LAHORE - Thousands of students on Sunday once again took the test for admission to medical and dental colleges of Punjab.

The Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) was conducted by the University of Health Sciences (UHS). According to the UHS spokesman, 65,155 candidates -- 41,563 girls and 23,592 boys -- appeared in the test.

The test was re-conducted because of leak of paper in the first exam on August 20. The Punjab government announced re-conduct of MDCAT after a high level inquiry found evidence of paper leak before the first test.

The test started at 9am and went of peacefully at 28 centres set up in Lahore, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Multan, D.G. Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Hassan Abdal. Candidates started reaching their centres as early as 6 o’clock in the morning. More than 5,500 invigilators and supervisory staff performed duties at these centres. All the centres were sealed at 8:15 am.

A large number of police personnel were deployed at the centres to prevent any disruption of the examination. Ambulances and fire brigades were also made available at the centres to counter any untoward incident. Besides, closed circuit cameras, mobile phone jammers and walk-through gates were installed at major centres.

In Lahore, a total of 12,573 female and 6,705 male candidates appeared in the test at the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education examination halls on Lawrence Road, Punjab University examination halls on Wahdat Road, Government Comprehensive Girls High School on Wahdat Road, Divisional Public School in Model Town, Government Postgraduate College for Women in Samanabad, University of Education in Township, Government College of Science on Wahdat Road and Lahore College for Women University on Jail Road. UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Faisal Masud visited various centres and monitored the arrangements.

In Rawalpindi, 7,612 candidates appeared in the test. The number of candidates in Multan was 9,969, Faisalabad 6,643, Gujranwala 3,382, Bahawalpur 3,221, Sargodha 2,689, Sahiwal 3,553, Gujrat 1,570, D.G. Khan 2,496, Rahim Yar Khan 1,997, Hassan Abdal 685 and Sialkot 2,060.

The question paper prepared by UHS this time was of single colour code instead of four different colour codes. The candidates were allowed to bring clip boards with them but these clip boards along with the admittance cards were confiscated by the invigilation staff after the test to avert smuggling of questions outside the hall.

Talking to the media persons at Punjab University, Wahdat Road centre, UHS VC Prof Dr Faisal Masud, said that the re-conduct of MDCAT was important as it would ensure merit and justice.

“We are aware of the hardship and agony these candidates and their parents have faced yet to ensure justice and fair play, the re-conduct of MDCAT was crucial,” he said.

He said that new standard operating procedures were developed and fresh multi-tiered security measures were taken for each and every step of preparation, printing, packaging and transportation of MDCAT paper. “We have done this in just 22 days although it took 4 to 5 months last time. We developed a new question bank as the previous bank had become doubtful,” UHS VC said, adding that the system had been made more stringent and foolproof.

UHS VC said that medical and dental colleges have always challenged the brightest and best-prepared minds. He added that admissions were consistently becoming more competitive.

“MDCAT results are extremely important. They carry 50 per cent weightage in merit as per the formula of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. They are proof that the candidate can handle the academic rigors of medical or dental college,” the VC opined.

Later in the afternoon, UHS uploaded the answer key to the question paper on its website www.uhs.edu.pk. With the help of this key, candidates can calculate their scores themselves. The official result will be announced within a week.

In the next stage, those candidates who will score 84 per cent or above aggregate marks in accordance with the formula of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council will be eligible to apply on Open Merit basis and will opt for the colleges of their choice by submitting admission forms from November 8 to 15. These forms, along with the prospectus, will be available free of cost from UHS, Lahore; Nishtar Medical University, Multan and Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, during the said dates. The first selection list for medical/dental colleges will be displayed on November 27, whereas classes in medical colleges will commence on December 4.

There are 3,405 MBBS seats in 17 public sector medical colleges and 216 BDS seats in three public dental colleges of the Punjab. Besides, there are 2,640 MBBS and 525 BDS seats in 22 private sector medical colleges and nine dental colleges affiliated with the UHS.