The National Medical Commission (NMC) has finally released the draft gazette on the National Exit Test (NExT). NExT is an examination for all MBBS students in India that is required to pass the final year and obtain a medical license to practice in India.

The NMC specified that the NExT would serve as -

• A licentiate exam for the practice of medicine for Indian and Foreign medical graduates.

• A gateway entrance examination for admission in various postgraduate courses.

The NMC released guidelines on draft regulations related to NExT as prescribed in the NMC Act 2019.

The Objective

The objective is to bring uniformity in the summative evaluation across the country with reference to the minimum common standards of education and training in a medical graduate

Applicability

• All undergraduate MBBS students.

• All Foreign Medical Graduates for the purpose of obtaining a license to practice medicine as a registered medical practitioner in India.

Eligibility

All the students who have completed the III MBBS/Final MBBS course from a medical college recognized by the Commission.

Phases of MBBS -

MBBS degree does not follow the typical pattern like the first year, second year, third year, and final year. Most of the colleges under NMC (except some colleges like AIIMS) have divided the MBBS degree into three phases -

• I MBBS - equivalent to First Year MBBS

• II MBBS - equivalent to Second Year MBBS

• III MBBS/Final MBBS (Part 1) - equivalent to Third Year MBBS

• III MBBS/Final MBBS (Part 2) - equivalent to Fourth Year MBBS

Outline of the Examination

The NExT comprises two separate examinations called 'STEPS'.

NExT Step 1

• It is a theoretical examination.

• The questions will be of the Multiple Choice type.

• It will be a centralized common for all India examinations and will be conducted in a computer-based / online mode.

• The syllabus will consist of six papers covering subjects of III MBBS / Final MBBS both Part 1 and Part 2.

• The six subjects are as follows -

1. Medicine and allied disciplines

2. Surgery and allied disciplines

3. Obstetrics and Gynaecology

4. Paediatrics

5. Otorhinolaryngology

6. Ophthalmology

• The exam will also consist of applied aspects of all subjects covered under I MBBS, II MBBS, III MBBS, and Final MBBS Part 1.

• The NExT Step 1 examination shall be regularly held once a year prior to the University Practical Examination for the III MBBS (Part 2)/Final MBBS preceding Compulsory Rotating Internship.

In Case of Failure -

A NExT Step 1 Supplementary Exam shall be held for students who have failed in one or more subjects out of the six papers. The candidates will have to repeat those particular papers.

Distribution of Items (variations may be expected) -

• Problem-solving and analytical skills types - 65%

• Comprehension type - 25%

• Recall type - 10%

Level of Knowledge -

• Must know - 60%

• Nice to Know - 30%

• May Know - 10%

NExT Step 2 -

• NExT Step 2 shall be a practical/clinical and Viva voce examination covering seven subjects.

1. Medicine and allied disciplines

2. Surgery and allied disciplines

3. Obstetrics and Gynaecology

4. Paediatrics

5. Otorhinolaryngology

6. Ophthalmology

7. Orthopaedics and PMR (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)

• The exam will be Objective and Structured, Clinical Case-Based, and Simulated Cases/Patients.

• The aim is to evaluate candidates on their practical skills, clinical skills, clinical decision-making, and communication skills.

In Case of Failure -

A NExT Step 2 Supplementary Exam shall be held for students who have failed in one or more subjects out of the seven papers. The candidates will have to repeat those particular papers.

The candidates who do not pass both the NExT Step 2 and the Supplementary Examination will have to attempt the NExT Step 2 Regular Examination only in the following year.

Time Schedule of the NExT examinations and Associated Events -

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