The National Exit Test (NEXT) represents a fundamental belief in upholding uncompromising standards of quality within the medical profession on a national scale.
1. About NEXT
The National Exit Test (NEXT) represents a fundamental belief in upholding
uncompromising standards of quality within the medical profession on a national scale.
Evidently, the Medical Council of India (MCI), established 88 years ago, had fallen prey
to widespread corruption. There were clear indications of officials engaging in illicit
activities in collaboration with political figures. Additionally, inconsistencies existed in
the process of admitting new members to the medical community. Notably, while
foreign medical graduates were required to undergo the MCI Screening Test, their
counterparts from Indian Medical Universities were exempt.
Furthermore, it was widely acknowledged that the quality of medical education varied
significantly worldwide. Disparities between government and private institutions were
evident, as highlighted by major surveys. Moreover, there was a notable absence of
quality assessment mechanisms for a substantial portion of the medical workforce
entering the Indian healthcare sector.
Following extensive deliberation, the Government of India implemented the National
Medical Commission Bill on September 25, 2020. This led to the dissolution of the MCI
and the establishment of the National Medical Commission in its stead. A pivotal
decision made by the NMC was to replace the MCI Screening Test with the National Exit
Test (NEXT).
The National Exit Test (NEXT) is a pivotal examination in the medical field, serving as the
exit assessment for MBBS graduates. In essence, while NEET UG serves as the entrance
examination, NEXT serves as the exit assessment.
The primary objectives of the NEXT examination in India are multifaceted. Firstly, it
verifies an MBBS graduate's eligibility to commence an internship. Secondly, the score
attained in the National Exit Exam determines an aspirant's merit for admission to
Medical PG seats. Lastly, for both foreign and Indian medical graduates, passing the
NEXT examination is essential for obtaining a license to practice medicine in India.
Essentially, the NEXT examination amalgamates two distinct assessments: the NMC
NEET PG and the MCI Screening Test. Crucially, this means that both foreign and Indian
medical graduates must successfully clear the same examination to practice medicine,
thus ensuring uniformity.
2. The structure of the proposed National Exit Test NEXT comprises two stages: NEXT 1
and NEXT 2 examinations. In brief, the NEXT 1 examination serves two main purposes:
determining eligibility for commencing an internship and assessing knowledge and skill
levels for securing admission to Indian Medical PG programs. Conversely, the NEXT 2
examination evaluates an aspirant's eligibility to practice medicine in India.
While the NEXT 2 examination is primarily qualifying in nature, the NEXT 1 examination
serves dual purposes and thus differs in its approach. The NEXT 1 examination acts as
both a qualifier for internship entry and a competitive assessment for Medical PG
admission. Additionally, it is likely that the NEXT 1 examination will consist of multiple-
choice questions encompassing recall-based queries and questions grounded in clinical
analytics. Conversely, the NEXT 2 examination may concentrate exclusively on assessing
the clinical skills of the aspirant.
NEXT Exam Question Paper Pattern
As previously mentioned, any claims made by websites or agencies regarding specific
details of the NEXT Exam should be approached with caution, as they may be
misinformed or have ulterior motives. However, based on the structure adopted during
a conference of the NMC Board in 2020, the following description outlines the tentative
question paper pattern, resembling that of the NEET Exam.
Expected Question Count: The total number of questions is anticipated to be 540.
Among these, subjects such as Pediatrics, ENT, and Ophthalmology are projected to
contain approximately 60 questions each. Conversely, disciplines like Medicine, Surgery,
OBGY, Psychiatry, Orthopedics, etc., are expected to have between 40 to 60 questions
each.
Sections in the NEXT Exam: Firstly, the section concerning Basic Applied Sciences from
the MBBS curriculum encompasses pre-clinical subjects like Anatomy, Physiology, and
Microbiology. In each section, 10% of the questions will pertain to topics within Basic
Applied Sciences, albeit with a clinical context. Additionally, 10% of all questions will
address the discipline of Preventive Medicine.
Furthermore, an additional characteristic of the NEXT Exam question pattern is
anticipated. Only 10% of the total 540 questions will be Recall Questions, while
approximately 30% will be based on subject comprehension. The majority, comprising
around 60%, will feature Clinical Case Scenarios, mirroring aspects of the USMLE exam.
3. Hence, it is recommended that students consider utilizing the MOKSH USMLE package
for comprehensive preparation for the NEXT Exam. However, it's worth noting that the
MOKSH NEXT Exam Coaching stands out as an exceptionally precise preparatory course
available for students.
For the latest updates and announcements regarding the NEXT Exam from NMC, it is
advisable to revisit this page periodically, as it will be continually updated with the most
recent information.
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