NExT Exam (National Exit Test): Dates, Details, Paper Pattern, Marking Scheme

NExT Exam (National Exit Test) will be held in February 2028 for MBBS 2024 batch according to the academic calendar issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) in its Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) regulations 2023. Step 1 of the NExT exam is probably going to be conducted in August 2025. As per the latest update, NExT Step 2 is likely to take place in February 2026. Based on discussions between representatives of the Health Ministry and NMC, this conclusion regarding NExT exam has been made. Candidates must note that no official dates related to NMC NExT exam have been released till now. According to previous notifications, the National Exit Test will be conducted for MBBS final year students of the batch 2024-25, which indicates that NExT exam may be conducted in February 2028. On August 1, 2023, NMC released a Competency-Based Medical Education Curriculum (CBME) Regulation. 

NExt Mock Test 2023 was cancelled by NMC until further announcement. The registration fees for the NExT Mock Test will be refunded to the students fully. The mock exam was scheduled to be conducted on July 28 in order to give students an understanding of what to expect from the main exam. NExT or National Exit Test is a common exit exam conducted to promote meritorious medical students to practice medicine in their respective fields or even pursue higher education. As per the official notice by NMC, the exam has been postponed till further notice.

About NExT Exam 

FMGE and NEET PG are anticipated to be replaced by the NMC NExT Exam. As part of being an exit exam, NExT is also the common gateway to attaining a medical license across India. The test is anticipated to take place in two phases, NExT step 1 and NExT step 2. AIIMS, New Delhi will host NExT phase 1, a centralized common examination for all of India with multiple-choice questions. NExT Step 2 will consist of a Viva Voce and a clinical/practical examination spanning seven clinical subjects/disciplines. The NExT exam is available for candidates to take as many times as needed. There are no limitations about the same. There will be two NExT exam dates per year. As of now, no official dates are released for the NMC NExT exam.

Scan through this page to get a complete idea of the NExT exam.

National Exit Test NExT Exam Conducting Body

All India Insitute of Medical Science, New Delhi (AIIMS, Delhi) has been declared the NExT exam conducting body. An official announcement regarding the same was made on June 27, 2023, in a webinar Earlier reports speculated that the National Board of Examination (NBE) might conduct the NExT test which will replace NEET PG and FMGE exams.

NExT Exam Latest News

Based on the recent update shared by the conducting authorities, step 1 of the NExT exam is likely to be conducted in the month of August 2025. NExT exam conducted in February 2028 will be held for the 2024 batch. The mock test scheduled for July 18 was cancelled for some reason. As per the tweet shared by Dr Yogendra Malik, NMC’s official, the registration fees submitted by candidates to participate in the exam were refunded.

It is confusing for medical students to interpret the date and timings of NExT exam. For clarity, the NExT exam is anticipated to be conducted in February 2025 for the medical/dental batch of 2020. The reason behind this expected NExT exam date is that NMC announced to defer the NExT exam for the 2019 batch and the Union Health Minister made a public statement regarding batch 2020 to be the first batch that will participate in NExT exam. This results in anticipation of NExT exam to be conducted in August 2025. Aspirants must note that the official exam dates for NExT exam 2025 are yet to be confirmed.

Previously, the National Medical Commission (NMC) held a webinar, and through this medium authorities communicated regarding the aspects of NExT exam. It was said that NExT exam will be conducted in online mode, widely known as Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Also, the frequency of conducting this exit test will be twice a year. The first phase or Step 1 of NExT exam will be conducted in May and Phase/Step 2 in November. NMC didn’t provide any information regarding the commencement of the NExT exam, only Exam Pattern was discussed. 

Aspirants need to pass the NMC NExT exam to register themselves for medical practice in India. Based on the score obtained in the NExT medical exam, PG admission in different medical colleges in India will be provided. The NEET-PG exam is set to be replaced by NExT as it is designed to test the knowledge as well as skills of final-year medical aspirants.

It is anticipated that NMC will soon release an official statement regarding the schedule, exam pattern, eligibility and other details of NExT exam.

NExT Exam Highlights

Given below are the highlights of the NExT MBBS test enlisted below.

NExT 2024 Important Dates

Here are tentative dates released in the draft comprising timelines associated with the NExT exam.

NExT Step 1 and Step 2 Important Dates

Find out the tentative dates for NExT exam given below:

NExT Exam Process

NExT Mock Test Exam: Mode and Scheme

Find out the paper pattern of NMC NExT Exam for reference.

