NORCET 10 Syllabus & Exam Pattern
The comprehensive guide to cracking the AIIMS Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test. Updated for the latest 2025-26 pattern.
The NORCET 10 (Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test) is the gateway to becoming a Nursing Officer at prestigious institutes like AIIMS New Delhi and other AIIMS across India. Following the trends of NORCET 7, 8, and 9, the examination is conducted in two distinct stages: Prelims and Mains.
Negative Marking Alert
Both stages carry a negative marking of 1/3 mark for every incorrect answer. Accuracy is just as important as speed.
1 Exam Pattern Breakdown
Stage I: Preliminary
Qualifying Nature- Total Questions 100 MCQs
- Duration 90 Minutes
- Nursing Subjects 80 Questions
- GK & Aptitude 20 Questions
Time limit: 18 mins per section.
Stage II: Mains
Decides Merit Rank- Total Questions 160 MCQs
- Duration 180 Minutes
- Content 100% Nursing
- Focus Scenario Based
Time limit: 45 mins per section.
2 Detailed Syllabus
Part A: General Knowledge & Aptitude (Prelims Only)
This section constitutes 20% of the Prelims exam. Do not ignore it, as it can be the deciding factor for qualification.
General Intelligence & Reasoning
- Coding-Decoding
- Number Series
- Blood Relations
- Directions & Distances
- Visual Memory & Analogies
General Awareness
- Current Affairs (Last 6 Months)
- Indian Polity & Governance
- Basic General Science
- Computer Basics
- Health Schemes & Public Health
Part B: Nursing Subjects (Core)
This covers 80% of Prelims and 100% of Mains. The Mains exam focuses heavily on Clinical Scenarios and Image-based questions.
1. Foundations & MSN
- Fundamentals of Nursing: Procedures, Vitals, Ethics, CPR, First Aid.
- Medical-Surgical Nursing: Systems (Cardio, Neuro, Resp, Renal, etc.), Pre/Post-op care.
- Anatomy & Physiology: Basic structure and functions.
2. Speciality Subjects
- OBG (Midwifery): Antenatal, Intra-natal, Post-natal care, Complications.
- Pediatrics: Growth & Dev, Immunization, Congenital disorders.
- Psychiatry: Mental Health Act, Disorders, Therapies, MSE.
3. Community & Pharma
- Community Health Nursing: Epidemiology, National Health Programs, Communicable diseases.
- Pharmacology: Drug dosages, Antidotes, Side effects, Interactions.
4. Allied Subjects
- Microbiology: Sterilization, Biomedical Waste Management (BMW).
- Nursing Education & Management: Leadership styles, Teaching methods.
- Nutrition: Vitamins, Deficiency diseases, Diet planning.
Preparation Strategy
Time Management
The 18-minute section lock in NORCET is crucial. Practice mock tests with a timer to get used to not being able to revisit previous sections.
Image-Based Qs
Focus on instruments, ECG strips, X-rays, and clinical signs. These are high-yield topics in the Mains exam.
Priority Questions
Practice NCLEX-style questions. Questions like "What is the nurse's first action?" are very common.
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