AIIMS MSc Exam Pattern 2026: 90 Total Marks, Marking Scheme, Sections and Duration

The AIIMS MSc Entrance Examination 2026 is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted by All India Institute of Medical Sciences for admission to postgraduate programmes including MSc Nursing and MSc Biotechnology. The exam carries 90 marks across 90 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and must be completed within 90 minutes. With the AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 exam scheduled for June 20, 2026, students in the final preparation phase should review the official pattern and marking scheme carefully.

• AIIMS MSc 2026 is a 90-minute computer-based test with 90 questions for 90 marks in total.
• All questions are MCQs with four options and a single correct answer.
• A correct answer earns +1 mark; a wrong answer deducts 1/3 mark as negative marking.
• There is no penalty for leaving a question unattempted — skip when genuinely unsure.
• The exam runs in separate sittings for different programmes — MSc Nursing on June 20, 2026.
• In the MSc Nursing paper, Nursing Core Subjects carry the highest weightage with 50 out of 90 marks.
• Download your admit card from aiimsexams.ac.in — it is mandatory to carry it on exam day.

AIIMS MSc Exam Pattern 2026: Overview

The AIIMS MSc entrance exam 2026 uses a uniform structure across all its postgraduate programmes. Whether you appear for MSc Nursing or MSc Biotechnology, the format is the same: 90 MCQs in 90 minutes for 90 marks. Each correct answer earns 1 mark and each wrong answer deducts 1/3 mark as negative marking.

AIIMS MSc 2026 is a 90-minute computer-based test with 90 questions for 90 marks — one mark per question and one minute per question on average.

AIIMS MSc Exam Pattern 2026: Important Dates

The AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 exam is on June 20, 2026, three days from today. Admit cards for the nursing sitting were released on June 15, 2026 and are available for download at aiimsexams.ac.in. The MSc Biotechnology exam was held on June 13, 2026, with results expected on June 20, 2026.

AIIMS MSc 2026: Detailed Exam Pattern

The AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 paper divides into two broad sections — Basic Sciences (40 questions) and Nursing Core Subjects (50 questions). Every MCQ carries 1 mark, and there is no per-section time limit — you manage all 90 minutes across the full paper.

AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 — Detailed Paper Pattern

Note: There is no separate time cap per section. You can move freely between questions and sections within the 90-minute window.

AIIMS MSc Biotechnology 2026 — Paper Pattern

The AIIMS MSc Biotechnology 2026 exam was held on June 13, 2026, and follows the same 90-question, 90-mark, 90-minute CBT format. The paper tests undergraduate-level knowledge across Biotechnology and Life Sciences disciplines.

Source: AIIMS Official Exams Portal — aiimsexams.ac.in

AIIMS MSc Marking Scheme 2026

The AIIMS MSc 2026 marking scheme is uniform across all sections and programmes. Each correct MCQ earns +1 mark, each wrong MCQ loses −1/3 mark, and unattempted questions earn zero marks with no penalty. There is no partial marking or question-type-specific scoring variation.

Negative marking of −1/3 mark applies to every wrong MCQ in AIIMS MSc 2026 — avoid guessing randomly, especially in sections where you have no directional knowledge.

If you select more than one answer option for a single question, the system treats it as a wrong response and deducts 1/3 mark. Leaving the question blank is always safer than random guessing when you cannot eliminate at least two options.

AIIMS MSc Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2026

In the AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 paper, the 40-mark Basic Sciences section is dominated by Anatomy, while the 50-mark Nursing Core section draws questions from six clinical domains. Here is the subject-wise breakdown.

Basic Sciences — 40 Questions | 40 Marks

Basic Sciences tests pre-clinical knowledge at the BSc Nursing level. Anatomy is the highest-weighted subject in this section, contributing roughly half the Basic Sciences marks.

Nursing Core Subjects — 50 Questions | 50 Marks

Nursing Core Subjects form the larger section of the paper at 50 questions. AIIMS does not publish a fixed per-topic question split within this section — questions appear from all six clinical nursing domains listed below.

Nursing Core Subjects carry the highest weightage in AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 — 50 out of 90 marks come from clinical nursing domains, making this section critical for your overall score.

AIIMS MSc Question Types 2026

The AIIMS MSc 2026 exam features only Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). Each question has four answer options and exactly one correct answer. There are no numerical type, MSQ (multi-select), assertion-reason, or descriptive questions in this exam.

All 90 questions in AIIMS MSc 2026 are MCQs — selecting more than one option for any question is treated as a wrong answer and attracts the −1/3 penalty.

Since the exam uses only one question type, you can apply a consistent time-management strategy throughout. Aim for no more than 60 seconds per question. Flag difficult questions and return with the time remaining after completing the rest of the paper.

AIIMS MSc Exam Pattern: Changes in 2026 vs Previous Year

The AIIMS MSc 2026 exam pattern is unchanged from 2025. AIIMS has retained the 90-question, 90-mark, 90-minute MCQ format with the same negative marking rule of −1/3 per wrong answer. The table below compares key parameters year-on-year.

The AIIMS MSc pattern is fully stable in 2026 — no structural changes from 2025. Your practice papers, past question resources, and preparation strategy from the previous cycle remain entirely applicable.

How to Prepare Based on AIIMS MSc Exam Pattern

The AIIMS MSc 2026 exam pattern gives you a precise preparation blueprint. With 90 MCQs in 90 minutes and negative marking in play, you need subject accuracy and time discipline in equal measure. These seven tips are drawn directly from the official pattern structure.

1. Prioritise Anatomy above all other Basic Science topics: Anatomy contributes approximately 20 out of 40 Basic Science questions — it is the single highest-scoring subject in the paper. Invest the maximum share of your Basic Sciences revision time here before branching out to Physiology.
2. Build speed to sustain 60 seconds per question: The 90-question, 90-minute structure allows no room for deliberating. Take full-length 90-question timed mock tests regularly to build the reflex of answering within a minute and moving on.
3. Treat unattempted questions as a tool, not a failure: With −1/3 mark per wrong answer, skipping a question where you cannot eliminate at least two options costs you nothing and protects your score. Every random guess risks net negative returns.
4. Cover all six Nursing Core domains without exception: AIIMS does not publish sub-topic question weights within the Nursing Core section. You cannot afford to drop any of the six areas — Medical-Surgical, Pediatric, Psychiatric, Obstetrical, Community Health Nursing, and Nursing Research.
5. Practise clinical-reasoning MCQs, not just definition recall: AIIMS questions are application-driven. Practise scenario-based nursing MCQs that require you to decide on the correct intervention or assessment — not just recall a textbook term.
6. Use Nursing Research and Statistics as a score booster: This subject is predictable and formula-based. Most students underinvest here — strong preparation can yield 4–6 additional marks that make a decisive rank difference.
7. Verify your admit card details before June 20: AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 admit cards are available at aiimsexams.ac.in from June 15, 2026. Confirm your exam centre address, shift time, and reporting time now — do not leave this for the morning of the exam.