Description	Paper I	Paper II
Time and duration	3 hours (9 am to 12 pm)	3 hours 30 minutes (2:30 pm to 6 pm)
Number of question	120	140
Type of Question	MCQ	MCQ
Marking Scheme	Correct answer: 1 mark Wrong answer: -1/4 marks	Correct answer: 1 mark Wrong answer: -1/4 marks
Marked for review or unanswered	0	0

NExT Exam Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must refer to the eligibility criteria for NExT Exam given below: 

1. Only for MBBS Graduates: Candidates must be enrolled in MBBS course from a Medical Colleges approved by the official authorities at National Medical Commission. 
2. Enrolled in State/National Register: All Foreign Medical Graduates must enrol in the State Register or the National Register, as specified by regulations.
3. Minimum 50% in MBBS: Minimum Percentage required to participate in NExT Exam is 50%. 
4. Only for NMC Approved Foreign Medical Universities: Students who have pursued MBBS degrees at foreign universities will be eligible to participate NExT exam only if the universities they were enrolled is approved by NMC.
5. NExT Paper 1 Eligibility: Only final year students can appear in the NExt Paper 1.
6. NExT Paper 2 Eligibility: After candidate qualifies Paper 1, He/She must complete 1 year (minimum) clinical internship to appear in NExT Paper 2.
7. Score Validity: The NExt Exam score will be valid for 3 years. 

NExT Exam Pattern

The NExt Exam will be conducted in two phases, NExT-1 and NExT-2. Candidates can check out the exam pattern or NExt 2024 Exam:

1. Questions Asked in NExT-1 Exam: The paper pattern of NExt-1 exam will be Objective. In the NEXT-1 exam, candidates will have to answer questions in the form of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). This means candidates will have four options and they can choose the correct answer. NExt-2 exam will not be conducted in Objective Pattern.
2. Subjects included in NEXT-1 Question Paper: In total, 19 subjects of the new MCI curriculum are included in the NEXT-1 exam syllabus. This means the NExT exam will cover 19 different subjects from the new medical curriculum released by MCI. These subjects include various topics related to medicine. So, you need to be prepared in a wide range of areas.
3. Unique and Different Marking Systems Compared to NEET-PG: Unlike previous exams like NEET-PG, the marks you get for each subject in NEXT-1 can vary a lot. Clinical subjects, which involve hands-on medical work with patients, will get more marks compared to subjects that are more about theories and lab work. This is a great way for focusing more on the practical knowledge gained by a student throughout their medical journey.
4. NEXT-2: Oral Interview Format: The exam pattern for the 2nd phase of NExT exam is quiet different and new. NExT-2 will be based on Viva Voce so aspirants have to be prepared and communicate the asked questions clearly. Candidates will have to face an oral interview, where they have to answer questions by talking. The 2nd Phase of NExT exam is not going to be conducted in written mode. Candidates must be ready to speak clearly and confidently to do well in this part of the exam. So, besides knowing the subjects, practising how to talk about them is also crucial. This is a great way to give opportunity to deserving students.

NExT Marking Scheme

The marking scheme for NExT 1 and NExT 2 are different from one another. Candidates can check out the pointers given below to understand about the Marking Scheme of Next Exam:

1. NExT- 1 Marking Scheme: NExT 1 marks are calculated as a whole number. These marks will serve as the Raw Scores comprising appropriate decimals and subsequently converted into corresponding Percentages [scoring marks out of a maximum of 100 with correct decimals.
2. NExt- 2 Marking Scheme: For the NExT 2 marking scheme, candidates will be declared as Pass/ Fail depending on the appropriate competence which is evaluated.

This innovative approach for NExt Exam sets new standards and is revolutionizing the standard of PG medical entrance examination.

NExT Exam Important points

NMC NExT Exam will be held from 2024 when students have to appear for the test to get a medical licence or pursue a PG programme. The exam comprises two parts, NExT 1 and NExT 2.

• NExT 1 paper is theory-based and is held in online mode.
• A total of 540 MCQ-based questions are asked in NExT 1 out of the 19 subjects.
• Students have to complete their internship before appearing for NExT 2 exam.
• NExT 2 or paper 2 comprises practical exam held by respective state colleges/ universities
• Scores of paper 1 are valid for 2 years where eligible can attempt to qualify Paper-2 practical exam

NExT 2024 Cutoff

Candidates appearing for NMC NExT Exam have to secure a minimum percentile in order to become eligible for a medical license. For NExT Step 1, aspirants need to secure at least 50% of the total score to be deemed eligible for NExT Step 2. The criteria for passing the NExT Step 2 round is a satisfactory demonstration of competencies which are evaluated and declared as a Pass /Fail result.

Also Read: NEET PG Marks Vs Rank 2023 Analysis

NExT Exam Syllabus

NExT exam shall cover 6 papers primarily that will cover subjects such as:

1. Medicine & allied subjects 

2. Obstetrics & Gynaecology

3. Surgery & allied subjects

4. Otorhinolaryngology

5. Paediatrics

6. Ophthalmology

Question Pattern of NExT Exam

Officials have released the proposed time schedule according to which NMC NExT Exam is supposed to be held. However, the timelines are only indicative and are subject to change based on feasibility and logistics. National Exit Test paper- 1 (NExT) exam question pattern is expected to be divided into 3 main parts. In total, 540 multiple-choice questions shall be asked in the exam. Of these, 60% of questions are curated to test problem-solving skills, 30% help analyze subject comprehension & analysis, and the remaining 10% are recalled questions.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of NExT?

