NExT Exam 2025 for MBBS: Dates, Syllabus, Pattern, NMC Latest News
Latest Updates-NExT Exam, 2024
6 November 2024: The NExT exam will be held in August 2025. 5 November 2024: Earlier on July 18, the mock exam has been called off. 4 November 2024: Earlier, on July 13, the NMC postponed the NExT exam for MBBS students of the 2019 batch. |
Updated on :
November 27, 2024 06:07 PM
Final year MBBS students of the 2020 batch can expect the NExT Step 1 exam to be around August 2025 and the next step in February 2026. However, the date of the official NExT exam has not been determined by the National Medical Commission. It will provide all necessary exam deadlines and other key information in the official brochure, which the NMC will soon issue. The protest caused the NExT mock exam, set to take place on July 22, 2022, and scheduled to be held across the country. The NTA had begun accepting applications for the NExT mock exam, with registrations scheduled to end on July 10. Applicants must complete the registration process online and submit essential personal information before taking the mock test for the NExT step 1.
The NExT mock exam is conducted to orient candidates with the whole process- how the software interface and the examination centre’s process flow work. While the NExT exam would occur twice every year in the months of May and November, the exam will be computer-based, including two steps written and practical. Furthermore, candidates will have to pass Step 1 to be able to sit for Step 2 after their internship in other words, while seeking employment.
The NMC NExT exam, to be implemented across two steps, will be conducted as the single-window exit examination for licensure to practise medicine in India for MBBS graduates or equivalent. The NMC NExT, once formulated and implemented, will replace the NEET PG and FMGE exams with the NExT examination. Currently, the NEET PG and FMGE exams are conducted as a screening test for foreign medical graduates with respect to registration to practise medicine in India . As per the draft guidelines, its aim is to standardise summative assessment of education and training with reference to the minimum national standards of education and training postulated across the country.
NExT 2025 Highlights
The table given below shows some of the key highlights of the NExT exam.
Particulars | Details |
Exam name | National Exit Test or NExT |
Conducting body | All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Most Likely) |
Exam level | Postgraduate exam at National level |
Objective | Medical Licence and admission to postgraduate courses |
Session commencement | 2024-25 |
Eligible candidates | Final year MBBS students, Foreign Medical Graduates |
Exam mode | Online |
NExT paper pattern | Step 1 & Step 2 |
Question Type | MCQs LAQs SAQs |
How many attempt | No restriction |
NExT Exam Overview
The Ministry of Health is offering the NExT exam to improve the Indian healthcare intermediation system by simplifying the examination set-up. The desired outcome is to discard numerous examinations such as NEET PG and FMGE and use a single examination pattern. With the slogan ‘one nation one exam,’ candidates will have to pass a single exam to receive their medical licence instead of numerous exams.
The NExT exam will be conducted in two parts, which are Step 1 and Step 2. Step 1 will focus on evaluating theoretical knowledge as well Step 2 will assess practical skills. Upon undertaking and passing the Step 1 exam, candidates will need to undergo a one-year internship before they can sit the Step 2 exam. Furthermore, to qualify for the NExT exam’s Step 1 in the final year, candidates have to secure at least 50% of the marks in all the papers.
What is the National Exit Test (NExT)?
NExT stands for National Exit Test, a standardised entrance examination that awards MBBS graduates with practising medicine licences in India. It is an obligatory exam for all final-year MBBS students to gain entrance into postgraduate programs. The NExT was developed to include both the final year MBBS examination and the screening test for foreign medical graduates.
NExT will be a two-stage examination, NExT Step 1 followed by NExT Step 2, which will be computer-based tests. Irrespective of the source of their medical education, i.e. Medical education in India or abroad, every medical graduate shall need to pass this examination.
NExT 2025 Exam Dates
Below are the details of NExT 2025 Exam Dates
Dates | Upcoming Exam Dates |
Feb '28 | NExT Step 1 exam TENTATIVE |
NExT Exam Eligibility Criteria
As with any other examination, applicants for the NExT exam are subject to certain eligibility rules. To take the National Exit Test, only the students who have completed their undergraduate medical degree can apply. Thus, the eligibility criteria for the NExT exam are as follows, have a valid MBBS degree with at least 50% of marks and undergo an internship of 12 months after the completion of NExT paper 1. Candidates who meet the aforementioned eligibility conditions may appear for the NExT exam’s paper 2.
