NMC annonced NExT exam: Know All about NExT

In a recent webinar held on June 27, 2023, the chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC) addressed significant updates regarding the Indian medical licensure and postgraduate entrance exam

. The webinar aimed to alleviate concerns and stress surrounding the proposed National Exit Test (NExT) examination, which would serve as a single and comprehensive entrance exam for admission to postgraduate courses in medical institutions such as AIIMS, JIPMER, and NIMHANS. The NMC invited final year medical students and faculty from across the country to attend the webinar, which took place via Microsoft Teams at 2:30 PM on June 27, 2023.

During the webinar, it was announced that the NExT exam would be conducted in two steps, namely NExT Step-1 and NExT Step-2, following a similar pattern to the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). AIIMS Delhi has been designated as the authority to conduct the NExT Step-1 exam. NExT Step-1 will consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) designed to evaluate the knowledge and skills expected of a medical graduate. The exam will span five days, with tests scheduled every other day in two shifts. It will cover all subjects taught in the MBBS course.

The first shift of each test day will focus on medicine and allied subjects, surgery and allied subjects, and obstetrics and gynaecology, followed by a two-hour break. The second shift will cover paediatrics, otorhinolaryngology, and ophthalmology. The questions in the exam have been categorised as problem-solving and analytical skills (60-40%), comprehension types (20-30%), and recall types (5-15%). The questions will be further divided into "Must Know" (60%), "Nice to Know" (30%), and "May Know" (10%) categories.

NExT Step-2 will be a practical and clinical examination conducted upon completion of the internship. It will assess clinical diagnosis, patient examination, clinical decision-making, practical skills, and communication skills. The timeline for NExT Step-2 will be determined by the NMC and universities/institutions.

The NMC also shared a tentative schedule for the NExT exam and related events. NExT Step-1 will be held twice a year, in May and November, with results announced in June and December respectively. University examinations for final year students will take place in the first week of June or December, with results announced by the third week of June or December. Internship will commence on January 1st or July 1st for students who have passed both the university exams and NExT Step-1. Those who have not passed will have to retake the exams before starting their internship.

The internship will conclude on December 31st or June 30th of the following year. After completing the internship, students will need to appear for NExT Step-2 regular and supplementary exams in case failing in one or more subjects in NExT Step-2 regular. Successful completion of both steps will enable students to obtain their medical license and degree from their respective university.

The scores obtained in NExT Step-1 will be used to generate a Merit Rank List for counselling and admission to postgraduate courses. Postgraduate courses are expected to commence on July 1st or the first week of January. The exact dates will be announced by the NMC and state authorities in due course.

To familiarise students with the Computer-Based Test (CBT) pattern and process flow of NExT Step-1, a mock test has been scheduled for July 28, 2023.NMC has decided to conduct a Mock test on 28th Ju2023 following the exact pattern of NExT Step-1.Registration for this Mock test began on 28 June 2023 with a registration fee of Rs 2000. Like NExT Step-1, this mock test would also be conducted by AIIMS Delhi as the “designated authority of NExT Step-1.

The announcement of NExT exam has been received differently by the medical students. Some claim that the announcement have created more confusion than before. Many have taken to social media to voice their opinions.”

Final year is medical students learn the basic clinical skills. Now, most of us would sit at home and practice MCQ question as at the end it would only bear fruit. NMC is going to produce so called MCQ Doctors” said,Sabit Hussain, a final year student of Medical College Kolkata. ”It is true that people would now take internship more seriously because previously people would have skipped many days to prepare for PG, but still final year classes would be compromised as people would sit at home and study through online coaching”said another final year medical student.” There would be a huge shortage of interns this year if NExT is implemented” voiced another.

Many have regarded it to be a great step.” Finally an exam to test the clinical knowledge of the medical students. All nations had adopted a multi-step exam pattern it was high time NMC made this change.”said,Khushi Agarwal a final year medical student. Dr. Yogendra Malik, member of EMRB NMC said in a tweet that this exam would reduce burden on students and would encourage them to be broad based and NExT is good for degree and PG entrance.

Previously Foreign medical graduates had to clear FMGE(Foreign medical Graduate Examination) to get a license to practice medicine in India and then sit for Post graduate entrance tests. Now with NExT in place, They would get seat in Post graduate courses directly through NExT Step-1 with no intervening FMGE.

Students still have many answered question specially by doctors who have just passed out and have taken drop years to prepare for Post graduate entrances.They are unsure as to what would be their process of enrolment.

Many of the above are propositions and liable to change in the future. Students are advised to keep updated with NMC website for latest information.

To conclude, this might be small step in the right direction. The idea is still in its planning stage and require further thought and polishing to be materialised.

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