With the implementation of the National Medical Commission, there are bound to be some pros and cons of the step. The major aim of the entire National Medical Commission Bill 2019 and the draft released in December 2022 is to improve the functions where the Medical Council of India faced challenges. Here are some advantages and Disadvantages of NExT.

Advantages of NExT for MBBS

• Increasing the Number of Qualified MBBS Graduates:

With the use of one exit exam, medical colleges in India will be able to produce skilled and qualified MBBS graduates. As per statistics and reports, India produces nearly 60,000 MBBS graduates every year. Which, even though seems to be a lot, the doctor-to-patient ratio still remains high. Moreover, there is a lack in the number of qualified and skilled doctors who do make a difference in society. By introducing one common exit exam for all MBBS graduates, the government will be able to regulate the quality of MBBS graduates.

• Uniformity through One Exam

Adding to the point above, introducing one exit, licentiate and screening exam will allow only those graduates with the practical and theoretical skills to operate in day to conditions of India. However, the process of bringing uniformity among MBBS graduates will take time.

• Quality Enhancement of Medical Facilities

As part of the exit exam and overall requirement to be a doctor, and as mentioned above, each MBBS candidate will be required to have worked for 3 years in rural and tribal settings. Currently, the medical facilities available in rural and more remote areas of the country lack the necessary medical facilities. Through NExT, it is possible to improve the conditions of remote settings and enhance the health care facilities for each citizen of the country.

• Removal of Unnecessary Paperwork for Foreign Students

Earlier, any foreign MBBS graduate who wished to pursue his/her career in India was required to sit for an MCI screening test, also known as FMGE, which has been known to include a sea of paperwork.

• Build an International Recognition

Once the exit exam is operational, it is expected to see India follow the medical regulations and medical development as seen in international countries. One of the major objectives of NExT and NMC Bill 2019, in general, is to enhance the overall medical industry in India. Thus, also helping India become a global competitor in terms of medical services offered.

Disadvantages of NExT for MBBS

While one can sing praises of the new development in the field of medicine, each coin has two sides. In other words, the National Exit Test also encases a few disadvantages.

• Rise of Expensive Coaching Centres:

As is the case for various national-level exams, especially in the field of Medicine and Engineering, a rise in innumerable coaching centres will be inevitable. For instance, there are thousands of coaching centres for JEE Mains. While on one hand, it offers students the opportunity to crack the difficult examinations. On the other hand, coaching centres are able to charge impractical and unfair coaching fees, which those who are interested in crack such exams, will avail the facility. Thus further exploitation of the students can be witnessed over the years.

• Overall Increased Duration of Medical Education

As mentioned above in the objective and overview section of the article, MBBS and PG medical graduates will be asked to work 3 years in rural/tribal settings, thus increasing the overall duration of education in medicine. However, the bright side is that the decision has not been made final and changes to the same can be made before implementing the NMC Bill 2019.

How NExT is the alternative to FMGE and NEET PG?

National Exit Test has been envisaged in such a way that it combines both NEET and FMGE exams. It covers all important parts of the NEET PG and FMGE exam syllabus. The National Exit Test (NEXT) serves as a comprehensive alternative to both the Foreign Medical Graduate Exam (FMGE) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) in the field of medical education in India. For aspirants who completed their MBBS from abroad and wish to practice medicine in India, NExT replaces the traditional FMGE, streamlining the evaluation process. Simultaneously, for postgraduate medical admissions, NExT supersedes NEET-PG, unifying the assessment and selection process.

This holistic approach not only simplifies the system but also ensures a standardized evaluation for both domestic and international medical graduates aspiring for further studies or practice in India. The NExT Step 1 exam will test students’ theoretical knowledge of various subjects of medical science (pre-clinical, clinical, and para-clinical). It will enhance the education system of the country and promote healthy competition.

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To sum it up, The NMC NExT Exam is set to replace FMGE and NEET PG and is expected to be conducted in two phases: NExT step 1 and NExT step 2. NExT phase 1 will be held at AIIMS, New Delhi, and will consist of multiple-choice questions. NExT Step 2 will include a Viva Voce and a clinical/practical examination covering seven clinical subjects/disciplines. The exam is available for candidates to take as many times as needed and will be held in February 2028 for the MBBS 2024 batch. The exam is expected to be conducted in August 2025 and Step 2 in February 2026. No official dates have been released yet.

For more information on NMC NExT Exam, Stay tuned with CollegeDekho!