The National Medical Commission (NMC) hosted a highly anticipated webinar on the National Exit Test (NExT) on June 27 for final-year MBBS students and medical colleges accross the country.
With NMC chairperson, Suresh Chandra Sharma, taking the virtual podium, this informative session aims to address concerns, clarify speculations, and provide valuable insights into the proposed NExT examination.
Let’s dive into the details and see what this webinar has in store for the medical community.
What is NExT?
The NExT (National Exit Test) is a crucial examination designed to facilitate admission to postgraduate courses for medical students in India. It serves as a mandatory licentiate exam for final-year medical students who have completed their undergraduate MBBS degree, whether from within India or abroad. In summary, the NExT Exam will serve as a qualifying and screening test.
The primary purpose of the NExT exam is to ensure that aspiring doctors meet the necessary standards and qualifications required to practice medicine within the country. Successful completion of the exam is a prerequisite for registration with the Medical Council of India, authorizing medical professionals to practice medicine in India.
Who will conduct NExT?
The NExT Exam will be conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.
Which batch will be the first to give NExT?
MBBS students who took admissions in 2019 will be the first batch to undertake the NExT Exam.
NExT Exam Pattern
The National Exit Test (NExT) will be conducted in two stages: NExT 1 and NExT 2.
NExT 1 is a theoretical examination, while NExT 2 is a practical examination.
Candidates who successfully clear NExT 1 will become eligible for internships, followed by the practical exam in NExT 2.
NExT Step 1
Objective
The NExT Step 1 will be a comprehensive computer-based examination based on high-quality multiple choice questions (MCQs) ensuring objectivity and following nationwide delivery and conduction with robust fidelity in a secure manner.
The MCQ items would address higher domains of knowledge aligned to competencies expected of an Indian Medical Graduate or a graduate practising a modern system of medicine, especially in India.
There will be a total of 540 multiple-choice questions in NExT Step 1 comprising of 6 papers covering clinical, pre and para clinical areas.
Distribution of Items
| MCQ item | Distribution percentage |
|---|---|
| Problem-solving and analytical skill type | 60-70% |
| Comprehensive type | 20-30% |
| Recall type | 5-15% |
Knowledge Level of Questions
| Competencies acquisition | Level of knowledge |
|---|---|
| Must know | 60% |
| Nice to know | 30% |
| May know | 10% |
Syllabus
The NEXT Step 1 examination’s syllabus will have 6 subject papers which include:
- Medicine and allied subjects
- Surgery and allied subjects
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Paediatrics
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Ophthalmology
Applied aspects of all other subjects of MBBS including Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (FMT) and Community Medicine will be mainstreamed into the relevant clinical subjects.
In each paper, 10% of items will pertain to applied aspects of related subjects.
Pattern
The following table provides the subjects in each paper with respective weightage and time allocated.
| Papers | Subjects | Number of MCQs | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medicine and allied subjects | 120 | 3 hours |
| 2 | Surgery and allied subjects | 120 | 3 hours |
| 3 | Obstetrics and Gynecology | 120 | 3 hours |
| 4 | Paediatrics | 60 | 1.5 hours |
| 5 | Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) | 60 | 1.5 hours |
| 6 | Ophthalmology | 60 | 1.5 hours |
Time Schedule
| Day | 1st Exam | Duration | Break | 2nd Exam | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medicine and allied subjects | 3 hours | 2 hours | Paediatrics | 1.5 hours |
| 2 | |||||
| 3 | Surgery and allied subjects | 3 hours | 2 hours | Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) | 1.5 hours |
| 4 | |||||
| 5 | Obstetrics and Gynecology | 3 hours | 2 hours | Ophthalmology | 1.5 hours |
NExT Step 2
Objective
The NEXT Step 2 shall be a comprehensive practical/clinical examination to be conducted after completion of an internship, that evaluated competencies in clinical diagnosis, patient examination and clinical decision-making, and practical and communication skills necessary for the practice of a modern system of medicine especially in India.
Pattern
The evaluating methodology for NExT Step 2 is outlined as follows.
Each examination would comprise of:
- Actual cases
- Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
- Simulations if possible
Depending on the ability of satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance there shall be only two levels of grading:
- Competent or Pass
- Not Competent or Fail
Syllabus
The following subjects shall be evaluated during NExT Step 2:
- Medicine and allied subjects
- Surgery and allied subjects
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Paediatrics
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PMR)
Time Schedule
The time schedule and modalities of NExT Step 2 shall be decided by the National Medical Commission and the respective authorized Universities or Institutions after the completion of the internship and prior to the admission process for the Postgraduate Courses of that year.
Tentative Time Schedule for NExT
When will NExT be conducted?
Starting from 2024, the NExT Exam will be conducted twice every year, offering candidates two opportunities each year to participate. The exam will take place in the months of May and November.
This new schedule aims to provide increased flexibility for aspiring medical professionals, allowing them to plan and prepare accordingly for the NExT Exam.
Conduction of Mock or Practice Test
It is decided to conduct a mock/practice test on 28th July 2023.
- Registration for the same will start on 28th June 2023.
- This examination will be conducted by AIlMS Delhi as a designated authority for NExT Step 1.
- Only final-year students pursuing M.B.B.S. courses in medical colleges/ institutions are eligible for such mock/practice tests.
- The aim of such a test is to familiarize the prospective candidates with the Computer Based Test (CBT), software interface and process flow in the examination centre.
- The sample questions in the mock/practice test will only exemplify the pattern and format of the NExT-Step 1 examination. Still, they may not represent the complete NExT-Step 1 examination/syllabus coverage.