AIIMS is set to introduce the National Exit Test (NExT) for MBBS students
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Pranay Trivedi
- Updated: June 9, 2023
- IST: 8:42 am
AIIMS faculty from various departments are actively involved in crafting multiple-choice questions for the initial section of the test (known as NExT 1), which aims to evaluate clinical knowledge and learning, according to sources cited by The Indian Express.
AIIMS, Delhi is likely to organize the National Exit Test (NExT) later this year, which will consist of two parts and serve as a qualifying examination for doctor registration and post-graduate admissions. Currently, AIIMS faculty members are working on creating multiple-choice questions for the first part of the test, known as NExT 1, which will primarily assess clinical learning. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has engaged in discussions with AIIMS regarding this matter, but the official announcement designating AIIMS as the conducting agency is still pending. The new NExT will replace the existing final theory paper for MBBS students, with NExT 1 taking the place of university-level final exams. Successful completion of NExT 1 will enable provisional registration with medical councils, a requirement for the mandatory one-year internship. The test will cover subjects such as medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, ENT, and ophthalmology, and will consist of multiple-choice questions.
An official from the health ministry mentioned that the upcoming NExT (National Exit Test) examination aims to address the problem of students neglecting their final-year courses to focus on studying for NEET-PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate). The NExT exam will evaluate the clinical skills of students, ensuring that they have practical knowledge gained through attending classes. It will consist of two parts: a theoretical paper and a practical test conducted after completing the internship. The NExT scores will be used as a basis for admission to postgraduate programs. However, this new exam is unlikely to be used for PG admissions this year since NEET-PG 2023 has already taken place, and counseling is scheduled for later this year. Officials stated that students would require sufficient time to prepare for this new format of tests, so it won’t be implemented immediately.
According to a dean from one of India’s major medical colleges, the NExT (National Exit Test) process needs to be initiated soon to ensure that NExT 2 can be held next year after students complete their one-year internship. Conducting NExT 1 in a timely manner will allow the scores to be used for selecting the next batch of postgraduate (PG) students. The NExT exam was proposed under the National Medical Commission Act 2019, aiming to evaluate the skill levels of doctors across the country on a standardized basis. Originally, the test was supposed to be conducted within three years of the act coming into force in 2020, but the National Medical Commission extended the dates by a year through a gazette notification. The dean further explained that although the exam pattern may be different, the questions will be based on the same course as the final MBBS exams. This means that students who have attended classes and prepared for their final exams should be well-equipped to take the NExT exam as well.
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