AIIMS NORCET 11 Answer Key 2026: Stage 1 Expected Answers, Question Paper & Cut-off

career12 Sept 20265 min read

Key Takeaways

What you'll learn from this article

1Stage 1 has now been completed.
2The official answer key is still awaited.
3Qualifying and shortlisting are not the same.
4Meeting the minimum qualifying percentile is a screening step; shortlisting determines who moves to Stage 2.
5Stage 2 decides final merit.

Take a deep breath.
You walked into that exam hall today, on September 12, went through 90 minutes of intense, high-pressure questions and gave it your absolute best. Be proud of the effort you've put forth; completing Stage I is a big accomplishment.

Your performance in exam and the result announced by AIIMS are two different things.
There is no point taking answers from social media or coaching platforms as final until we have the official response information and answer key.

AIIMS NORCET 11 Stage I exam was held on 12 September 2026. It had 100 MCQs for 100 marks, 90 minutes duration and one-third negative marking for wrong answer. The paper was divided into five sections, and each section was given 18 minutes.

NORCET 11 Exam 2026: Important Dates

Event Looking for Healthcare Opportunities? Browse top-paying jobs in hospitals and clinics worldwide. Explore Jobs	Official schedule
NORCET 11 Stage I	September 12, 2026
Stage I Result	September 18, 2026
NORCET 11 Stage II	September 30, 2026
Stage II Result	October 10, 2026

Answer Key for NORCET 11 2026

The official AIIMS NORCET 11 answer key is yet to be released.

This is important because several websites may publish memory-based answers soon after the examination. A memory-based key is reconstructed from candidates' recollection of questions and answers. It can help you estimate your performance, but it is not the same as the official AIIMS answer key.

Do not treat an unofficial PDF, Telegram post or coaching answer sheet as the final answer key. The authoritative update will come through the AIIMS examination system. AIIMS own portal directs candidates to its recruitment and examination notices for official information.

What should you do when the official key is released?

Compare your answers with the official answer key and identify correct and incorrect attempts, account for negative marking and calculate your estimated raw score.

The formula is:

Estimated score = Correct answers − (Wrong answers ÷ 3)

Remember that this is a raw-score calculation. Stage I qualification is based on percentile, not on a single fixed raw-mark cut-off.

How Difficult Was the Exam?

Initial feedback suggests the exam was particularly difficult, with emphasis on clinical scenarios and application questions. If you felt challenged during those 18-minute section blocks, remember that thousands of other candidates felt the same way.

Because AIIMS evaluates Stage I using a percentile system rather than a fixed raw cut-off, your performance is measured relative to everyone else who took the test. When a paper is difficult across the board, the overall score distribution shifts downward, meaning you remain fully in the running.

What Score Do You Need?

There are two different things candidates often call the “cut-off.”

The first is the minimum qualifying percentile prescribed for Stage I. The second is the actual shortlisting threshold needed to be called for Stage II.

Category	Stage I qualifying percentile
UR / EWS	50th percentile
OBC	45th percentile
SC / ST	40th percentile
PwBD categories	Relaxed percentile as notified by AIIMS

AIIMS also specifies that candidates are shortlisted for Stage II based on the notified category-wise selection rules. Therefore, qualifying for Stage I does not automatically mean that you will be called for Stage II.

This is why publishing one guessed “safe score” for every category can be misleading before the official result and shortlist are available.

Qualified vs Shortlisted: What Is the Difference?

Think of the process like this:

NORCET 11 Stage I
↓

Meet qualifying standard
↓

Fall within Stage II shortlist
↓

Stage II examination
↓

Final merit
↓

Choice/allocation
↓

Document verification

Stage I is essentially the screening stage. AIIMS states that Stage I is not used for deciding the final merit or rank.
Stage II is the stage that determines final merit, subject to the applicable qualifying conditions.

So, seeing your percentile above the minimum qualifying level should not be interpreted as a guaranteed Nursing Officer appointment.

NORCET 11 Stage 2

The Stage II examination scheduled for September 30, 2026.

Stage II is the merit-determining examination. The official scheme provides for 160 MCQs over 180 minutes, with questions designed around the nursing syllabus and clinical or case-based application.

Candidates shortlisted from Stage I should therefore avoid spending all their time analysing unofficial answer keys. Once you have made a reasonable estimate of your Stage I performance, shift your attention towards Stage II preparation.

AIIMS Nursing Officer Salary After NORCET 11

Pay applies after final selection and appointment as a Nursing Officer.

The post is placed at Pay Level 7, with the notified pay matrix ranging from ₹44,900 to ₹1,42,400. Actual earnings can include applicable allowances according to the rules of the concerned institution.

Component	Details
Post	Nursing Officer
Pay Level	Level 7
Pay Matrix	₹44,900–₹1,42,400
Additional benefits	Applicable allowances as per rules

The exact monthly amount received by an appointed candidate can therefore differ from the basic pay depending on applicable allowances, deductions and place of posting.

