IGNOU OPENNET Exam Pattern 2027: 120 MCQs, 120 Marks, Marking Scheme and No Negative Marking

IGNOU OPENNET 2027 is an offline, pen-and-paper entrance test by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). It grants admission to the Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing programme in distance learning mode. The exam has 120 multiple-choice questions for 120 marks, lasts 150 minutes, and carries no negative marking.

• IGNOU OPENNET 2027 is a 150-minute offline test with 120 MCQs for 120 marks.
• All questions are drawn from the 3-year GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) diploma syllabus.
• Each correct answer earns +1 mark; there is no negative marking for wrong or unattempted answers.
• The exam is held in English on OMR answer sheets at IGNOU-designated regional centres across India.
• Students must score at least 60 out of 120 marks (50%) to qualify for the merit list and counselling.
• IGNOU OPENNET is conducted once a year, typically in March, targeting the January session intake.
• Each iteration is numbered sequentially — the 2027 edition will be OPENNET-XV.

IGNOU OPENNET Exam Pattern 2027: Overview

IGNOU OPENNET 2027 (OPENNET-XV) is a single-paper offline exam built entirely on the three-year GNM nursing diploma curriculum. The test runs for 150 minutes, has 120 MCQs for 120 marks, and imposes no penalty for wrong answers.

IGNOU OPENNET 2027 is a 150-minute pen-and-paper exam with 120 nursing-based MCQs for 120 marks — and zero negative marking throughout.

IGNOU OPENNET Exam Pattern 2027: Important Dates

IGNOU has not yet released the official schedule for OPENNET 2027 (OPENNET-XV) as of September 2026. Based on the 2026 cycle (OPENNET-XIV), the exam is expected in March 2027. The table below lists expected 2027 dates alongside confirmed 2026 dates for reference.

Note: All 2027 dates are projected based on the previous cycle. IGNOU OPENNET 2027 dates will be officially published at ignounursing.samarth.edu.in.

IGNOU OPENNET 2027: Detailed Exam Pattern

IGNOU OPENNET 2027 is a single-section, single-paper exam. All 120 MCQs appear in one question booklet, drawn from across the entire GNM diploma curriculum. IGNOU does not publish an official per-subject question count; every topic from all three GNM years is eligible.

Note: IGNOU does not declare a section-wise or per-subject question breakdown in its official notification. The 120 questions span the full GNM curriculum without a fixed per-subject allocation.

Students receive a separate OMR answer sheet and must use a black or blue ballpoint pen. Rough work can be done on the question booklet. No separate rough sheet is provided. Do not use correction fluid or overwrite circles on the OMR sheet, as machine grading cannot read altered marks.

IGNOU OPENNET Marking Scheme 2027

The IGNOU OPENNET 2027 marking scheme is straightforward and penalty-free. Every correct answer awards +1 mark. Wrong answers and skipped questions both receive zero marks — there is no deduction at any point.

There is no negative marking in IGNOU OPENNET 2027 — attempt all 120 questions to maximise your score.

Students need a minimum of 60 marks out of 120 to qualify for the merit list. IGNOU prepares a region-wise merit list through its regional centres. Counselling and seat allotment follow the merit list order.

IGNOU OPENNET Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2027

IGNOU OPENNET 2027 tests the full 3-year GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) diploma curriculum. Since IGNOU does not release an official per-subject question count, prepare each year’s subjects thoroughly. The tables below list all subject areas covered, organised by GNM year.

First Year GNM Subjects

Second Year GNM Subjects

Third Year GNM Subjects

Source: IGNOU Nursing Portal — Official Programme Notification

IGNOU OPENNET Question Types 2027

IGNOU OPENNET 2027 uses only one question type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with four answer options numbered 1 to 4. Every question has exactly one correct answer. There are no numerical type, assertion-reason, passage-based, or descriptive questions in the exam.

Students mark their chosen option number on the OMR answer sheet using a black or blue ballpoint pen. The OMR sheet is machine-graded. Overwriting, erasing, or using correction fluid on the OMR can cause that answer to be rejected.

IGNOU OPENNET Exam Pattern: Changes in 2027 vs Previous Year

IGNOU OPENNET has maintained a consistent and stable exam pattern across multiple cycles. No structural change occurred between OPENNET-XIII (2025) and OPENNET-XIV (2026). OPENNET-XV (2027) is expected to follow the same format, pending the official notification from IGNOU.

The IGNOU OPENNET pattern has been unchanged for several cycles — 120 MCQs, 120 marks, 150 minutes, and no negative marking.

How to Prepare Based on IGNOU OPENNET Exam Pattern

The IGNOU OPENNET 2027 exam pattern shapes your preparation strategy directly. With 120 MCQs from the full GNM curriculum, 150 minutes on the clock, and no negative marking, the approach is: go broad, go thorough, and attempt every question.

1. Cover all three years of GNM equally. IGNOU draws questions from the entire GNM diploma without revealing subject-wise weightage. Skipping any year’s subjects is a risk you cannot afford.
2. Attempt all 120 questions. There is no penalty for wrong answers. Leaving any question blank only reduces your score. Practise making confident choices under time pressure.
3. Train for OMR accuracy. The exam is machine-graded from an OMR sheet. Practise filling OMR sheets quickly with a ballpoint pen. A mismarked or overwritten circle cannot be corrected on exam day.
4. Time yourself strictly. You have 150 minutes for 120 questions — roughly 75 seconds per question. Take full-length timed mock tests to build the speed and stamina the exam demands.
5. Prioritise high-coverage subjects. Pharmacology, Medical-Surgical Nursing, and Community Health Nursing span two years of the GNM curriculum. Strong preparation in these raises your overall score significantly.
6. Target 80+ marks for a competitive rank. The qualifying cut-off is 60 out of 120. Counselling is merit-based and region-specific. A score above 80 puts you in a strong position for seat allotment.
7. Use INC-prescribed GNM textbooks as your primary resource. All OPENNET questions are derived from the GNM curriculum approved by the Indian Nursing Council. These are the most reliable study materials available.