NExT exam will be implemented most likely from August 2025. The exam will be held by AIIMS Delhi replace existing NEET PG and FMGE exams. Final year MBBS students will appear for the exam to get license and admission into post graduate course. Earlier, NMC cancelled NExT mock exam which was scheduled on July 28. The exam will be held in two steps.
National Exit Test (NExT) exam will be implement from August 2025 for final year 2020 batch MBBS students. Exact dates and details regarding NExT exam will be released by AIIMS Delhi. As the exam will be implemented for the first time, there are apprehensions regarding the same. Candidates have least idea about how to go about NExT exam preparation. In an exclusive interview with Shikha, Dr. Adit Desai, Co-Founder, Doctutorials, shares preparation tips and other crucial details regarding NMC NExT exam.
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Q. NExT exam has hit the headlines recently because of wrongs reasons including mock practice fee and others. Though the Health minister tried to address many of the concerns of students, still clarity is missing. What is your take on this?
It is very unfortunate that the students are suffering because of lack of coordination between Health ministry and NMC. There is no clarity about the NExT exam even after all the statements by the minister. They have given clarity for the Batch of 2019 that they won’t be appearing fro the NExT, but what about batch of 2020? Students start preparing for this exam 2-3 years before. The NMC should give students a 3 year headstart as to when their exam will be and what the format of the exam will be like.
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Q. NExT mock exam was cancelled after registration was up for some days...how does it impacts exam preparation of students?
All the students of Batch of 2019,2020 lost at least 2 vital months of preparation for their exam as the NMC went back & forth with their own statements resulting into lack of clarity for the students. The students did not know the exam date, format and most importantly and funnily, whether that exam will be implemented for their batch or not. Mock exam required no preparation as such as it was only to show students ‘type’ of questions that’ll be asked in their main exam. But it resulted in wasting crucial preparation time of more than 1.5 lakh students of India who are about to give the most competitive exam in the country.
Q. In light of the cancellation, what alternative resources and support is Doctutorials offering to help students stay on track with their NExT exam preparation?
DocTutorials is predominantly a NEET PG coaching platform with preparation material for all 19 subjects of NEET PG. After cancellation fo NExT we have put all our resources in upgrading our already existing NEET PG material that will take the students’ preparation and confidence 1 step above the rest.
Q. NMC has said NExT exam will be held twice a year but it has not said anything about exam date. Will NExT exam held in May next year?
Firstly, there should be consensus between NMC and MHFW regarding the format of the exam, type of questions and which batch will be the first to give the NExT exam. Secondly, students should get at least 2 years of headsup so that they have ample time to prepare for a new format of exam. NExT in May 2024 is practically impossible as there is zero clarity in the NMC itself regarding the dates and format. It takes a lot of time to execute a new format of exam for 2 lakh students. I see it happening sometime in May 2025 and even after that.
Q. Many of the students will be taking the exam, which will be held in two steps, Step 1 theory and Step 2 practical. Will qualifying both steps necessary to get license for medical practice?
Yes, qualifying both steps is required to get the MBBS license to practice. But only the marks of NExT Step-1 will be relevant to decide the PG seat that student will be eligible for. Step-2 will only have ‘Pass/Fail’ criteria and that will be held by individual colleges for their students, where as Step-1 will be a centralised MCQ exam
Q. Will NExT exam tougher than NEET PG or FMGE exams?
Traditionally, NEET PG has always been tougher than FMGE. So yes, NExT will definitely be tougher than FMGE. But I don’t think it’ll be tougher than NEET PG. It will be easier as in NEET PG, there was 1 exam for 19 subjects, and in NExT, there a 6 papers for 6 main subjects with 10% of questions asked from remaining 13 subjects. Hence, preparation will be focused for these 6 subjects and hence the overall preparation will be easier for the students. (as long as they get a headsup from the NMC.
Q. Share some preparation tips to final year MBBS students who will be taking up NExT exam in near future.
Focus on the core 6 clinical subjects. Finish off the Pre & Para clinical subjects (7) before starting these 6 subjects as it will form a foundation for your preparation. Clinical scenarios and recall questions will form majority of the paper. During revision, only focus on important topics of these 6 subjects and give as many tests as possible in the last 2 months to prepare you for the D-Day.
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It is not tougher than NEET PG. The syllabus of NExT is on the similar line as NEET PG. Syllabus of NExT comprises subjects covered under I MBBS and II MBBS & applied aspects of all subjects covered under III MBBS /Final MBBS Part 1. There has been more focus on practical/clinical part in NExT exam. NMC aims to produce more skillful doctors with better practical and clinical knowledge through NExT exam. Candidates who have clear concepts of MBBS subjest can easily crack the exam. AIIMS had designed mock exam to make candidates understand the whole process. NExT mock exam, scheduled to be held on July 28 was cancelled.