AIIMS B.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam
Complete preparation guide for AIIMS Nursing — India's most prestigious nursing entrance
Exam at a glance
Conducting body
AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences)
Total marks
200 marks (200 MCQs × 1 mark each)
Duration
3.5 hours
Mode
Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Frequency
Annual (usually May–June)
Eligibility
10+2 PCB with 55% aggregate (50% for SC/ST); age 17–25 years
Total applicants
~80,000 applicants for ~2,000 seats across AIIMS campuses
Accepting institutions
20+ AIIMS campuses including New Delhi, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Patna, Rishikesh, Bhubaneswar
Exam sections — what each tests
Biology
MCQ80 questions80 marksPhysics
MCQ40 questions40 marksChemistry
MCQ40 questions40 marksGeneral Knowledge
MCQ20 questions20 marksNursing Aptitude
Aptitude20 questions20 marksTop nursing colleges and admission patterns
AIIMS New Delhi
New Delhi
B.Sc (H) Nursing — 4-year programme
Top-ranked nursing programme in India. Clinical rotations across AIIMS's 2,500-bed hospital give unmatched exposure. Hostel accommodation guaranteed. Graduates are sought by leading hospitals and international recruiting agencies.
AIIMS Bhopal
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
B.Sc (H) Nursing — 4-year programme
Strong regional placement network with government hospital postings in MP. Scholarship support for meritorious students. AIIMS Bhopal's OPD of 3,000+ patients/day provides excellent clinical volume.
AIIMS Jodhpur
Jodhpur, Rajasthan
B.Sc (H) Nursing — 4-year programme
Rajasthan's premier government nursing programme. Graduates benefit from AIIMS brand for international nursing registration (Australia, Canada, UK). Strong state government hospital absorption pipeline.
AIIMS Patna
Patna, Bihar
B.Sc (H) Nursing — 4-year programme
Largest untapped government nursing placement market in Bihar and eastern India. AIIMS Patna graduates have strong placement in PMCH and other state referral hospitals. High demand for BSc Nursing graduates in Bihar health missions.
Preparation timeline
Foundation — PCB Consolidation
3–4 monthsComplete NCERT Class 11 and 12 for Biology, Physics, Chemistry
- ✓Finish all NCERT Biology chapters with diagrams (Class 11 and 12)
- ✓Complete NCERT Physics — focus on Class 12 (electricity, optics, modern physics)
- ✓Cover NCERT Chemistry — organic reactions, biomolecules, electrochemistry
- ✓Make concise notes for each chapter (max 2 pages per chapter)
- ✓Solve all NCERT exercise questions and in-text examples
Specialised Preparation
2 monthsNursing aptitude, GK, and high-yield PCB revision
- ✓Study basic nursing concepts: patient care, infection control, first aid
- ✓Build healthcare GK bank: national health schemes, WHO programmes
- ✓Revise human physiology exhaustively (highest Biology yield)
- ✓Practice 50+ MCQs daily from previous year papers
- ✓Identify weak chapters and spend 30% of time strengthening them
Mock Test & Gap Analysis
6 weeksFull-length CBT mocks and accuracy improvement
- ✓Take one full-length 200-question mock every 3 days
- ✓Review every wrong answer with explanation (not just the correct answer)
- ✓Track chapter-wise accuracy; cut study time on >85% accuracy chapters
- ✓Practice CBT interface to eliminate software unfamiliarity on exam day
- ✓Reach steady state of 140+ in mocks before the last 2 weeks
Final Revision
2 weeksQuick revision of high-yield topics and exam-day readiness
- ✓Read only your notes — no new material in the last week
- ✓Revise all NCERT diagrams: cell division, heart, brain, nephron, eye
- ✓Refresh healthcare GK with the latest month's Health Ministry updates
- ✓Sleep 8 hours and eat well — cognitive performance matters at 200 questions
- ✓Plan your exam-day commute; confirm AIIMS centre address well in advance
Career paths in nursing and healthcare
Government Hospital Staff Nurse
Rs 35,000–55,000/month (Level 7, 7th Pay)
AIIMS and state government hospitals recruit B.Sc Nursing graduates through competitive posts. Central government nurse positions carry full job security, pension, housing allowance, and annual increments. Career progression to Nursing Officer, Nursing Superintendent.
