NMC Issues Schedule & Pattern for Biannual NExT Step 1 and Step 2 Medical Exams; Check Details Here

New Delhi: According to the National Medical Commission (NMC), the first stage of the National Exit Test (NExT) will consist of a computer-based exam that includes high-quality Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). The second stage, on the other hand, will be a practical or clinical examination. 

Both NExT Step 1 and NExT Step 2 will be held twice a year. The initial batch of students eligible to take the exam will be those who enrolled in the MBBS course in 2019. The NExT Step 1 will be conducted by AIIMS Delhi in May and November. Once students complete their internship, they can sit for the NExT Step 2, which will take place in June and December.

During a webinar with medical college faculty and final-year MBBS students, NMC chairman Suresh Chandra Sharma revealed information about the National Exit Test (NExT), which will replace the Foreign Medical Graduates Exam (FMGE) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Postgraduate (NEET PG). 

The purpose of the webinar was to alleviate concerns and stress surrounding the upcoming NExT examination. The NMC shared a presentation document during the webinar, providing comprehensive details about the exam's schedule, format, and modes. In addition, it was announced that a mock test will take place on July 28, and registration for the mock test will begin on June 28, 2023. 

The NMC and other authorized bodies will announce the schedule for the entire NExT examination process, including internship and admission to broad specialty postgraduate courses. In case there are any vacant seats after the May-June round, another counseling round will take place in December.

NExT Step 1

NExT Step 1 will be a comprehensive computer-based examination featuring high-quality MCQs. Despite initial criticism from medical college faculties regarding the use of MCQs in the draft of NExT announced in December of the previous year, the NMC has clarified that the MCQ items will cover advanced knowledge domains and align with the expected competencies of Indian medical graduates practicing modern medicine in the country.

The NExT Step 1 examination will consist of six subject papers, encompassing the practical application of various MBBS subjects, including forensic medicine and toxicology (FMT). The study of community medicine will be integrated into the relevant clinical subjects. Each paper will contain 10% of items dedicated to the applied aspects of the corresponding subjects.

The following indicates the weightage of each subject in terms of the number of items included in the test, as well as the allocated time for each subject:

NExT Step 2

As for the NExT Step 2, it will be a comprehensive practical or clinical examination assessing competencies in clinical diagnosis, patient examination, clinical decision-making, practical skills, and communication skills. This examination will take place after the completion of the internship and is designed to evaluate the necessary skills for practicing modern medicine, particularly in India.

There are a total of seven subjects that will be evaluated during NExT step 2, which are as follows:

• Medicine and allied subjects
• Surgery and allied subjects
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Pediatrics
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Ophthalmology
• Orthopaedics, Physical Medicine, and Rehabilitation (PMR)

According to the NMC, the time schedule and procedures for NExT Step 2 will be determined by the NMC and the authorized universities or institutions. These decisions will be made after the completion of the internship and before the commencement of the admission process for postgraduate medical courses in that particular year.

NExT Mock Test

The NMC, the apex regulatory body for medical education and profession in India, has announced that a mock or practice test will take place on July 28, 2023. Registration for the mock test will begin on June 28, 2023. Only final-year students enrolled in MBBS courses at medical colleges and institutions are eligible to participate in this practice test.

The purpose of the mock test is to familiarize prospective candidates with the Computer Based Test (CBT) system, the software interface, and the process flow at the examination center. 

It should be noted that the sample questions in the mock test will only provide an example of the pattern and format of the NExT Step 1 examination. They may not encompass the entirety of the NExT Step 1 examination or cover the complete syllabus. The NMC has clarified this aspect.

Abhinav Jha, who is currently undergoing his medical internship at Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital in New Delhi, attended the NMC's webinar and expressed his opinion on the matter. He suggested that there should have been multiple mock exams conducted throughout the year, and NMC should have implemented NExT in 2025 instead.

Jha stated that the webinar had been informative and that the NMC officials were informing students about the forthcoming changes. He suggested that it would be preferable for them to collect feedback from students after the mock exams and make any required adjustments instead of relying solely on their own judgment. He expressed his opinion that it appeared unjust for the 2019 batch to be given such limited notice for NExT Step 1.

Meanwhile, the NMC has stated that the complete details of the NExT examination will be notified through separate regulations.

Read More: 

• NExT Registration 2023: Important Dates, Eligibility, Fee, Process 

• NExT 2023 Eligibility Criteria, Age Limit, Qualification & Attempts

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