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

AIIMS will be conducting NExT exam most likely from next year 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

As NExT is to be implemented most likely from next year, aspirants must be curious to know all about the exam and the difference between NExT and NEET PG. NExT which stands for National Exit Test will be replacing both NEET PG and FMGE from 2026 onwards. The National Exit Test, a single window exit test, will be conducted for providing license to MBBS students and providing admission into postgraduate medical courses. Final year MBBS students will be eligible for NExT exam. There is marked difference in both NEET PG and NExT in terms of exam pattern, syllabus and other aspects which have been explained below in the article. The 'NEET PG vs NExT comparision' article gives you an idea how both the exams are different.

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NExT 2025

As per the reports, NExT 2025 will be held for 2020 batch final year MBBS students in two steps. The exam will be conducted by AIIMS. NExT Step 1 will be held most likely in August 2026. To get admission into PG courses, candidates will have to clear both Step 1 and Step 2 of NExT 2025. Earlier in June 2023, AIIMS had started registration for the mock exam but it was cancelled later on. There is no official notification either by AIIMS or NMC regarding dates and other exam related 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 providing 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 from 2025 onwards.

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.

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