Around 33,694 candidates, 10,859 male and 22,835 female, will appear in the medical entrance test today (Tuesday).
The entrance test is designed for admission in all public and private medical and dental institutions of Punjab and conducted by the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore. The UHS has established 21 centres in 12 major cities of the province where the test will be held at 9am. The test is reported to consist of 220 multiple choice questions (MCQ) and divided into four sections, Physics (44 MCQs), Chemistry (58 MCQs), English (30 MCQs) and Biology (88 MCQs). The total duration of the test will be two and a half hours.
After the test, the candidates will answer a separate test consisting of 22 MCQs for aptitude and feedback. The section carries no weightage in the entrance test score. The University of Engineering and Technology, (UET), BISE Examination Halls at Lawrence Road and the Punjab University Examination Halls at Wahdat Road have been established as examination centres in Lahore where 10,083 candidates, including 6973 female and 3146 male were expected to appear. In Rawalpindi, 5252 candidates were expected to appear at 4 centres. In Multan 4779 candidates, in Faisalabad 2430 candidates, in Gujranwala 2594 candidates, in Bahawalpur 1712 candidates, in Sahiwal 1313 candidates, in Rahim Yar Khan 853 candidates, in Gujrat 1115 candidates, DG Khan 1024 candidates, in Sargodha 1170 candidates, and in Hassan Abdal 369 candidates were expected to appear for the entrance test.
The government has arranged for conducting the test smoothly. Strict security arrangements have been made at each centre. Walk-through gates were being provided at each centre and mobile jammers have been installed in major cities. The government has delegated divisional commissioners the responsibility of being regional coordinators for the entrance test.
Parents and attendants of the candidates were to be provided with clean drinking water, toilet facilities and comfortable waiting areas near the examination centres. The traffic police have been directed to make special traffic and parking arrangements to ensure a smooth flow of traffic near the examination centres.
Emergency healthcare services will be ensured at all centres which include fully equipped ambulances, doctors, paramedical staff and emergency medicines. Moreover, the nearest teaching hospital or district headquarters hospital will be on high alert to meet any emergency needs. The candidates have been advised to reach their respective centres at least one hour before the commencement of the test as centres will be sealed at 8:15am.