The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has introduced a "self scoring entrance test", the first of its kind in Pakistan, for admissions to medical colleges across the province from current academic year.
Unfolding the distinctive features of the new test, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive UHS Professor Malik Hussain Mubbashar said on Sunday that at the end of entrance test, candidates would return the upper colored sheet to the invigilation staff and retain the carbon sheet with him/her for self-scoring.
He said that same questions in different reshuffling patterns set in various five color question papers will be asked to totally eliminate the chances of cheating. He said that for the purpose of self-assessment, the correct answer keys of all five colors of question papers would be displayed same day on varsity website. This would help candidates tally with their carbon answer sheets and calculate scores, he added.
The VC said that there will be 220 multiple choice questions (mcqs) which includes 60 each from Physics and Chemistry, 70 from Biology and 30 from English subjects while total duration of the test will be 150 minutes. Each correct answer will carry 5 marks, one mark will be deducted for each wrong answer and 440 are minimum pass marks, he elaborated.
Professor Mubbashar further said that on the special directive of the Chief Minister, prospectus containing admission form, question pattern, number of seats and criteria for admission along with CD is being provided to candidates free of cost. He said final process of admission would cost nearly Rs 1500 per candidate including prospectus folder. He revealed that for the first time, number of centres have been increased to 12, located close to the residences of the candidates in DG Khan, Bahawalpur, R.Y.Khan, Multan, Sahiwal, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Gujr, Rawalpindi and Wah.
About the number of vacant seats in medical colleges, he said that a total of 2263 candidates will be given admission which includes break up of 2008 seats on open merit, 19 for disabled, 49 for underdeveloped districts, 7 for FATA, 26 for AJK, 25 northern areas, 72 foreign students under Pakistan Technical Assistance Program (PTAP), 32 foreign students on self finance basis, 5 reciprocal seats for other provinces and 20 goodwill seats for Balochistan.
Regarding the allocation of vacant seats in dental institutions, the VC said a total of 216 candidates would be admitted to dental college. These include 175 on open merit while 1 reserved for the disabled, 12 for underdeveloped districts, 3 each for FATA and AJK, 5 for foreign students, 13 for foreign students under PTAP and 4 for foreign students under self finance basis.
Professor Mubbashar said that he is personally grateful to the CM for supporting him in ensuring transparent process of conducting entrance test in all the medical colleges.