Do you want to know about the National Exit Test or NExT Exam? If yes, then you are reading the right article. In this article, we will try to provide every bit of information related to the National Exit Test for MBBS, like the full form of the NExT? What is the National Exit Test or NExT Exam? How many stages does the NExT Exam have? What is the syllabus of National Exit Test or NExT ? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the NExT Exam? Etc.
In August 2019, The Government of India had passed the bill called “National Medical Commission Bill 2019“, which states that MBBS graduates students in India will be required to appear and pass a national level exit exam called the “National Exit Test.”
The Medical Council of India was doing all the reins related to medical education and practice in India. However, after the NMC Bill 2019 had passed in the Rajya Sabha, the Medical Council of India has been replaced by the National Medical Commission. And now, all types of medical education and practice in India are supervised by the National Medical Commission.
So let’s go ahead and now move on to the main topic that what NExT is?
What is the Full form of NExT?
The full form of NExT is the National Exit Test, Which is required to take License and Practice Medicine in India After Studying MBBS.
What is the NExT Exam or National Exit Test?
The National Medical Commission Bill was a bill introduced in August 2019, approved by the Cabinet Ministry of the Government of India.
NExT is a single-window-based exam that will replace NEET-PG and Foreign Graduate Medical Examination, the three main examinations for medical students in India.
According to the NMC Bill 2019, NExT or National Exit Test for MBBS will be the common exit exam for every Medical Student, and it is conducted to encourage medical students to practice medicine in their respective fields. As this is an exit exam, NExT will be the common gateway to accomplish a license to practice medicine in India.
The first examination of the National Exit Test will be conducted in the year 2022 by NMC, in which the first batch will be of MBBS 2017 Students. It will be compulsory for all the final year students studying in MBBS. The Exam will be conducted in two phases.
Objectives of National Exit Test
Keeping the above-mentioned statements in mind, here are some objectives of the NExT Exam after MBBS. In which we will also talk about the changes that will come under the new exit and license exam, and this Exam will become mandatory for MBBS graduates to clear in order to be considered as qualified doctors.
- If a student wants to get a license in India or wants to practice medicine in India, then he has to pass this Exam. Otherwise, they will not be eligible to practice medicine in India and also not get a license.
- It will be mandatory for a student pursuing or studying MBBS in Abroad like MBBS In China, MBBS in Kazakhstan, MBBS in Russia to give this Exam for a license and practice medicine in India; otherwise, they will not be recognized to practice medicine in India and cannot get a license.
- After clearing this test, students will have to complete an internship of up to 3 years in rural areas. Students pursuing PG courses will have to complete an internship of up to 3 years according to their specialization.
- Through NExT, the central government plans to create a more deserving and efficient batch of MBBS graduate students in India.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the National Exit Test?
Just as every bill has some pros and cons when it is passed, similarly there are some pros and cons on the implementation of National Medical Commission which are as follows:-
Advantages of National Exit Test
Increasing the number of Qualified and Skilled MBBS Graduates
According to some statistics and reports, more than 60 thousand MBBS students get bachelor’s degrees every year in India. Although it may seem high to you, the doctor to patient ratio is still high in India. At the same time, there is still a shortage in the number of doctors who are skilled, qualified and who bring change in the society. So by using one exit test the government will be able to regulate the quality of all MBBS graduates and The medical college will also be easily able to produce skilled and qualified MBBS graduates.
Improve Health Care Facilities and Medical Services in Rural and Tribal Areas in Country
As an exit exam and as an overall requirement to become a doctor as mentioned in some points above, every candidate has to work or internship for 3 years in rural and tribal areas. So in such a situation, through Next, the situation in rural and remote areas of the country where there is a lack of essential medical services can be improved and at the same time it can be possible to increase health care facilities.
Before this NExT exit exam, if an Indian student wanted to make a career in India after graduating in MBBS from abroad, they had to appear in the MCI Screening Test, also known as FMGE.
Disadvantages of National Exit Test
Increase the Time Duration of Overall Medical Education
NExT exam may increase the time duration of overall medical education as mentioned in the main point above that the student can be asked to do internship or work in rural and tribal areas for 3 years which can increase the total duration of education in medicine . Although this decision has not been made final yet, changes may happen before the implementation of the NMC Bill 2019.
Two attempts will be given to the student to clear the NExTexam and if for some reason he fails in both the attempts, his merit will remain only 10+2 even if the student has passed the final year of MBBS.
Heavy Rising in Coaching Center
For example, if we talk about the JEE-Mains exam, there are thousands of coaching centers to prepare for it, through which students get an opportunity to crack this exam, while some coaching centers charge impractical and unfair coaching fees. Similarly, many coaching centers may open for NExT and aspirants who want to crack NExT can also take advantage of this facility.
How Many Parts of NExt Exam?
The national exit test has two parts, one is NExT1 and another is NExT 2. Both parts have some differences which are mentioned below:
NExT 1
NExT 1 exam is conducted for final year medical students who are yet to start their internship, as they have to qualify part 1 exam to start internship. If you fail to pass NExT1, you are not considered eligible for an internship.
It is an Online objective-Based MCQ Examination.
It is valid for 2 to 3 years and it is known as a Prof IV Part 1.
NExt 2
To give the NExT 2, the student has to clear the NExT 1. If the student has passed the NExT 1 then only he can give the NExT 2 otherwise he has to clear the next 1 exam first.
If you want to practice as a doctor in India then you have to qualify NExT 2. After clearing NExT 1 you can start your internship in India for 1 year but after that you have to qualify Next 2 to practice as a doctor.
If you pass NExT 2 after passing NExT 1, then you can get a license.
What is the Pattern of NExT Exam?
All the 19 subjects included in the new MCI syllabus will be included in the syllabus of the National Exit Examination for Licensing and Practicing after MBBS.
The subject wise marks distribution will be quite different from that of NEET-PG exam and MCI screening test Exam.
clinical part in NExT exam carry more marks than pre and para-clinical subjects.
A proposed proposal was discussed in a meeting with the Board of Governors (NMC : National Medical Commission) on 15 February 2020, according to which the following may be the pattern of the NExT-1 question paper:
| DAY OF EXAM | MAJOR SUBJECTS | ALLIED SUBJECTS | NO. OF MCQS | MINOR SUBJECTS | NO. OF MCQS | TOTAL MCQS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medicine | Dermatology, psychiatry, | 120 | Pediatrics | 60 | 180 |
| 2 | Surgery | Orthopedics, anesthesia, | 120 | ENT | 60 | 180 |
| 3 | Obstetrics & Gynecology | Radiology | 120 | Opthalmology | 60 | 180 |
| Total MCQs | 120 | 180 | 540 | |||
What is the Syllabus of NExT Exam?
Since this test is completely different from NEET PG and MCI screening test, its curriculum is also completely different.
There are 19 subjects in clinical part in NExT exam which carry more marks than pre and para-clinical subjects.
Syllabus of NExT 1
Below is the syllabus of NExT 1 Exam: –
- Medical Allied
- paediatrics
- ENT
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Orthopaedics and Anesthesia
- Dermatology and Psychiatry
- Ophthalmology
