Is 12th Marks Important for BSc Nursing?
Yes, 12th marks are important for BSc Nursing. The Indian Nursing Council, popularly known as INC requires students to pass class 12 in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English with at least 45% total in PCB.
Yes, 12th marks are important for BSc Nursing. According to the guidelines of the Indian Nursing Council, also known as INC, students need to pass class 12th in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English with at least 45% total in PCB and 40% for SC/ST/OBC candidates. Also, students must be atleast be 17 years of age by December 31, 2025.
Apart from Class 12th marks, students also require entrance exam scores for college admissions. A few colleges need students to pass the
NEET UG exam
, while others also accept exam scores of AIIMS BSc Nursing, JENPAS UG, AP NCET etc. Scroll down and find out more about it!
Is 12th Marks Required for BSc Nursing Admission 2025?
Colleges mainly consider Class 12th marks for BSc Nursing admission. Many colleges admit students solely based on their Class 12th marks. The dependence on class 12th marks varies from one institute to another. But, as a minimum requirement, a student must have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English in Class 12th to be eligible for BSc Nursing courses in India.
Minimum Marks Required in Class 12th for BSc Nursing
To get admission into a BSc Nursing program in India, students must have completed Class 12th with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English from a recognised board of education. The Indian Nursing Council has specified the minimum mark requirement for general-category students i.e., 45% aggregate in PCB plus English, while SC/ST/OBC/PwD students must score an aggregate of 40-45%. Some universities and institutes specify a higher cut-off of 50-55% for the general category and 45-50% for OBC, whereas the cut-off percentage for SC/ST is 40-45%. Here is an overview:
Category | Minimum Aggregate in PCB + English |
General/EWS | 45 to 55% |
OBC | 45 to 50% |
SC/ST/PwD | 40 to 45% |
Which Class 12th Subjects Matter the Most for BSc Nursing Eligibility
Students need to pass Class 12th with four key subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English to qualify for BSc Nursing admissions in India.
-
Physics, Chemistry, Biology (PCB):
These are compulsory subjects. Candidates usually choose biology as the most important among them. Mostly, biology is considered for a tie-breaker. If two students have the same aggregate, the one with a higher biology score gets preference. If still tied, chemistry and then Physics scores help decide
- English: This is also mandatory for communication skills and is included in the aggregate eligibility calculation.
When students tie in aggregate scores, Biology marks become the primary tie-breaker, followed by Chemistry, Physics, and sometimes age also. The government and many private nursing colleges rely only on Class 12th marks for admission. Competitive or national institutes (AIIMS, JIPMER, CMC, etc.) may also require entrance exams, such as NEET, AIIMS BSc Nursing , or state nursing CETs.