NEET PG vs NExT Exam: Check Comparison, Objective and Purpose

AIIMS may conduct NExT in 2027 replacing NEET PG exam. Presently NEET PG is held for admission to postgraduate medical courses. NEET PG vs NExT comparison comprises difference in various aapsects including exam format.

NEET PG vs NExT

NEET PG is an national level entrance test for admission to postgraduate courses in medicine. While NExT is an exam proposed by NMC (National Medical Commission) for license to practice and a postgraduate entrance exam for MBBS. National Exit Test (NExT) will replace NEET PG and FMGE. Once the test is implemented, students shall have a new exam pattern and syllabus for exam preparation. However, the authority has deferred the test for at least next two to three years. Till then, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG will be conducted for PG admission, and FMGE for license to practice medicine. In this page, we will know the difference between NExT and NEET PG.

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NExT 2026

The authority shall conduct the NExT 2025 in two steps. AIIMS will conduct the NExT Step 1 exam. Dates for NExT will be announced at official website. Candidates have to clear both Step 1 and 2 of NExT 2026. No official notification by AIIMS or NMC has been declared regarding the dates and other details.

NEET PG Vs NExT Exam

Though both NExT and NEET PG are post graduate exams, there is difference in terms of its objective, syllabus, and format. Candidates can check a comparative analysis of both exams (NEET PG vs NExT) as per the details available in public domain.

Objective and Purpose

NEET PG is conducted for admission into postgraduate medical courses only while NExT or Exit Test will be held for providing license to final year MBBS students as well as for admission to postgraduate courses. It is called exit test as MBBS students may exit after clearing Step 1 exam. NExT will be mandatory for MBBS students to practice medicine in India.

Eligibility

Candidates who qualified MBBS are eligible for NEET PG exam. For NExT Step 1, final year MBBS students will be eligible. Those who qualify NExT Step 1 and 12 month internship will be eligible for NExT Step 2.

Exam Format

While NEET PG is single steps exam where only objective questions are asked, the NExT exam will be held to check both theoretical and practical knowledge of candidates.  NEET PG exam is held in single step while NExT will be held in two steps. NExT Step 1 will be theoretical test with objective questions and NExT Step 2 will be practical based questions with objective and descriptive questions.

Syllabus

NEET PG syllabus comprises all subjects taught in 5 years MBBS course. Candidates are tested knowledge of all subjects as part of MBBS course. NExT syllabus has been reduced to nearly half in comparison to NEET PG. As NExT will be held for final year MBBS students, only those subjects which were taught in third or final year will be part of NExT syllabus.

Exam Result

After NEET PG result, candidates will be eligible to get admission into PG courses. Candidates don’t need to appear for any other test. In case of NExT, Step 1 result will only make you eligible for Step 2 NExT exam which is mandatory to get admission into PG courses.

Also Read: NEET PG vs INI CET Exam: Know Difference and Overview