What is the NEXT/FMGE Exam?

The National Exit Test (NEXT) is a proposed centralized licensing examination conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) for MBBS graduates, both from India and abroad. It is a two-part exam:

• NEXT-1: A computer-based MCQ test assessing theoretical knowledge.
• NEXT-2: A practical/oral exam evaluating clinical skills during internship.

Until NEXT is fully implemented, foreign medical graduates (FMGs) are still required to appear for the FMGE, which serves a similar purpose. However, once NEXT becomes mandatory, it will serve three key roles:

1. Provide license to practice medicine in India.
2. Replace FMGE and NEET PG exams.
3. Act as a qualifying exam for admission to MD/MS and other PG courses.

FMGE/NEXT 2025 Exam Highlights

Feature	Details
Exam Name	NEXT (National Exit Test) / FMGE
Conducting Body	National Board of Examinations (NBE)
Exam Stages	NEXT-1 (Theory), NEXT-2 (Practical)
Mode of Exam	Online (Computer-Based)
Medium	English
Question Type	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Total Questions	540 (NEXT-1)
Marking Scheme	+4 (Correct), 0 (Incorrect)

NEXT/FMGE 2025 Eligibility Criteria

To appear for the NEXT/FMGE exam in 2025, candidates must fulfill the following conditions:

For Indian and Foreign Medical Graduates:

• Must be an Indian citizen or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI).
• Should have completed MBBS from a recognized Indian or foreign medical institution.
• Must possess an Eligibility Certificate (if applicable) issued by the NMC.
• Should have a Provisional Pass Certificate/Degree of MBBS attested or apostilled by the Indian Embassy.
• Required to complete their internship before appearing for NEXT-2.

Documents Required for NEXT 2025

S. No	Document Name
1	Class 10th Marksheet
2	Class 12th Marksheet
3	Birth Certificate
4	Address Proof
5	Internship Certificate
6	Passport Size Photographs

NEXT/FMGE 2025 Application Process

Although the full NEXT exam structure is under proposal, the application process is expected to follow a format similar to FMGE:

1. Visit the official website: www.nbe.edu.in
2. Select "NEXT" or "FMGE" and begin new registration.
3. Fill in the registration form with:
• Name
• Date of Birth
• Email ID
• Mobile Number
• Gender and Nationality
4. Receive login credentials (User ID and Password) via email.
5. Complete the application form, including:
• Personal and academic details
• Uploading scanned documents
• Choosing exam center preferences
6. Pay the application fee (to be announced).
7. Submit and save a copy of the form for reference.

NEXT/FMGE Exam Centers in India

Candidates can choose from over 40 cities for their examination. Below is a sample list of test locations:

City (1–15)	City (16–30)
Ahmedabad	Hyderabad
Bengaluru	Imphal
Bhopal	Jammu
Bhubaneswar	Jodhpur
Chandigarh	Kannur
Chennai	Kolkata
Dehradun	Kollam
Delhi/NCR	Kottayam
Ernakulam	Kozhikode
Gangtok	Lucknow

NEXT/FMGE 2025 Syllabus

The NEXT 2025 syllabus is based entirely on the MBBS curriculum and is divided into two parts: NEXT-1 (theoretical) and NEXT-2 (practical). NEXT-1 tests students through multiple-choice questions across all major pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical subjects. NEXT-2 evaluates a student’s hands-on clinical skills during their internship through viva and practical assessments.

Syllabus of NEXT-1 and NEXT-2

NEXT-1 (Theoretical Subjects)	NEXT-2 (Practical Areas)
Anatomy	Internal Medicine
Physiology	Surgery
Biochemistry	Pediatrics
Pathology	Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Pharmacology	Emergency Medicine
Microbiology	Clinical Skills & Patient Handling
Forensic Medicine
Community Medicine
Medicine and Allied Subjects
Surgery and Allied Subjects
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Pediatrics
ENT & Ophthalmology

NEXT/FMGE 2025 Exam Pattern

The proposed structure of the NEXT exam consists of two phases:

Phase 1 – NEXT-1:

• Computer-Based MCQ Exam
• Total Questions: 540
• Duration: 3 Days
• Determines eligibility for internship and PG admissions

Phase 2 – NEXT-2:

• Practical/Oral Exam during internship
• Assesses clinical and practical knowledge
• Mandatory for licensing to practice medicine in India

NEXT vs NEET PG – Key Differences

Feature	NEXT Exam	NEET PG Exam
Phases	NEXT-1 (Theory) + NEXT-2 (Practical)	Single MCQ Exam after Internship
Exam Duration	3 Days for NEXT-1	1 Day
Question Type	MCQs + Oral/Practical	Only MCQs
Score Validity	2–3 Years	2 Years
PG Admission Basis	NEXT-1 Score	NEET PG Score
Implementation	Expected fully by 2025–26	Active until NEXT is implemented

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How many questions are asked in the NEXT/FMGE exam?
A: NEXT-1 has 540 multiple-choice questions. NEXT-2 is a practical exam.

Q2. What is the passing percentage for the NEXT exam?
A: Candidates must score at least 50% in each paper. Official cut-offs may vary based on NMC/NBE guidelines.

Q3. Is the NEXT Exam tougher than NEET PG?
A: NEXT is comprehensive and includes both theoretical and practical testing, unlike NEET PG which is only MCQ-based.

Q4. Is there negative marking in the NEXT exam?
A: No negative marking is proposed as per current drafts, but final rules will be confirmed by the NBE.

Q5. Why do Indian MBBS students need to take the NEXT Exam?
A: NEXT will serve as a final MBBS exam, a licensing test, and PG entrance exam—replacing multiple exams.

Q6. What if I fail the NEXT exam?
A: Students who fail NEXT-1 cannot proceed to internship or PG courses. They must reappear for the exam in the next cycle.

Final Thoughts

The NEXT/FMGE Exam 2025 is a transformative step in India's medical education system, ensuring a unified, and high-standard licensing path for all MBBS graduates. Whether you're pursuing your degree in India or abroad, staying updated on NEXT's implementation, syllabus, and structure is critical for a successful medical career. For more updates, visit the official website www.nbe.edu.in or follow universitysahihai.com for expert guidance.