination is conducted for 180 minutes.
6. How many questions are asked in NORCET Main?
The Main exam contains 160 MCQs carrying 160 marks.
7. Is there negative marking in AIIMS NORCET?
Yes. 1/3 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer in both Preliminary and Main examinations.
Negative Marking = -1/3
8. Are there sectional timings in NORCET exams?
Yes. Both Stage I and Stage II have sectional timing:
- Preliminary: 5 sections of 18 minutes each
- Main: 4 sections of 45 minutes each
9. Can candidates return to previous sections during the exam?
No. Once the time for a section ends, candidates cannot revisit or modify answers from that section.
10. What type of questions are asked in NORCET Mains?
The NORCET Mains exam mainly includes:
- Clinical scenario-based questions
- Nursing competency questions
- Practical nursing application questions
11. What are the qualifying marks for NORCET Main?
The minimum qualifying marks are:
- UR/EWS: 50%
- OBC: 45%
- SC/ST: 40%
PwBD candidates receive an additional 5% relaxation.
12. What happens if the exam is conducted in multiple shifts?
If NORCET is held in multiple shifts, All India Institute of Medical Sciences applies a normalization process to ensure fairness in scoring across different shifts.