Looking for nursing school entrance exam questions to practice?
See nursing entrance exam questions with answers, explanation and even more to practice per subject as well as the exam success tips and download free PDF.
- ALSO SEE: ACCREDITED SCHOOLS OF NURSING IN NIGERIA
This entrance exam is separate from your O’level and JAMB.
It is conducted by the required nursing schools as CBT with an oral interview, both of which you must pass to gain admission.
Tips for passing nursing entrance exam
- Start at least 3 months before the exam to cover all subjects thoroughly.
- Use O’Level textbooks because nursing entrance exam is set at that level.
- Focus more on Biology as it is the most “core” to nursing training.
- Don’t neglect English because it shows your ability to communicate as a nurse, and schools take it seriously.
- Prepare for the oral interview with clear answers to questions like:
- Why do you want to be a nurse?
- What qualities make a good nurse?
- What do you know about nursing profession in Nigeria?
Nursing entrance exam structure
The Nigerian nursing school entrance exam is a multiple-choice (objective) test.
Expect to answer about 100 questions in 2 hours on these subjects.
| Subject | Questions |
| English | 20 |
| Biology | 20 |
| Chemistry | 20 |
| Mathematics | 15 |
| Physics | 15 |
| General Knowledge | 10 |
English, Biology and Chemistry are the core subjects tested in every nursing entrance exam.
Some schools also test Physics while others, Maths.
But only a few test both.
And not all include General Knowledge or Current Affairs.
Sample of nursing school entrance exam questions
Click on “SEE ANSWER” under each question for detailed explanation.
Or see more questions on each subject.
(A) English questions
English is in all Nigerian nursing school entrance exam.
The nursing profession rests on communication, and schools use questions here to confirm that you can read and write in English.
1. Choose the correct option. "The patient _____ before the ambulance arrived."
A. died
B. had died
C. has died
D. dies
SEE #1 ANSWER ✅
When two actions happened in the past, the first one uses the Past Perfect (had + verb).
2. Choose the correct pronoun: "Neither the doctor nor the nurses did _____ best."
A. his
B. their
C. its
D. her
SEE #2 ANSWER ✅
When using “Neither/Nor” with different subjects (singular doctor vs. plural nurses), the pronoun must agree with the closer subject.
3. Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
A. A number of nurses was absent.
B. A number of nurses were absent.
C. A number of nurses has been absent.
D. A number of nurses is absent.
SEE #3 ANSWER ✅
“A number of” is always followed by a plural verb, while “The number of” takes a singular verb.
4. Which of the following words is correctly stressed?
A. hos-PI-tal
B. HOS-pi-tal
C. hos-pi-TAL
D. hos-pi-tal
SEE #4 ANSWER ✅
Three-syllable nouns ending in “-al” are often stressed on the first syllable.
5. The word "psychology" begins with which sound?
A. /p/
B. /ps/
C. /s/
D. /z/
SEE #5 ANSWER ✅
The “p” in psychology is silent. So, the word starts with /s/.
(B) Biology questions
Biology is the most sensitive subject in nursing school entrance exam questions.
As the very foundation of nursing, schools rate it high because a strong Biology background suggests success in anatomy, physiology and clinical nursing subjects.
6. Which of the following is the correct path of blood through the heart?
A. Right atrium → right ventricle → lungs → left atrium → left ventricle → body
B. Left atrium → left ventricle → lungs → right atrium → right ventricle → body
C. Right ventricle → right atrium → lungs → left ventricle → left atrium → body
D. Left ventricle → left atrium → lungs → right ventricle → right atrium → body
SEE #6 ANSWER ✅
Deoxygenated blood enters from the right side, pumped to the lungs for oxygen, returns to the left side oxygenated, and pumped to the body.
7. Down syndrome is caused by _____
A. a virus
B. an extra chromosome
C. a missing chromosome
D. a bacterial infection
SEE #7 ANSWER ✅
Down syndrome is also called Trisomy 21 because there’s a 3rd copy of chromosome 21 instead of the usual pair.
8. Which of the following diseases is caused by a protozoan?
A. Measles
B. Tuberculosis
C. Malaria
D. Cholera
SEE #8 ANSWER ✅
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium (a protozoan). Measles (virus); Tuberculosis and Cholera (bacteria).
9. The tiny pores on the surface of leaves through which gas exchange occurs are called _____
A. lenticels
B. stomata
C. villi
D. alveoli
SEE #9 ANSWER ✅
Stomata are microscopic openings on leaves. Lenticels are on woody stems while alveoli and villi are in humans.
