The National Medical Commission (NMC) issued the National Exit Test Regulations 2023 and stated it will be held in two phases with NExT Step 1 and NExT Step 2 being held twice a year starting next year. The National Exit Test will serve as a common qualifying final-year MBBS exam, a licentiate exam to practice modern medicine and for merit-based admission to postgraduate courses and a screening exam for foreign medical graduates who want to practice in India.
After clearing NExT Step 1, medical students will be doing an internship for one year. After internship, they will have to clear NExT Step 2 to become eligible for getting license and registration to practice modern medicine in India and pursue postgraduate degrees for which their score in NExT Step 1 will be considered.
As per the newly released gazette medical students can now appear in the National Exit Test Step 1 multiple times to improve their scores provided they have passed NExT Step 2 and complete the entire process within 10 years of MBBS admission. However, the score obtained in the last attempt in NExT Step-1 will be considered for determination of the rank for admission in postgraduate courses in broad specialties. Negative marking will be there. 1 mark will be awarded for the right answer and 0.25 mark will be deducted for the wrong answer.
As per the newly released gazette medical students can now appear in the National Exit Test Step 1 multiple times to improve their scores provided they have passed NExT Step 2 and complete the entire process within 10 years of MBBS admission. However, the score obtained in the last attempt in NExT Step-1 will be considered for determination of the rank for admission in postgraduate courses in broad specialties. Negative marking will be there. 1 mark will be awarded for the right answer and 0.25 mark will be deducted for the wrong answer.
As per the newly released gazette medical students can now appear in the National Exit Test Step 1 multiple times to improve their scores provided they have passed NExT Step 2 and complete the entire process within 10 years of MBBS admission. However, the score obtained in the last attempt in NExT Step-1 will be considered for determination of the rank for admission in postgraduate courses in broad specialties. Negative marking will be there. 1 mark will be awarded for the right answer and 0.25 mark will be deducted for the wrong answer.
NExT will also form the basis for determining the eligibility and ranking for the purpose of admission of those desirous of pursuing further postgraduate medical education in the country in broad medical specialities and therefore serve as an entrance examination for admission to PG courses.
There is no restriction to the number of attempts to appear in the NExT Step 1 examination to improve scores provided these examinations for improvement of scores are taken after completion of NExT Step 2. Candidates are not entitled to appear in NExT step I for improvement of score till completion of NExT 2. The NExT Step 1 scores shall remain valid for five years. However, if candidate is appeared in NExT exam cycle of NExT step-1 then previous NExT Step 1 score would be invalid for determination of rank for admission into Postgraduate courses in broad specialties and only last attempt NExT Step 1 score would be considered for determination of the rank. There shall be a regular NExT Step 2 examination twice a year.
NExT Step 2 examination results shall be declared as only "Pass/Fail", while the marks from NExT Step 1 will be considered to prepare a merit list for admission into broad speciality PG seats. The minimum marks for passing NExT Step 2 shall be 50 per cent (50 out of 100) or half of the maximum possible raw scores for NExT Step-1.
For Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs) :
Candidates has to pass all 6 Papers of NExT 1 and practical exam held by University.
For Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) :
Candidate has to pass all 6 Papers of NExT 1.
There shall be regular NExT Step 1 examinations held twice a year. There is no restriction to the number of attempts to appear in NExT Step 1 provided the candidate has passed both NExT Step 1 and NExT Step 2 examination within 10 years of joining the MBBS course. The existing examinations shall continue for such time as deemed appropriate to the commission with the understanding that the NExT shall eventually replace the corresponding equivalent existing examinations.
