Medical school admissions: As test nears, students seek answers on format

University of Health Sciences sent a summary of proposed changes to Punjab government for approval in April.

LAHORE:

Students hoping to gain admission to medical schools this year have appealed to the Punjab government to quickly notify any changes to the format of the entry test so they have plenty of time to prepare.

The University of Health Sciences (UHS) sent the government a summary in April suggesting changes to the entry test for public sector medical and dental colleges, The Express Tribune has learnt. The summary is still to be approved.

“If there is a major change announced at the eleventh hour, it will create a lot of unrest,” said Dr Irfan Mughal, an anatomy professor and dean at a private medical college.

The entrance test, which is scheduled for September 13, will be the same for A Level and FSc students this year. “There used to be separate entry tests. They have looked at the FSc syllabus and A Level syllabus and come up with a uniform test designed using the Common Core Knowledge Method. Certain changes have been proposed to the format of the test as well,” said a source in the Health Department that has seen the UHS summary.

“If there are any major changes being made to the pattern of the entry test then the government must advertise it well in advance so the students can prepare,” said Dr Mughal.

Several students and parents fear that the changes will be notified late. “If they wait until two or three weeks before the test to inform us, it will just create panic,” said Faisal Saeed, who is preparing to sit the exam. “They have put the syllabus on the UHS website but it is not clear what the format will be. It should have been announced by now.”

The marks from the entrance test, combined with the students’ A Levels or FSc scores, will determine the students’ academic ranking and the merit list for admission to public medical colleges.

A UHS spokesman confirmed that the university, which is the examining body for all medical colleges in Punjab, had sent the summary proposing changes to the test to the Health Department in April. “We will advertise the changes or guidelines for the test once it gets approval,” he added.

Additional Health Secretary Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Salariya told The Express Tribune that his department had forwarded the summary to the chief minister and now his nod was awaited. “I am sure students will get enough time to prepare,” he said.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2011.