10. Which of the following is an example of a mammal?
A. Shark
B. Frog
C. Eagle
D. Dolphin
SEE #10 ANSWER ✅
Dolphins are mammals because they breathe air with lungs, give birth to live young and nurse them with milk. Sharks are fish (Pisces).
(C) Chemistry questions
Chemistry is tested because nurses work with drugs, solutions and chemical substances.
So, it helps in pharmacology, fluid management and laboratory values.
11. Which of the following is a mixture?
A. Distilled water
B. Common salt
C. Air
D. Carbon dioxide
SEE #11 ANSWER ✅
Air is a physical blend of gases (Nitrogen, Oxygen, etc.) that are not chemically bonded. Distilled water, salt, and CO₂ are pure compounds.
12. How many electrons does a neutral sodium atom (atomic number 11) have?
A. 8
B. 10
C. 11
D. 12
SEE #12 ANSWER ✅
In neutral atoms, the number of electrons is equal to the atomic number (the number of protons).
13. A solution with pH 2 is _____
A. strongly alkaline
B. weakly alkaline
C. neutral
D. strongly acidic
SEE #13 ANSWER ✅
The pH scale runs from 0–14 with acid (0–6) and alkaline (8–14).
14. The general formula for alkanes is _____
A. CₙH₂ₙ
B. CₙH₂ₙ₋₂
C. CₙH₂ₙ₊₂
D. CₙHₙ
SEE #14 ANSWER ✅
Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons. If you have 1 Carbon (n=1), you must have 4 Hydrogens. Formula: 2(1) + 2 = (CH4).
15. How many atoms are present in one molecule of H₂SO₄?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 7
SEE #15 ANSWER ✅
Count the subscripts: 2 (Hydrogen) + 1 (Sulphur) + 4 (Oxygen) = 7 atoms.
(D) Physics questions
16. A car travels 120 km in 2 hours. What is its average speed?
A. 40 km/h
B. 50 km/h
C. 60 km/h
D. 80 km/h
SEE #16 ANSWER ✅
- Speed = Distance ÷ Time
- So, 120 km ÷ 2 hours
17. An object will float in a liquid if its density is _____
A. greater than the density of the liquid
B. equal to twice the density of the liquid
C. less than the density of the liquid
D. equal to the mass of the liquid
SEE #17 ANSWER ✅
An object floats if it’s lighter (less dense) than the fluid it is displaced in. If it were denser, it would sink.
18. The formula for Ohm's law is _____
A. V = IR
B. V = I/R
C. V = I + R
D. V = I – R
SEE #18 ANSWER ✅
Ohm’s Law states that Voltage (V) equals Current (I) multiplied by Resistance (R).
(E) Mathematics questions
19. The ratio of male to female nurses in a ward is 2:7. If there are 18 male nurses, how many female nurses are there?
A. 54
B. 63
C. 72
D. 81
SEE #19 ANSWER ✅
- Male to Female = 2 to 7
- If the 2 parts = 18
- Then 1 part = 9
- So, 7 parts = 7 × 9
20. What principal amount will yield ₦2,400 as simple interest at 6% per annum for 4 years?
A. ₦8,000
B. ₦9,000
C. ₦10,000
D. ₦12,000
SEE #20 ANSWER ✅
- I = interest (₦2,400)
- P = principal (?)
- R = rate (6%)
- T = time (4 yrs)
Change the subject of the formula to “Principal”:
Insert the values:
Simplify:
21. What is the sum of interior angles of a quadrilateral?
A. 180°
B. 270°
C. 360°
D. 540°
SEE #21 ANSWER ✅
Four-sided shapes (e.g., quadrilateral) can be split into two triangles. And the sum of angles in a triangle is 180°. So, 180° + 180° = 360°.
(F) General knowledge questions
22. Nigeria became a republic in _____
A. 1960
B. 1962
C. 1963
D. 1966
SEE #22 ANSWER ✅
Nigeria gained independence in 1960 but became a Republic (cut ties with the British Monarchy) on October 1, 1963.
23. NMCN stands for _____
A. Nigerian Midwifery Council of Nigeria
B. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria
C. National Medical Council of Nigeria
D. Nigerian Medical and Care Network
SEE #23 ANSWER ✅
Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
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Frequently asked questions
No. Each nursing school sets its own entrance exam format, structure and difficulty level. But the core subjects (English, Biology and Chemistry) with Physics or Mathematics are the same across all schools.
There’s no universal limit on how many times you can sit the nursing school entrance exam. If you failed on your last attempt, strengthen your weak subjects and reapply for the next.
GOOD LUCK.
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