Medical colleges: 36,000 to appear in UHS entry test tomorrow

20 centres established in 12 cities across the province.

LAHORE:

As many as 36,000 candidates will appear in the University of Health Sciences (UHS) entry test on Sunday (tomorrow) to qualify for admission to medical and dental institutions in the Punjab.

The UHS has established 20 test centres for 11,000 male and 25,000 female students in 12 cities including Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Hassan Abdaal, Gujrat and Gujranwala. The test was also to be given in Dera Ghazi Khan but in view of the disruption caused by recent floods, the candidates will now take the test at the Government Degree College for Boys, Muzaffargarh.

The test shall start at 9am. The candidates have been advised to reach the centres at 8am as these would be sealed at 8:15am.

In Lahore, three centres have been set up at Examination Halls of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Lawrence Road, Examination Halls of the University of the Punjab, and Government Comprehensive Girls High School, Wahdat Road. Around 10,500 candidates (3,000 male and 7,500 female) will take the test in the provincial metropolis.

The test will have 220 multiple choice questions (MCQs), divided into four sections   physics (44 questions), chemistry (58 questions), English (30 questions) and Biology (88 questions).

The test will take two and a half hours. After the main test is over, the candidates will be required to take another 30-minute test having aptitude and feedback questions. Scores on the second test will not affect a candidate’s merit for admission.

There will be negative marking. Five marks will be awarded for each correct answer and one deducted for each incorrect answer.

UHS Vice Chancellor IA Naveed said the government had made special arrangements for the test. He said the district administration, under the supervision of divisional commissioners and district coordination officers, had finalised security and logistic plans. The district police officers would be responsible for security. Walk-through gates and mobile phone jammers would be installed at each centre. Naveed said that parents accompanying the candidates would be provided comfortable waiting areas. The UHS would serve juice to candidates this year. He said traffic police have been directed to make special arrangements for parking near examination centres.

Emergency healthcare services will be available at all centres. These include ambulances, doctors, paramedical staff and emergency medicines. Moreover, hospitals closest to the centres will be on high alert to meet any emergency.

The UHS has instructed the candidates not to bring cell phones, calculators, laptops or notes to the examination centre. No candidate will be allowed to enter the centre without the admittance card issued by the UHS.

The merit of a candidate will be worked out by adding 10 per cent of his/her score in the matriculation examination, 40 per cent of the marks obtained in FSc examination and 50 per cent of entrance test marks.

The candidates shall compete for 3,305 MBBS seats in 16 public sector medical colleges and 216 BDS seats in three public dental colleges of the Punjab. Besides, there are 3,050 MBBS seats available in 28 private medical colleges and 715 BDS seats in 12 private dental colleges.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2012.