The National Exit Test (NExT) is going to be conducted soon, most likely in August or September, for all the medical aspirants who wish to study and practice medicine in India, and to successfully qualify, one needs to know and understand the NExT exam pattern.
The introduction of the NExT exam will bring about a revolutionary change in Indian medical education as it will replace two major national-level examinations - FMGE and NEET-PG. There are a lot of Indian and foreign MBBS graduates who are eagerly waiting for the information on the NExT exam and how it will be conducted, so they can prepare and plan for it accordingly. Let’s understand the NExT exam pattern with a sequence of things.
What is the NExT Exam and Its Objectives?
The NExT (National Exit Test) exam is an assessment designed to evaluate the knowledge and skills of medical aspirants in India. The Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) is the exam for foreign medical graduates (both Indians and foreigners). National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduation (NEET-PG) is for PG medical courses in India. Both will be replaced by NeXT from 2025 onwards, meaning it will be valid for the following applicants:
Indian MBBS degree holders who want to get a valid license
Graduates from a foreign university wishing to practice medicine in India
All the MBBS graduates who need to transition to a postgraduate degree
Complete Structure of the NExT Exam
To understand the NExT exam pattern, look at the following structure of the National Exit Test, which is divided into two parts:
NExT 1:
NExT exam 1 is a theory-based examination where all the MBBS graduates (or the final-year students of the MBBS) will show how well they can solve problems in the field. It will be a computer-based test (CBT), which means it will be conducted online, and will consist of 540 questions, focusing on the following key subjects out of a total of 19 subjects:
Medicine
Surgery
Pediatrics
ENT
Ophthalmology
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Community Medicine
NExT 2:
The NExT exam pattern will be different for the second part of the examination. The student will need to clear the first assessment and complete the internship (mandatory even for foreign graduates) to participate in the practical examination. A team of examiners will assess your clinical skills, patient interaction, diagnosis, and treatment at designated exam centers in Indian medical institutions to decide whether you qualify for the final exam or not.
Breakdown of the NExT Exam Pattern
NExT exam pattern consists of a total of 540 questions, where 60% of the questions are focused on assessing your problem-solving skills, and the remaining 30% on critical thinking. Out of the total 540 questions, the following will be a breakdown of how it is designed:
Medicine and allied subjects - 120 questions (180 minutes)
Pediatrics - 60 questions (90 minutes)
Surgery and allied subjects - 120 questions (180 minutes)
Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) - 60 questions (90 minutes)
Obstetrics and Gynecology - 120 questions (180 minutes)
Ophthalmology - 60 questions (90 minutes)
Scoring and Validity of the NExT Exams (1 and 2)
NeXT exam 1 will require 50% as an aggregate of the entire assessment
Remains valid for 3 years from the date of PG admissions
NExT exam 2 will be a pass or fail with no scores/marks by examiners
Summary
NExT exam pattern contains a total of 540 questions (most likely multiple choice) and is divided into 120, 60, 120, 60, 120, and 60 sequences for different areas of the medical education and clinical studies. The applicants are required to score an aggregate score of 50% in the NExT exam 1, which is a theoretical exam conducted online, and the NExT exam 2 will be a practical assessment of the hands-on clinical skills and patient healthcare at respective medical institutions spread across India.
Applied for the NExT exam for your valid license in India as a foreign medical graduate? Are you looking for MBBS admission at the current stage? Contact Education Vibes right away!
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