What Should You Do While Waiting for the Answer Key?

Do not repeatedly change your estimated score every time a social-media page uploads a different answer.

Keep your own record of the questions you remember, compare only when a reasonably reliable solution becomes available, and use the official AIIMS notice as the final authority.

Most importantly, continue preparing for Stage II if your estimated performance gives you a realistic chance of being shortlisted.

By the time you wait for results, why not upskill yourself and do part-time jobs to finance your further career life!

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Dr Aditi Chandra

Medical Content Writer Intern | Registered Dentist

Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) | PG Diploma in Hospital & Healthcare Management, Symbiosis University | Fellowship in Endodontics, Saveetha University | Fellowship in Aesthetic Dentistry, Greifswald University

Dr Aditi is a dentist with over four years of clinical and healthcare experience, combining expertise in dentistry, healthcare management, medical communication, and content development. Beyond clinical practice, she has experience creating evidence-based healthcare content, designing patient education materials, and producing digital health communications, with a strong focus on translating complex medical information into clear, accessible, and engaging content for diverse audiences. She is also skilled in healthcare marketing, workflow optimisation, and strategic communication. Currently, Dr Aditi serves as a Medical Content Creator Intern at Academically Global, where she develops educational content for healthcare professionals, students, and international licensing aspirants, committed to delivering accurate, up-to-date, and research-backed information that empowers readers to make informed educational and career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When will NORCET 11 answer key 2026 be released?

The official material available at the moment does not have a separate confirmed answer-key release date from AIIMS. Hence, the candidates should avoid relying on websites that offer a precise key-release date without an AIIMS notification. Candidates should visit the AIIMS examination portal when the official answer key or response information is uploaded and match it with their recorded responses.

2. When will the NORCET 11 answer key be released?

If we go by the official examination information that we have analysed for this update, the official AIIMS answer key is not available right now. Post the exam, some coaching institutes and educational websites release memory-based solutions. These can be utilized for a rough self-assessment but should not be called the official AIIMS NORCET 11 answer key till AIIMS distributes the paper.

3. When is the NORCET 11 stage 1 exam going to be held?

The NORCET 11 Stage I was held as a computer based test of 90 minutes duration. The examination time reported was between 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The paper was divided into five timed portions, each of which lasted 18 minutes. Candidates could not run the complete exam on a single timer for 90 minutes, as portions would lock one after the other.

4. How to compute my NORCET 11 Score ?

Marking scheme for Stage I is 1 mark for correct answer and 1/3 mark deduction for incorrect answer. You can estimate a likely raw score by subtracting one third of your bad answers from your correct responses. This estimate is beneficial to check your performance but should not be confused with your percentile or final selection place.

5. What is the NORCET 11, 2026 Cut-off?

Stage I qualification is percentile-based and is the recognised requirement. The notified minimums are the 50th percentile for UR/EWS, 45th for OBC and 40th for SC/ST, with specific relaxation for PwBD categories. However, qualifying at the minimum qualifying percentile does not ensure a Stage II call, since candidates are shortlisted according to category-specific recruitment norms and available opportunities.

6. Is qualifying for NORCET Stage 1 enough for selection as Nursing Officer?

No. Stage I is a qualifying screening stage and is not considered for final merit or rank. Candidates who meet the relevant conditions and are on the Stage II shortlist may progress to the next test. Stage II: Final Merit. Allocation, Verification and Appointment processes together with the applicable preference.

7. When will NORCET 11 Stage 1 result be declared?

As to the official timetable of NORCET 11, the Stage I result is to be published on September 18, 2026. The candidates are advised to cross check the notification on AIIMS examination portal at the time of result declaration as the result document,shortlist and instructions if any would be final authority for next stage.

8. NORCET 11 stage 2 exam is scheduled on?

The date of the NORCET 11 Stage II exam is 30 September 2026. After this only those candidates who are eligible and shortlisted in level-I will be considered for the next level. As Stage II is the merit deciding exam, applicants who have a realistic probability of qualifying for Stage I should make good use of the waiting period and not only depend on discussions of unofficial answer keys.

9. NORCET 11 paper was tough?

AIIMS has not released any official difficulty level for the paper. Educational portals have given post-exam analysis of the examination, stating the examination to be moderate to difficult with a special emphasis on clinically focused nursing questions. Candidates should treat these judgments as opinions based on external analysis and not as the official results of AIIMS in assessing their own performance.

10.What is the remuneration of Nursing Officer recruited through NORCET 11?

The recruiting process of a Nursing Officer is at Pay Level 7, and the notified pay matrix is from ₹44,900 to ₹1,42,400. The above is the pay-matrix range and not the guaranteed in-hand salary for the month. The actual amount received after appointment will be subject to applicable allowances, deductions and institutional norms.