Private Hospital Clinical Nurse
Rs 30,000–60,000/month (metro hospitals pay more)
Apollo, Fortis, Max, Narayana, and Manipal hospital chains prefer AIIMS-trained nurses. ICU and NICU specialist nurses with 2+ years earn Rs 50,000–80,000. Shift-based work with overtime pay; career path to Head Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.
International Nursing (Australia / Canada / UK)
AUD 65,000–80,000 / CAD 60,000–75,000 / GBP 28,000–38,000/year
India produces the largest number of internationally migrating nurses. AIIMS B.Sc qualifies for NCLEX (US), NMBI (Ireland), AHPRA (Australia), NMC (UK) registration with additional tests. Immigration programs in Canada (Nova Scotia, Manitoba streams) specifically target Indian nurses.
Nurse Educator / Nursing Faculty
Rs 40,000–70,000/month (nursing colleges)
M.Sc Nursing after B.Sc opens faculty positions. INC mandates M.Sc faculty for clinical departments. Senior faculty positions in AIIMS and central institutions carry Pay Matrix Level 10–11. PhD in Nursing Science emerging for research careers.
Community Health Nursing (NHM, ANM)
Rs 25,000–40,000/month (NHM contractual)
National Health Mission employs B.Sc Nurses as Community Health Officers (CHO) under Ayushman Bharat HWC. CHOs manage Health and Wellness Centres, have prescribing authority for common conditions, and transition to permanent government roles after performance review.
Common mistakes that cost you a seat
Underweighting Physics and Chemistry because "it's a nursing exam" — Physics alone carries 40 marks and often determines admission.
Studying NEET UG books instead of NCERT — AIIMS Nursing tests NCERT depth, not advanced coaching material; NCERT mastery scores better than coaching shortcuts.
Neglecting nursing aptitude as "easy" — scenario questions trip unprepared candidates who don't understand patient safety prioritisation frameworks.
Skipping healthcare GK entirely — these are the fastest 20 marks in the paper and most aspirants leave them on the table.
Attempting AIIMS without checking other state nursing entrances as backups — many states (Kerala, Maharashtra, UP) have separate nursing entrance exams with equal quality colleges.
Not practising CBT interface — first-time CBT takers lose 10–15 minutes to interface confusion; practice with online mock platforms that simulate the exact format.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for AIIMS Nursing with 50% in Class 12?
General category candidates need 55% aggregate in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. SC/ST candidates are eligible at 50%. OBC (NCL) candidates typically follow general category cutoffs but get reservation in seat allocation. Check the official AIIMS notification for the current year as cutoffs are set at application, not exam time.
Is there negative marking in AIIMS Nursing entrance?
Yes — AIIMS Nursing has a negative marking scheme. Each correct answer carries +1 mark, and each wrong answer carries -1/3 (one-third) mark. Unattempted questions carry no penalty. This means random guessing is net-negative; only attempt questions you can narrow down to 2 choices or better.
Which AIIMS campus should I prefer for nursing?
AIIMS New Delhi has the best clinical exposure, research opportunities, and faculty quality — but it also has the highest competition. Regional AIIMS (Bhopal, Jodhpur, Patna, Rishikesh) are excellent options with strong government hospital placement pipelines in their states. If international migration is your goal, any AIIMS campus qualification is equally recognised.
Can GNM holders apply for AIIMS nursing?
Yes — AIIMS offers a separate Post Basic B.Sc Nursing programme for GNM holders with at least one year of clinical experience. This is a 2-year programme with a separate entrance test. The seats are fewer (20–30 per campus) but the competition is lower. GNM holders should apply for both the regular and post-basic programmes.
What is the scope of AIIMS nursing compared to private medical colleges?
AIIMS nursing graduates have significantly better career outcomes than private medical college nursing graduates. Government job absorption, international migration success rate, and starting salaries are all higher. The AIIMS brand specifically helps with NHS UK, NHS Scotland, and Australian hospital network recruitment — HR managers at these systems recognise the qualification. Private college nursing is often sufficient for domestic practice but not always internationally portable.
Get coached by someone who has cleared AIIMS Nursing with a top rank
Science students (PCB) who scored 55%+ in Class 12 and want admission to AIIMS B.Sc Nursing — the most respected nursing credential in India. Also GNM holders eligible for Post Basic B.Sc Nursing track.