The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi is gearing up to introduce the National Exit Test (NExT), a comprehensive examination aimed at qualifying doctors for registration and determining eligibility for post-graduate admissions. The NExT will consist of two parts and is anticipated to take place later this year.
The initial phase, known as NExT 1, will primarily evaluate clinical learning. Dedicated faculty members from various departments within AIIMS are presently involved in the development of multiple-choice questions for this segment, as per information obtained by The Indian Express. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has engaged in discussions with AIIMS regarding the implementation of the examination; however, an official notification designating AIIMS as the primary conducting body is yet to be released.
NExT Part 1
NExT 1 will effectively replace the conventional final theory paper for MBBS students and supplant the university-level final examinations. By passing NExT 1, students will become eligible for provisional registration with medical councils, a prerequisite for the mandatory one-year internship. The examination will encompass a range of subjects, including medicine, surgery, obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, ENT, and ophthalmology, and will feature multiple-choice questions.
NExT Part 2
NExT 2, the second part of the examination, will be conducted in a practical format upon completion of the internship. This segment will focus on evaluating clinical skills and will provide a hands-on assessment.
Successful performance in the NExT tests will serve as the basis for admission to postgraduate programmes. However, it is improbable that the new examination will be employed for PG admissions this year, as NEET-PG 2023 has already been conducted, and the counseling process is scheduled to take place later this year.