NEXT Exam: Exam for a license to practice medicine in India

The National Exit Test (NEXT Exam) will be conducted to provide admission to postgraduate courses. The National Exit Test is a mandatory licentiate examination for MBBS students to practice medicine in India. The candidates who have qualified for MBBS in India or abroad have to pass the National Exit Test to be registered with the Medical Board of India. 

The National Exit Test (NEXT) will be held by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi. Earlier, it was assumed that the National Medical Commission (NMC) would conduct the exam. However, the most recent official release confirms that the exam will be held twice a year by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The National Exit Test (NEXT) will be conducted in two phases. The first step is called NEXT 1 and the second step is NEXT 2. The first step is NEXT 1 is a theoretical exam whereas the second step is NEXT 2 is a practical exam. Step 1 candidates who pass the NEXT exam will be admitted to an internship and Step 2 candidates will be admitted to the practical exam.

The primary objective of NEXT is to establish uniformity and efficiency in the assessment process for Indian postgraduate professionals. Every year thousands of Indian students appear for medical exams in India. The two major medical exam hosts including NEET UG and NEET PG in the country. The first exam is for students who wish to pursue in the medical field.

NEXT Exam Eligibility Criteria

The National Exit Test (NEXT) will apply to undergraduate medical students. Below are some of the eligibility requirements for the National Exit Test according to the draft guidelines:

• All Undergraduate Medical Students pursuing MBBS from Medical Colleges approved by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
• All overseas medical graduates are approved by the National Medical Commission (NMC) to attain a licensed medical professional status as a registered medical.

• Any other person who holds a medical degree for an academic program, as an observer, or for any other purpose specified and authorized by NMC.

NEXT or FMGE Exam Syllabus

The NEXT Or FMGE Exam Syllabus comprises six subjects, covering clinical, pre and para-clinical areas. Subjects of the NEXT 1 Syllabus are as follows:

• Medicine & allied subjects
• Pediatrics
• Surgery & allied subjects
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Obstetrics & Gynaecology
• Ophthalmology

NEXT Exam Pattern

NMC NEXT test pattern includes exam mode. Medium, total number of questions, type of test, and other information. NEXT 1 theory test will be conducted online whereas the NEXT 2 practical test or viva test will be conducted offline. In NEXT 1, there will be a total of 540 MCQ questions. 

Candidates who pass NEXT 1 will get admission to the internship program.50% marks are required to qualify for NEXT paper 1. To qualify for NEXT 2, candidates will need to clear NEXT 1 paper 

To get admission to PG courses, candidates will have to pass the NEXT 2 paper. NMC NEXT test pattern includes exam mode, Medium total number of questions, type of test, and other information.

In short, the steps of NEXT 1 and NEXT 2 are mentioned below: 

• The exam comprises two sections: NEXT 1 & NEXT 2.
• NEXT 1, which is theoretical, will be administered online.
• In NEXT 1, there will be a total of 540 MCQ-based questions from 19 subjects
• NEXT 2 is only conducted after the internship.
• EXIT 2 or Paper 2 will be a practical exam that will be conducted by the relevant state colleges/ universities.
• A score of Paper 1 will be valid for 2 years to qualify for the Paper 2 practical exam.

NEXT Application Form

While the exam conducting body (NMC) has not issued any official notice regarding the application procedure, it is expected that NMC will release an online application form for the exam. The application date for the NEXT application form will be published on the official website of NEXT. The candidates will have to register for the exam online. The application process includes registration, filling in the application form, uploading the images, and paying the registration fee. It is recommended that candidates check the eligibility criteria carefully before applying for the examination of NEXT PG.

About NEXT 1 Examination process 

NEXT 1 Paper contains 540 Multiple Choice Questions. The percentage division of the questions is structured as follows: 

• Problem-solving questions: (60% of the paper)
• Computational and Analytical questions: (30% of the paper)
• Recall, Applied Basic Sciences, Preventive, and Public Health questions: (10% of the paper)

The table below shows the NEXT 1 schedule. It is important to note that the schedule provided below is only a rough idea. It may change depending on feasibility and logistics.

NEXT Exam marking scheme

All candidates will have to get minimum marks. Marks in Next 1 are calculated as a whole number, which will be used as raw scores. The raw scores will be calculated with decimals, and then the percentages will be calculated (marks from 100) with decimals if required. The results of the Next 2 will be declared only as Pass / Fail based on the acquisition of aptitude that is being assessed.

NEXT Cut-off

To pass the NEXT PG examination, candidates must score a minimum cut-off mark. The qualification criteria for Step 1 and Step 2 differ. For step 1 of the NEXT exam, the minimum marks for passing are 50% or 50% of the maximum possible raw for step 1. The criterion for passing Step 2 of Next is a satisfactory demonstration of competency, which will be assessed and declared as a pass/fail result.

FMGE/NEXT Exam Preparation Tips

The exam syllabus is quite comprehensive and contains many important topics that need to be read at least once. The syllabus is compiled from the entire syllabus that was completed at the graduation level. To know more about how to read the exam syllabus promptly, read below:

• Split the syllabus into two parts. The exam syllabus is quite long, so it’s a good idea to split each topic into smaller parts so that students can focus on all the chapters at once.
• Create a daily schedule and spread out study hours throughout the day. That way, students will be able to focus on different chapters throughout the day.
• Try as many mock exams as possible. Solving mock exams is beneficial because it helps students understand the nature of the questions and the level of difficulty of the exam.
• Try to revise your question papers from last year. By revising your papers from last year, the candidate will be able to find their weak points and revise them thoroughly.

Need of NEXT Exam for MBBS candidates

In addition to being the qualifying exam for the final year MBBS students, the NEXT test will also provide a license to the students, which will enable them to practice medicine in India. In addition to this, the exam also provides a merit-based admission process for students who want to pursue postgraduate studies. This merit-based admission process aims to provide a fair chance to meritorious students who want to specialize in the field of medicine. 

Questions have been asked about the lack of uniformity in medical education and the need for a more harmonized and standardized assessment of medical practitioners. The new NEXT test addresses these concerns by introducing a standardized test that will assess the clinical knowledge and skills of medical graduates, creating a level playing field and ensuring that all doctors possess the necessary skills to provide quality healthcare

FAQ’S

Que 1: Will the National Exit Test (NEXT) take place in 2024?

Ans 1: No, the National Exit Test will not take place in 2024; it will be launched on August 25, 2025. The NEXT examination will replace the NEET PG exam and FMGE exam for postgraduate medical courses.

Que 2: Will the NEXT Exam be compulsory for admission to AIIMS?

Ans 2: Probably, NEXT Exam results will also apply to AIIMS. However, clarity will come once the official NEXT exam brochure is made available.

Que 3: Has the NEXT mock exam been canceled?

Ans 3: Yes, the NEXT mock exam has been canceled by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Also, the registration fee of the candidates who applied for the practice exam will be refunded. The exam is scheduled to take place on July 28.

Que 4: What is the difference between the FMGE Exam and the EXIT Exam?

Ans. 4: The NEXT exam effectively replaces the FMGE exam. After completing the medical course of study, MBBS (medical) graduates are required to complete a one-year internship in a designated hospital. Last month, the National Medical Commission (NMC) offered ‘one-time flexibility’ to FMGs completing their internship in India.