Medical entrance test on Aug 28

LAHORE

The entrance test for admission to public and private sector medical and dental institutions of Punjab will be conducted by the University of Health Sciences (UHS) in 13 cities on August 28.

UHS Vice-Chancellor Maj-Gen (r) Prof Muhammad Aslam speaking at an orientation seminar organised by the varsity on medical colleges admission test at Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMC) here on Friday, said the entrance test application forms could be submitted at all 139 branches of a private bank from July 18 to August 08. The bank would issue roll numbers and test centres to the candidates through SMS and e-mail alerts within 72 hours of the submission of applications. 

Prof Aslam said like previous years, the Punjab government would bear 50 percent expenses for each candidate who would appear in the test. Each candidate would be charged only Rs500 for the whole admission process.

The 150-minute test would start at 0900 hrs simultaneously at Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahimyar Khan and Hasan Abdal.

Prof Aslam advised the candidates to reach their respective centres at least one hour before the commencement of the test with their roll number slips, adding all centres would be sealed at 8:15am and after that nobody would be allowed to enter the examination hall.

Candidates securing at least 60 percent marks in HSSC (Pre-Medical) or equivalent examinations and having domicile of any district of Punjab, Islamabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan would be eligible to take up the entrance test. Those awaiting results could also appear in the test. Unlike previous years, candidates would not be required to submit any document along with entrance test application form. Now, the eligible candidates would submit their documents at the admission stage.

The VC further said there would be a single question paper consisting of 220 objective-type questions, divided into four sections: Physics (44 questions), Chemistry (58 questions), English (30 questions) and Biology (88 questions).

A candidate would answer the test by filling the circles on the response form. Only one circle must be filled for one question. Filling more than one circle for single question would be considered a wrong answer. There would be negative marking in the test and for each wrong answer one mark would be deducted from the total score. Each correct answer would carry five marks and the total marks would be 1100.

There would be question papers of different colour codes in which the questions and their answers would be shuffled to avert cheating. The code of the paper would be identified by the first question which would be mandatory for every candidate to answer. This question, marked as ‘Q-ID’, would not be a part of the evaluation.

Prof Aslam advised candidates not to bring any calculator, cell phone or notes with them inside the examination hall. “Candidates are only allowed to bring blue ball point pens with them and not any markers, pointers or pencils,” he added.

After the test, candidates would be asked to take up an aptitude and feedback test for which extra 30 minutes would be given to them. The aptitude test would have no weightage on the entrance test scores, said Prof Aslam.

The UHS would continue with its “Self-Scoring System” and upload the answer keys of question paper on its website on the same day after the test. The candidates would be able to calculate their scores with the help of carbonised copy of their response form which they would retain after the test, he said and added that the answer keys would also be published in major national dailies the next day. Quoting regulations of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC), Prof Aslam said the merit of a candidate would be worked out by adding the marks of matriculation, intermediate and entrance test in the ratio of 10:40:50 percent respectively.

He added after the entrance test only those candidates who would score at least 82 percent aggregate marks as per PM&DC formula would be eligible to apply for admission on open merit and reciprocal seats. However, this condition not be applicable on those candidates apply against underdeveloped districts, Cholistan, overseas Pakistanis and disabled students’ seats. 

Around 1,500 students and their parents attended the seminar. AIMC Principal Prof Mahmood Shaukat was also present. Responding to a question, UHS VC said first selection list for public sector medical colleges could be displayed on 28th of October as per PM&DC regulations. After the display of first list, private sector medical colleges could advertise their admissions. There are total 3,022 MBBS open merit seats in 17 public sector medical colleges and 175 BDS open merit seats in three government dental colleges of the province.

Besides, there are nine seats (only female) reserved for candidates of Sindh, six for KP, 26 for Balochistan, 49 for Azad Jammu & Kashmir, 64 for Gilgit-Baltistan, 17 for Fata, 85 for foreign candidates on regular fee basis, 76 for children of Overseas Pakistanis, 20 for disabled students, 61 for candidates of six under-developed districts of the Punjab, one for Cholistan and one for Afghan refugees living in the province.