NEXT exam for Foreign Medical Graduates

What's NEXT exam?

As the name suggests, the National Exit Test is a deferred exam for both foreign and Indian medical graduates. The purpose of this exam is to replace both FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Exam) and NEET PG exams, so that students take only 1 exam for both PG entrance and to practice in India. So, it serves as both a licensing exam in India and a PG entrance test.

NEXT Exam Pattern:

The exam is conducted in two steps:

Step 1: The first part of the exam includes a computer-based test to test theoretical knowledge on several medical subjects. This exam is conducted for several days to test students through conceptual questions that prioritise practical application.

Step 2: The second part of the exam includes a hands-on clinical test. It is not a written exam, so students have to demonstrate their practical clinical skills. Moreover, this step does not include a numerical score, and the result is evaluated through a pass/fail.

Here is an overview of both steps:

Rules and passing guidelines

1. 50 per cent cutoff: The candidate must score 50% marks in Step 1 to be eligible for both internship and Step 2.

2. Attempt limits: There is no actual limit for both Step 1 and Step 2

3. Deadline for the exam: Students must complete the exam within 10 years from the exact date they joined the MBBS course.

4. Improvement: Students are allowed to retake Step 1 to improve their score after completion of Step 2.\

Conclusion:

Following concerns raised by medical students from all over the country, the exam has been deferred to the year 2028. To ensure a smooth transition, the NMC has been testing mock exams before making it an official exam. In this way, medical students adapt to the format and pattern.