National Exit Test (NEXT)
The National Exit Test NEXT manifests a universally applicable dogma — there can be no compromise with quality standards in the medical profession.
Apparently, corruption was becoming rampant in the 88-year-old Medical Council of India MCI. There seemed to be evidence that the officials were earning illegitimately at various levels in a nexus with political leaders. Also, there was a lack of uniformity in adding new members to the medical fraternity. In short, while the foreign medical graduates had to undergo the MCI Screening Test, the doctors from Indian Medical Universities were exempt.
After much deliberation by the GOI, the National Medical Commission Bill came into force on September 25, 2020. It caused the dissolution of the MCI and the constitution of the National Medical Commission in its place. A very consequential step that the NMC took was the replacement of the MCI Screening Test with the National Exit Test NEXT.
NExT 1
Without a doubt, NEXT 1 will be the competitive entity among NEXT 1 & 2. It shall have two purposes — establishing that the aspirant is ready for internship & concluding whether he/she deserves to get a seat for medical PG. Reiterating, the former will merely need an aspirant to qualify, the latter will see cut-throat competition.
At the outset, we establish that the account given here is mostly based on speculation. However, our experts expect this is how its format will be, with inconsequential variations.
Exam Pattern
NEXT 1 Exam pattern will have to be one with MCQs like the erstwhile MCI Screening Test/FMGE. Also, like the FMGE, NEXT 1 will have questions from the 19 subjects in the MBBS curriculum. This is where the resemblance will end.
To begin with, this exam in 2023 will have questions from the revised version of the competency-based MBBS curriculum. This modified curriculum will generate a different pattern of questions as the core focus areas have shifted. To understand the new topic-wise outcomes, click here. (link to competency-based MBBS curriculum page)
NExT 2
The NEXT 2 exam will assess a fresh MBBS's preparedness to handle and advise patients in reality. For now, we can be sure that the NEXT 2 will have nothing to do with the Medical PG. After clearing, it will essentially be a licentiate exam, which one can start practising medicine in India independently.
The account below is not based on any official announcement of NMC but is not merely a speculation. There is a negligible probability that what we present here will not be.
NEXT 2 exam pattern
The purpose of the NEXT 2 exam indicates that the questions in the exam will test the clinical skills of a fresh MBBS. This generates a couple of possibilities.
There used to be a section in USMLE called the USMLE Step 2 CS that assessed the practical patient-handling skills of a doctor. USMLE no longer has that test; however, the kind of questions Step 2 CS presented to its candidates is one way in which the questions in NEXT 2 may come to you.
Ideally, in such a setup, the doctor interacted with a real person who posed as a patient. The doctor examined the patient, noted his/her inferences, suggested a line of treatment and moved on. This pattern is time-consuming, and it shouldn’t surprise if, like USMLE, the NEXT 2 also spans over 8 hours.
With the manifestation of COVID-19, people are understandably cautious, and interaction with real patients may not be feasible. An option with some probability of adaptation is a computer-simulated case study where a doctor meets a virtual patient and treats him/her.
To know more about MOKSH NEXT Online Coaching.
