Healthcare professional preparing for DHA exam by analysing subject wise weightage and syllabus priorities.

Subject-Wise Weightage in DHA Exam

Knowing the subject-wise weightage in the DHA exam is definitely one of the smartest ways to prepare for it. It has been observed that many candidates fail in exams due to their lack of preparation on the right areas. You must be aware of the subject weightage in the DHA Syllabus, thereby increasing your chances to clear it in the very first attempt.

In this blog, we will discuss the weightage allotted for the DHA exam, profession-wise allotment, and tips on practical studying based on actual trends found in exams.

Why Subject-Wise Weightage Matters in the DHA Exam

The DHA exam is an assessment of broad clinical knowledge, but not all topics have the same weightage. Certain topics have a much higher question frequency, while others are seen occasionally.

Understanding weightage will benefit you:

Emphasise more topics from high-yield subjects
Do Not Waste Time on Low-Weightage Topics
Increase accuracy and productivity
Make a smart study plan and not just study hard

Weightage based on subjects makes the entire preparation process an informed strategy.

General DHA Exam Structure

Let’s take a look at the overall examination pattern:

Total Questions: 100 MCQs
Exam Duration: 2 hours
Scoring Scheme: Equal marks for each question
Pass Percentage: Usually 60% (varies according to the profession)
Question Type: Clinical scenario-based MCQs
Negative Marking: There is no negative marking for

The distribution of marks is uniform for every question, but the number of questions from various subjects varies.

Profession-Wise Subject Distribution in DHA Exam

The weightage of the DHA exam according to subjects is slightly varied depending upon the profession, but essentially, the same pattern is followed.

Doctors (MBBS & Specialists)

Subject	Approximate Weightage
Medicine	20–25%
Surgery	15–20%
Obstetrics & Gynecology	10–15%
Pediatrics	8–10%
Pharmacology	8–10%
Pathology	5–7%
Microbiology	4–6%
Preventive & Community Medicine	4–5%
Anatomy & Physiology	3–5%

Nurses (GNM / BSc / Post Basic)

Subject

Approximate Weightage

Medical-Surgical Nursing

30–35%

Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing

15–20%

Pediatric Nursing

10–15%

Community Health Nursing

8–10%

Pharmacology

8–10%

Anatomy & Physiology

5–7%

Fundamentals of Nursing

5–7%

Pharmacists

Subject

Approximate Weightage

Pharmacology

25–30%

Clinical Pharmacy

15–20%

Pharmaceutics

15%

Pharmaceutical Chemistry

10–15%

Pharmacognosy

8–10%

Hospital Pharmacy

5–8%

4. Allied Health Professionals

For lab technicians, radiographers, and other allied roles:

Core subject of specialisation: 40–50%

Related clinical concepts: 30–35%

- Safety, ethics & basic sciences: 15–20%

High vs. Low Weight Subjects in DHA Exam

High Priority Topics (Must-Know)

Medicine
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Pharmacology
Surgery
Obstetrics & Gynecology

These subjects alone can contribute 50–60% of the exam and hence are critical in passing.

Low-Weight Subjects – Selective Study

Anatomy
Physiology
Biochemistry
Community Medicine

While these subjects should not be completely ignored, over-studying them can be a mistake.

Study Priority Based on Subject-Wise Weightage

A smart preparation plan should incorporate the 60-30-10 rule:

60% effort → High-weight clinical subjects
30% effort → Medium-weight supporting subjects
10% effort → Low weight basics

Practical Strategy:

Start with weighty topics first
Practice MCQs after every topic
Revise areas of high weight multiple times
Low-weight subjects will mostly be used for concept clarity

Common Misconceptions About DHA Subject Weightage

“All subjects are equally important”

No. The DHA exam evidently prefers clinical and practical subjects.

“Basic sciences can be skipped”

The characters appear only in clinical vignettes.

“Studying more books will have greater chances

That is not true. Revision and practice of MCQs matters more

“Weightage guarantees questions”

Weightage gives the probability value and not certainty, and surprise questions can still be there.

Conclusion

Understanding the subject-wise weightage in the DHA examination becomes a game-changer for aspirants. Rather than preparing everything equally, it allows one to strategise their preparation according to DHA marks distribution and syllabus weightage, enabling one to study smarter, revise better, and perform with confidence. When preparation meets strategy, success becomes predictable.