NExT 2025 Exam Pattern, Check Exam Steps, Question Pattern, Merit List Preparation

NExT 2025 Exam Pattern: The National Exit Test (NExT) is a critical examination introduced to standardize medical licensing in India. It is designed for students graduating from MBBS, BAMS, BUMS, BSMS, and BHMS programs, and will also serve as a screening test for foreign medical graduates. The exam will replace the NEET PG and FMGE exams and is expected to be implemented from August 2025. This article provides an overview of the NExT 2025 exam pattern, detailing its structure, marking scheme, and question patterns.

Download– MedEd App

NExT 2025 Exam Pattern Overview

The NExT 2025 Exam Pattern Overview provides a comprehensive outline of the National Exit Test, which is crucial for MBBS, BAMS, BUMS, BSMS, and BHMS students, as well as for foreign medical graduates. This two-part examination, conducted by AIIMS New Delhi, includes an online theoretical assessment in Step 1 and an offline practical evaluation in Step 2. This table provides a clear overview of the NExT 2025 exam, including its purpose, structure, and key dates.

NExT 2025 Exam Pattern Overview
Aspect	Details
Exam Name	National Exit Test (NExT)
Frequency	2 Time in a Year
Conducting Body	AIIMS New Delhi
Exam Date	Step 1: August 2025 (Tentative)
	Step 2: February 2026 (Tentative)
Purpose	Final assessment for MBBS, BAMS, BUMS, BSMS, BHMS students; Screening test for foreign medical graduates
Step 1	Mode: Online Questions: 540 MCQs Subjects: Medicine & Allied Subjects, Paediatrics, Surgery & Allied Subjects, ENT, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ophthalmology Duration: 3 days
Step 2	Mode: Offline, conducted in person Format: Practical examination with simulated cases/patients Timing: After internship completion Passing Evaluation: Pass/Fail based on demonstrated competence

NExT 2025 Exam Pattern Step Wise

The National Exit Test (NExT) is a pivotal examination for medical graduates in India, designed to streamline licensing and postgraduate admissions. The exam is divided into two distinct phases: Step 1 and Step 2. Each phase evaluates different aspects of medical knowledge and practical skills. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the exam pattern for NExT 2025:

NExT 2025 Exam Pattern Step Wise
Component	NExT Step 1	NExT Step 2
Mode	Online	Offline, conducted in person
Questions	540 MCQs	Practical examination with simulated cases
Subjects Covered	Medicine & allied subjects, Paediatrics, Surgery & allied subjects, ENT, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ophthalmology	Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, PMR
Duration	3 days, with specific time allocations for each subject	Held after internship completion
Evaluation	Raw scores converted to percentages; minimum of 50% required	Pass/Fail based on demonstrated competence

NExT 2025 Exam Marking Scheme

The marking scheme for the NExT 2025 Exam varies significantly between its two steps. While Step 1 uses a detailed scoring system to assess theoretical knowledge, Step 2 relies on a pass/fail evaluation based on practical skills. Here’s a concise overview of how each step is scored:

NExT 2025 Exam Marking Scheme
Component	NExT Step 1	NExT Step 2
Scoring Method	Raw scores converted to percentages; minimum 50% required	Pass/Fail based on practical skills and clinical competence
Score Presentation	Presented as whole numbers with appropriate decimals	No percentage or detailed scoring system

NExT 2025 Exam Question Pattern

Unlike NEET PG and FMGE exams the NExT 2025 Exam Pattern follows a structured pattern across its two distinct steps, designed to assess both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Step 1 comprises multiple-choice questions distributed over three days, covering various medical subjects. Step 2 focuses on practical, case-based evaluations conducted by state universities or institutions to test clinical competence.

NExT 2025 Exam Question Pattern
Step	Day/Format	Subject	Number of Questions	Duration
Step 1	Day 1	Medicine & allied subjects	120	3 hours
		Paediatrics	60	90 minutes
	Day 2	Surgery & allied subjects	120	3 hours
		ENT	60	90 minutes
	Day 3	Obstetrics & Gynaecology	120	3 hours
		Ophthalmology	60	90 minutes
Step 2	Format	Practical case-based evaluations	N/A	Conducted by state universities or institutions

• NExT Step 1 Total Questions: 540
• NExT 2025 Step 1 Question Types: 65% problem-solving and analytical, 25% comprehension, 10% recall-based
• NExT Step 1 involves a comprehensive theory-based assessment over three days, while NExT Step 2 consists of practical, case-based evaluations conducted after the internship.

NExT Merit List Preparation

The merit list for postgraduate course admissions based on the NExT Step-1 exam is determined by the cumulative raw scores from the examination. Scores from NExT Step-1 are valid for five years, but only the most recent attempt is used for ranking. Candidates must apply for rank generation to be considered for admission in a given academic year.

• Validity of Scores : NExT Step-1 scores are valid for five years. However, the latest attempt’s score will be used for ranking if a candidate retakes the exam.
• Application for Rank Generation : Candidates must apply as per the Commission's procedure to be eligible for admission in that academic year.

Tiebreaker Rules for Rank Generation

• Normalized Scores : The rank is first determined by the normalized sum of raw scores from the NExT Step-1 exam.
• Number of Attempts : In case of a tie, candidates with fewer attempts at NExT Step-1 are ranked higher.
• Subject-wise Preference : If ties persist, candidates are ranked based on higher marks in the following order of preference:
  • Medicine and allied disciplines
  • Surgery and allied disciplines
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Paediatrics
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Ophthalmology

The NExT exam will play a pivotal role in standardizing medical education and practice in India. Familiarity with the detailed pattern and requirements will be crucial for candidates aiming to succeed in this examination. The detailed NExT Exam syllabus for 2025 will be officially released by AIIMS, Delhi once the exam dates are finalized. Stay tuned for updates to ensure you have the most current information. Gear up for NExT 2024, Download the PW Med Ed app now and get the best guidance!

Read More
NExT Exam 2025 for MBBS	Everything You Need to Know About NExT Exam
NExT 2025 Exam Dates	NExT Exam in August 2025 for MBBS 2024 Batch