How to prepare for NExT exam from 3rd Year -2023 Guide

How to prepare for NExT exam from 3rd Year

Students often wonder How to Prepare for NExT Exam in 3rd Year and delay their preparation because of a lack of proper guidance and resources. So, here is the article that will serve as your exam guide and help you with tackling questions like -How to prepare for NExT exam from 3rd Year.

Before jumping onto answering How to prepare for NExT exam from 3rd Year, it is necessary to understand about NExT exam. So, starting with the introduction to NExT exam.

What is NExT exam?

NExT stands for the National Exit Test (NExT). NExT has replaced all the existing medical entrance examinations like NEET-PG, and FMGE.

The National Exit Test is the licentiate exam as well as the national medical postgraduate exam that is mandatory for medical students pursuing their PG degree. NExT exam is conducted by NMC (National Medical Council). Students must check the nExT exam rules by NMC here.

5 Tips on How to prepare for NExT Exam from 3rd Year

Starting your preparation early during your 3rd year of medical school can give you a competitive edge and help you secure a good rank. In this article, we will discuss five essential tips to help you prepare effectively for the NExT exam during your 3rd year MBBS.

#1 Know the Syllabus and Exam Pattern

The first step in gearing up the preparation for the NExT exam is to get to know about the exam and its syllabus. Let’s take a glimpse at NExT exam syllabus 2023.

Syllabus of NExT Exam: NExT exam will be conducted in two steps comprising Step 1 and Step 2.

NExT Exam Step 1

NExT exam step 1 is conducted in online mode. The exam consists of six papers having Problem -solving and analytical skill types of question, and comprehension types of questions, that will be covered from MBBS subjects like:

• Medicine and allied disciplines – 3 Hours
• Surgery and allied disciplines – 3 Hours
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology 3 Hours
• Paediatrics – 1.5 hours
• Otorhinolaryngology 1.5 hours
• Ophthalmology 1.5 hours

The First step has 540 multiple-choice questions.

NExT Exam Step 2

NExT Exam Step 2 will be practical or clinal based including viva types of questions. It is conducted after an internship. It is expected that NEXT 2 will be organized in your university.

#2 Create a Well-Structured Study Plan

In the 5-step guide to How to Prepare for NExT exam from the 3rd year, the second step is to create a well-structured study plan.

Once you understand the syllabus, students must align their schedules according to their exam needs.

Develop a comprehensive study plan that covers all the subjects and topics in the NEET PG syllabus.

Allocate sufficient time for each subject based on its weightage and your proficiency in the topic.

Organize your study sessions to ensure proper revision and in-depth coverage of essential concepts.

#3 Find the Right Study Material

The third tip on How to prepare for NExT PG exam from 3rd year is to find the Right Study Material.

Relying on the wrong books and resources can cost you years of preparation and hard work. So it is advised to stay mindful of what you choose to refer to for your NExT exam preparation.

Here are some of the standard book’s recommendations for NExT exam preparation:

• “Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine” for Medicine
• “Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine” for Medicine
• “Bailey & Love’s Short Practice of Surgery” for Surgery
• “S.Das” for Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• “Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology” for Physiology
• “Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease” for Pathology
• “B.D Chaurasia’s Human Anatomy” for Anatomy
• “Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology” for Physiology

Medical Students can refer to the following review books for NExT exam preparation:

• “Mudit Khanna’s MCQs for Medical PG Entrance Examinations” for all subjects
• “Review of Postgraduate Medical Entrance Examination Volume 1 & 2” by Amit Tripathi and Ashish Gupta
• “Across: A Complete Review of Short Subjects” by Saumya Shukla

Other than the standard books and review books, students must find online coaching that can help them in their medical exam preparation.

Online platforms like Prepladder, Unacademy, and Dr Bhatia Medical Coaching Institute (DBMCI) offer comprehensive NEET PG courses.

Things to adhere to while preparing for NExT exam in 3rd year of MBBS:

• Choose standard medical textbooks recommended by experienced faculty or specialists for NExT preparation.

• Utilize online resources, video lectures, and medical apps to enhance your understanding of complex topics and to access additional study material.

#4 Practice with Previous Year’s Papers and Mock Tests

Practice papers and mock tests play the role of mirrors during exam preparation. So, do not skip them at any cost.

• Regularly practice with the previous year’s NExT question papers and take online mock tests. This will help you understand the exam pattern, assess your preparation level, and identify areas that require improvement.

• Analyze your performance in mock tests to focus on weak areas and strengthen them.

Remember that practising with the previous year’s papers and mock tests is not just about completing the questions but also about understanding concepts and improving problem-solving skills.

It’s an essential component of your NExT preparation that complements your study efforts and enhances your chances of success.

#5 Focus on the Clinical Aspect

When focusing on the clinical aspect of NExT exam preparation, it’s essential to prioritize understanding and applying medical knowledge in real-life scenarios. Here are some of the steps you can take or say the habit you can inculcate in order to help yourself with clinical part of examination.

Take advantage of your clinical rotations during your 3rd year of MBBS to gain practical exposure to patients and various medical conditions.

Participate in case discussions with your peers and seniors. Analyze patient cases, discuss differentials, and propose appropriate management plans. This collaborative approach will improve your clinical reasoning skills.

If possible, join clinical rounds with specialists and senior doctors in hospitals. Observe their clinical approach and decision-making process.

Refer to clinical textbooks that focus on patient presentations, case studies, and management approaches. Books like “Clinical Medicine” by Parveen Kumar and “Hutchison’s Clinical Methods” provide valuable insights.

Practice with NEET PG question banks that include clinical scenarios. These questions simulate real-life patient situations, which will improve your clinical decision-making abilities.

Read medical journals and case reports to learn about rare and interesting clinical cases. This exposure will broaden your clinical knowledge and help you understand unique presentations.

Conclusion

Hope, after going through the 5-step guide on how to prepare for NExT exam from 3rd Year, most of your queries about NExT exam syllabus, pattern and study resources is already resolved. Preparing for the NExT exam during your 3rd year of medical school requires focused effort and strategic planning. Understanding the exam pattern and syllabus, creating a well-structured study plan, practising with previous year papers and mock tests, using standard textbooks and online resources, and maintaining consistency and good health are five crucial tips that will help you excel in the exam.

Remember to stay motivated, believe in your abilities, and seek guidance from mentors or professors whenever needed. With dedication and hard work, you can achieve success in the NExT exam and pave the way for a successful career in medicine.

Best of luck!