KARACHI:
The Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) conducts the MDCAT test for students pursuing medical or dental qualifications. A standardised entrance exam is a meaningful initiative that encourages competition amongst students and ensures that the best of students are selected. However, the testing method is extremely tedious. When I went through the practice tests, I realised that the tests are simple yet complex. Having practised several tests, I was able to decipher the pattern. These tests, however, are not favourable for the students. Students will encounter difficulties when picking the correct answer. In addition, one wrong click on the screen can make your answer incorrect. PMC should make sure that these random clicks on the screen do not count as an answer. Considering that most students are stressed under examination conditions, they should be given the chance to reattempt an answer or amend their answers to a previous question during the exam.
Many students find it difficult to afford the exam, yet they manage to pay for it. They put in a lot of effort to prepare for these exams. Their efforts should not go in vain because of a small error. I urge the concerned authorities to make the testing method more feasible for students.
Pehlaj Kumar
Karoondi
Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.
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