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If you’re preparing for the DNB exam, chances are you’ve asked yourself this at least once:
“How exactly is the paper structured?”
“How many marks are for theory?”
“What really happens in the practical exam?”
You’re not alone. Many residents walk into the exam hall without fully understanding the pattern, and that’s where panic begins.
In this blog, Dr. Anand Bhatia breaks down the entire DNB exam pattern in a simple, no-nonsense way, so you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare smartly.
How Many Marks Is the DNB Exam?
The DNB exam has two major parts:
- Theory – 400 marks
- Practical – 300 marks
So we can say in total, you’re preparing for a 700-mark exam.
Once you understand this structure, planning your preparation becomes much easier.
DNB Theory Exam Pattern (400 Marks)
The theory exam is divided into four papers:
- Paper 1 – 100 marks
- Paper 2 – 100 marks
- Paper 3 – 100 marks
- Paper 4 – 100 marks
That makes it a total of 400 marks.
What does each paper look like?
So each paper has-
- 10 questions
- 10 marks per question
So it means one paper = 10 questions × 10 marks = 100 marks
How are the questions framed?
Every 10-mark question is usually split into smaller parts, such as:
- 3 marks
- 3 marks
- 4 marks
For example:
- Define cerebral palsy – 3 marks
- Types of cerebral palsy – 3 marks
- Investigations and management – 4 marks
This pattern helps examiners judge both your basic concepts and clinical understanding.
How Are DNB Theory Papers Checked?
One very important thing many students don’t realize:
Your entire paper is not checked by a single examiner.
Different parts of your paper are sent to different evaluation centres across India, North India, South India, Central India, and so on. This keeps the evaluation fair and unbiased.
That’s why:
- Neat presentation matters
- Clear answers matter
- Consistency matters
DNB Practical Exam Pattern (300 Marks)
The practical exam is where most students feel nervous, but once you know the structure, it becomes manageable.
The 300 marks are divided into:
- OSCE – 100 marks
- Clinical practical – 200 marks
OSCE in DNB: What to Expect (100 Marks)
OSCE stands for Objective Structured Clinical Examination.
Here’s how it works:
- Total OSCE stations: 20
- Marks per station: 5
- Total OSCE marks: 100
Each OSCE station is usually divided into 5 small parts of 1 mark each.
You may get:
- ECG interpretation
- ABG analysis
- Image-based questions
- Drug-related questions
- Clinical scenarios
It tests your presence of mind and practical decision-making.
Clinical Practical Exam (200 Marks)
This section usually includes:
- One long case
- Two short cases
- Table viva
The exact distribution can vary slightly from college to college, but a common pattern is:
- Long case – 50 marks
- Short case 1 – 25 marks
- Short case 2 – 25 marks
- Table viva – remaining marks
Table Viva: What Comes Here?
Table viva often includes:
- X-rays and imaging
- Spotters
- Instruments
- Drugs
- NRP-related questions
Some institutes take it as one combined viva, while others divide it into multiple stations.
Final Marks Summary
| Section | Marks |
| Theory (4 papers) | 400 |
| OSCE | 100 |
| Clinical practical | 200 |
| Total Marks | 700 |
Why Understanding the DNB Exam Pattern Changes Everything?
When you clearly know:
- How many papers you have
- How questions are framed
- How OSCE works
- What happens in practical
You stop preparing blindly and start preparing strategically.
That’s the real game-changer.
Final Words
The DNB exam is not impossible. It just demands discipline, clarity, and consistency.
As Dr. Anand Bhatia rightly says, your paper is evaluated at multiple levels — so every answer counts. Study regularly, revise smartly, and practice clinical reasoning every day.
If you stay consistent, the exam becomes much less scary.
