NExT: Exam in two steps? NMC drafts guidelines on schedule, duration, scores, papers

NEW DELHI: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued draft regulations on the National Exit Test (NExT) for admission to postgraduate medical programmes and for license to practise medicine in India. According to the draft guidelines, NExT will be conducted as two separate exams called ‘Steps’. While Step 1 will be a theory exam and will be held in the second week of December, Step 2 will be a practical exam and will be conducted in the second week of March. NExT is supposed to replace the National Eligibility Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) exam.

As per NMC guidelines, NExT Step 1 will be a theoretical examination containing multiple choice questions and will be held in a computer-based test mode whereas Step 2 will be a practical and viva voce examination.

NExT Step 1 exam

Step 1 will consist of six papers covering subjects of MBBS third year of final year, both part 1 and part 2:

• Medicine and allied disciplines
• Surgery and allied disciplines
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Paediatrics
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Ophthalmology
• Applied aspects of all subjects covered under I MBBS and II MBBS
• Applied aspects of all subjects covered under III MBBS /Final MBBS Part l

All those students who have completed the MBBS third year of final year course from a medical college recognized by the commission will be eligible to appear. There will be a regular NExT Step 1 exam held once a year prior to the university practical examination for the third MBBS (Part2) or final MBBS preceding Compulsory Rotating Internship.

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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 exam within 10 years of joining the MBBS course. There is no limitation on the number of attempts to improve scores too. The exam will replace the theory exams of MBBS third year and final year students.

NExT Step 2 exam

Step 2 will cover seven clinical subjects:

• Medicine and allied disciplines
• Surgery and allied disciplines
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Paediatrics
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Ophthalmology
• Orthopaedics and PMR (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)

The exam will be held in person once a year. There is no restriction on the number of attempts to appear for Step 2 exam.

A supplementary exam will be held for both steps for students who do not clear the regular exam, according to the guidelines.

NExT scores

• The minimum marks for passing will be 50% [50 out of 100] or half of the maximum possible raw for NExT Step 1
• For the NExT Step 1, in each of the six papers a minimum of 50% [ 50 out of 100] or half of the maximum possible raw scores should be scored to pass the exam
• The criteria for passing NExT Step 2 will be satisfactory demonstration having acquired the competencies that are evaluated that will be declared as pass or fail.

Calculation of scores

• The total marks will be calculated from the sum of raw scores obtained in each paper or subject.
• In the case of failure in one or more subjects, the total marks or percentage of NExT Step 1 for a candidate will be calculated from the sum of total of raw scores in each subject /paper obtained in both regular and supplementary exam in which the candidate has secured pass marks
• The Total marks percentage of those candidates who have appeared in NExT Step Exam to improve their scores will be calculated from the average or mean of last three consecutive scores
• NExT Step scores will remain valid for three years

NExT exam day schedule, duration

According to the guidelines, tentative exam day schedule and duration of Step 1 is given below:

The time schedule of Step 2 will be decided by the conducting authorities.

NExT dates schedule

The tentative schedule of the NExT exam is:

Explaining the validity of the NExT exam, the guidelines said, “It is implied that whenever the NExT is in force, the corresponding equivalent existing Examinations shall be phased out/cease to be applicable for purpose for which the NExT shall be appropriate. However, iffor previous batches the existing examinations are applicable as may be decided by the Commission Central Government, State Government, Universities, applicable laws, and rulings, then the existing examinations shall continue for such time as may be appropriate with the understanding that the NExT shall be eventually replace the corresponding equivalent existing examinations