NExT Exam: National Exit Test For MBBS, Mock Test, Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus

The National Exit Test, or NExT exam, is a national level entrance test conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. AIIMS, New Delhi . The NMC NExt exam will act as a replacement for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduates ( NEET PG ) and the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination ( FMGE ).

The NExT exam will be held twice a year. According to reports, the NExT mock test will be conducted in 2025. Earlier the NExT mock test was scheduled on July 28, 2023 but later, it was cancelled by the NMC and the registration fee was refunded to the aspirants.

NExT will be conducted in computer-based mode. The NExT official bulletin mentions essential details such as the application process, fees, exam centre eligibility criteria, exam pattern, and other important details. Eligible candidates will be able to fill out the NExT registration form on or before the deadline.

As per the NExT exam pattern, the NExT exam will be held in two steps - NExT Step 1 and NExT Step 2. Step 1 will be theory based carrying MCQ-type questions, while Step 2 will be a practical exam. A total of 540 questions will be asked in the NExT Step 1 paper. Aspirants need to obtain at least a minimum of 50% marks to pass NExT Step 1. Through NExt scores, admissions for PG medical courses will be granted, which will allow foreign medical graduates to practice medicine in India.

Candidates wishing to appear in NExT must meet the following eligibility criteria as set by the NMC. Check the below mentioned eligibility criteria for NExT:

• All undergraduate medical students with a valid MBBS degree are eligible.

• Aspirants pursuing MBBS from an institution recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI) are eligible.

• All Foreign Medical Graduates who wish to register and practice medicine in India can appear in NExT exam.

• Any person with a medical degree wishing to pursue PG in medicine or an academic course approved by NMC can apply.

Mode of Application : Online

Mode of Payment : Net Banking | Credit Card | Debit Card | Paytm

The NExT application form can be filled out using the steps mentioned below.

• Basic Registration : Candidates will have to first complete the basic registration form by filling out personal information, uploading images of their photo, signature, left thumb impression, and generating their registration ID and password. The confirmation will be emailed to the applicant’s registered email. An Exam Unique Code (EUC) is generated afresh for any instance of exam in relation to NExT.

• Filling NExT application form : The next step is to login using the registration ID and password and fill out the application form for NExT exam.

• Payment of the application fee: After filling out the application form, candidates will now have to pay the application fee. The application form fee is Rs. 2000 (Rs. 1000 for SC/ST/EWS applicants). Persons with disabilities are exempt from exam fees.

Application Fees

The NExT exam will be held in two phases: Step 1 and Step 2. Candidates must be familiar with the NExT exam for MBBS pattern. The step wise detailed NExT exam pattern PDF will include the number of questions, weightage, time duration and others. .

NExT Step 1 exam pattern
Candidates can check the Step 1 exam pattern of NMC NExT exam below.

NExT Step 2 exam pattern

The NExT Paper 2 is practical/ viva voce examination that will be held after the completion of the internship. The exam will be objectively structured and clinical case based with simulated cases/ patients. Step 2 will be held in person /live and conducted by the respective state health universities / institutions. Candidates will be declared pass/fail based on the appropriate competence, which will be evaluated.

Distribution of subjects in NExT Step 2
A total of seven subjects will be determined in NExT step 2. These include:

• Medicine and allied subjects

• Surgery and allied subjects

• Obstetrics and Gynaecology

• Paediatrics

• Otorhinolaryngology

• Ophthalmology

• Orthopaedics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR)

The NExT mock/practice test is scheduled for 2025. Aspirants needed to register for NExT mock test on or before the last date. Mock test was introduced to make candidates familiar with the various aspects of the NExT Step 1 examination process. However, the sample test question papers in the NExT mock test were said to be not indicative of the actual process of the NExT Step I examination.

The admit card for the NExt exam will be issued to all the aspirants who have submitted their application forms. The NExt admit card can be downloaded from the official website by using the registration ID and password.

The admit card for the NExT mock/practice test will be available online for all registered candidates. Aspirants must follow the instructions carefully as mentioned in the NExT prospectus to avoid rejection of their application for a mock/practice test. The conducting authority will not send the NExT admit card by email or post.