The AIIMS CRE 5 Nursing Officer Syllabus 2026 is divided into two broad parts a common section testing General Knowledge, Aptitude, and Computer Knowledge, and a domain-specific section covering core nursing subjects like Medical-Surgical Nursing, OBG, Pediatrics, Community Health, and Pharmacology. The exam is a 100-question, 400-mark Computer-Based Test (CBT) to be completed in 90 minutes.
This article breaks down the complete syllabus, exam pattern, marking scheme, qualifying cutoffs, and preparation strategy in one place, so you don't have to search anywhere else.
AIIMS CRE 5 Nursing Officer Exam Pattern 2026
Before diving into topics, it helps to understand how the exam is structured. The AIIMS CRE 5 Nursing Officer exam is a single-stage Computer-Based Test consisting of 100 objective-type multiple-choice questions worth 400 marks, to be attempted in 90 minutes.
Key highlights:
- Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 400
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Question Type: Objective (MCQ)
- Negative marking is applicable
| Subjects | Total Questions | Total Marks | Time Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge, Aptitude & Computer Knowledge | 20 | 80 | 90 minutes (combined) |
| Domain (Nursing) Subjects | 80 | 320 | - |
| Total | 100 | 400 | 90 minutes |
Marking Scheme
Knowing how marks are awarded and deducted helps you decide which questions to attempt. Each correct answer adds 4 marks, while every incorrect answer deducts 1 mark so guessing carelessly can hurt your score.
| Answer Type | Marks Awarded |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +4 |
| Incorrect Answer | -1 |
| Unattempted | 0 |
Qualifying Marks (Category-Wise)
Candidates need to clear a minimum percentage cutoff in the CBT, and this cutoff varies by category. Here's what you need to score to qualify:
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|
| UR/EWS | 40% |
| OBC | 35% |
| SC/ST | 30% |
AIIMS CRE 5 Nursing Officer Syllabus: General Knowledge, Aptitude & Computer Knowledge
This section is common to every candidate and is designed to test general awareness, reasoning, numerical aptitude, and basic computer literacy skills relevant to any government job, not just nursing.
Topics to prepare include current affairs, Indian history, geography, Indian polity, general science, basic mathematics, logical reasoning, and analytical ability, alongside computer fundamentals, MS Office, internet and networking concepts, operating systems, and cyber security basics.
AIIMS CRE 5 Nursing Officer Syllabus: Domain (Nursing) Subjects
This is the largest and highest-weightage part of the exam, carrying 320 of the 400 total marks. It tests your core nursing knowledge across clinical, theoretical, and administrative areas, so a strong grip here is essential to clear the cutoff and rank well.
| Subject | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Medical-Surgical Nursing | Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Renal, Neurological, GI Disorders, Oncology Nursing, Endocrine Disorders |
| Obstetrics & Gynaecological Nursing (OBG) | Antenatal/Intranatal/Postnatal Care, Pregnancy Complications, Labor Management, Newborn Care |
| Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics) | Growth & Development, Congenital Anomalies, Pediatric Emergencies, Immunization |
| Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing | Schizophrenia, Mood Disorders, Psychopharmacology, ECT, CBT, Mental Health Laws |
| Community Health Nursing | Epidemiology, National Health Programmes, Family Planning, Demography |
| Fundamentals of Nursing | Vital Signs, Medication Administration, Nursing Process, Patient Safety |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology | Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nervous, Digestive, Endocrine Systems |
| Microbiology & Infection Control | Chain of Infection, Sterilization, BMW, Universal Precautions |
| Pharmacology | Drug Classifications, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Drug Calculations |
| Pathology & Genetics | Cellular Adaptation, Inflammation, Genetic Disorders |
| Nutrition & Dietetics | Macro/Micronutrients, Renal & Diabetic Diet, Therapeutic Nutrition |
| Biochemistry | Acid-Base Balance, Carbohydrate/Protein/Lipid Metabolism |
| Nursing Administration & Ward Management | Leadership Styles, Staffing Norms, Hospital Information Systems |
| Professional Trends & Issues | Nursing Ethics, Legal Liabilities, INC, SNC |
| Nursing Research & Statistics | Research Designs, Sampling Methods, Mean/Median/Mode |
| Psychology & Sociology | Defense Mechanisms, Personality Theories, Group Dynamics |
How to Prepare for the AIIMS CRE 5 Nursing Officer Exam
A well-rounded preparation strategy balances the common section with the heavily-weighted nursing domain. Since nursing subjects carry 80% of total marks, your study plan should reflect that priority while not ignoring GK and aptitude.
- Give more time to high-weightage nursing subjects like Medical-Surgical Nursing and Fundamentals of Nursing.
- Revise standard nursing textbooks regularly rather than relying only on notes.
- Practice previous years' nursing recruitment questions to understand question patterns.
- Take regular mock tests to build speed and accuracy under timed conditions.
- Don't neglect General Knowledge, Aptitude, and Computer Awareness these 80 marks matter for the overall cutoff.
- Keep revising drug classifications, formulas, and nursing procedures, since these are commonly tested and easy to forget.
- Practice time management so all 100 questions can be attempted within 90 minutes.
