National Exit Test: medical students in a confused state as the NExT exam deadline approaches

| Created | September 05, 2022, 11:55 IST
In case the exam is to be postponed then provisions need to be invoked in Section 59(1) of the NMC Act by 24 September 2022. National Exit Test Amidst the final call yet to be taken by the National Medical Commission (NMC) regarding the feasibility to conduct the National Exit Test in 2023, there is uncertainty among the PG aspirants. The aspirants are confused over the syllabus, timing, and pattern of the NExT exam. As per the NMC act, the NMC has to conduct the NExT exam within three years of its implementation. The Union Health Ministry has sought the view of NMC regarding the feasibility of conducting NExT exam. It also notified the NMC, that if the proper preparation is not in place to conduct the exam, then the postponement of the exam to 2024 will prompt to invoke provisions in Section 59(1) of the NMC Act by 24 September 2022. Previously, the Commission on its official notice confirmed that the NExT exam will be conducted in the year 2023.

What is NExT exam?

It is a common final year medical undergraduate exam, that will replace NEET PG exam and will also provide licenses to graduates for practicing medicine in India. Foreign candidates can also take up this exam from now on to get licenses for practicing medicine in India. The main aim of this exam is to uplift the skilled and medical professionals in the country. The NExT scores will help the medical undergraduates to get an internship after their graduation and secure a seat in PG courses offered by Government and private Institutes/universities.

NExT exam pattern

The NExT exam will be conducted for three days. On day 1 of the exam, questions will be asked from Medicine, Dermatology, Psychiatry (120 questions) and Paediatrics (60 questions). On day 2 of the exam, questions will be from Surgery, Anesthesia, Orthopaedics (120 questions), and ENT(60 questions). On day 3 of the exam, questions will be asked from Obstetrics & Gynecology, Radiology (120 questions), and Ophthalmology (60 questions). Each exam will contain objective-type questions. Among the questions, 10% of the questions will be from basic applied sciences and 10% of the questions will be based on Preventive and Social Medicine.