NEET, the National Eligibility Entrance Test, is among the most sought-after medical entrance tests in the nation. The exam, which is administered in several formats, including NEET-UG, NEET-PG, and others, is one of the fundamental qualifying medical entrance exams for candidates. The National Exit Test, or NExT, is expected to replace NEET PG in 2023 for postgraduate admissions, according to reports that the government is in the process of doing so.
However, since making the announcement, NMC has yet to issue any notification or clarification on the matter, which has worried students. The proposed date for the NExT exam was January 2023 or roughly six months from now.
The students are requesting that the clarifications be made public as soon as possible by NMC and NBEMS (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences) so that they have enough time to prepare for the licensing test. If the NExT exam is cancelled, they would study for the NEET PG exam.
What comes next then? In what ways will it affect NEET PG 2023? Why reportedly is it being used as an MBBS exit exam?
NExT: What is the National Exit Test?
NEET PG may be replaced by NExT if it is approved for use in 2023 and subsequent years. If MBBS students in India want to practise medicine here, this NExT exam may also be a requirement. If so, this would increase the likelihood that NExT will eventually replace the FMGE.
NEET PG 2023 will be replaced by NExT, which is reportedly not as new as one might think. When the National Medical Commission, NMC, was established in 2020 following the National Medical Commission Act of 2019, it was the NMC that first proposed the idea of having a common exit test for all medical graduates.
One of the main concepts behind the NExT proposal was to do away with the need for too many exams by having a single, uniform national-level entrance/qualifying exam administered across the entire nation.
Concisely, NExT would act as a licentiate exam, a common qualifying examination for MBBS students in their final year, and (reportedly) an MBBS exit exam if it were to be implemented.
How many stages are in NExT?
NExT will be conducted by NMC in two stages (NExT-1, and NExT-2,). At a significant gathering a few months ago, this was covered. NExT-1 would be held following the completion of the Final Theory Part, and NExT-2 would be held following the conclusion of the rotating internship the following year, it has been learned. These proposals will begin to be put into practice starting with the 2022–2023 academic year, or for students who enrolled in MBBS that year. In 2026 and 2027, they will need to pass the NExT exams.
NExT Eligibility
To enrol in NExT, you must have earned your MBBS from an accredited university or medical school. Additionally, a 12-month rotating medical internship is required and must be completed. Those who finish these will be able to apply for NExT. You will have the option to register in either the National Medical Registry or the State Medical Registers after passing NExT.
Thousands of students are also pursuing MBBS degrees abroad. For higher education and professional practice in the nation, passing the NExT is a requirement set by the NMC. These are
Indian students pursuing an MBBS degree abroad must finish their programme at a medical school accredited by the NMC.
Must have completed a compulsory rotating house clerkship, also known as a medical internship, at a college or hospital in our nation that has received NMC accreditation.
You can apply to NExT once you have finished both of these.
Candidates who have already finished their medical education abroad and are returning are taking the FMGE exam. NExT will take the place of this test.
The NExT-1 is anticipated to be given as a theory test, while the NExT-2 will be given as a practical test.
NExT Exam Pattern:
There will be two phases to the NExT test. The NExT-1 exam will be given for 960 marks and consist of 240 questions divided into the Major and Minor Subjects sections. Each question will receive four marks. A negative marking policy is also in place. For each incorrect response, one point will be subtracted. Multiple-choice questions are used in the Objective mode of the test. The Commission made it clear that, according to the MCI Curriculum, questions will be asked about each of the 19 subjects covered in the MBBS programme.
- Dermatology and Psychiatry (55Q), which are related subjects in the major subject of medicine, and Paediatrics, which is a minor subject, are both offered (25Q)
- Orthopaedics and Anaesthesia (60Q), which are related subjects to Major Subject Surgery, will be the minor subject (20Q)
- Radiology (60Q) will be the major subject related subject to obstetrics and gynaecology, while ophthalmology will be the minor subject (20Q)
NExT-2: Following the conclusion of a year-long internship, this exam will test only wholly practical skills. This test appears to be given in six sessions spread out over three days.
MBBS students must pass both NExT-1 and NExT-2. To be accepted into the internship, students must qualify in NExT-1. Candidates must pass both stages with at least 50% of the possible points; this requirement will also be enforced.
Also published on Medium.