MDCAT Test Instructions: All Information You Need 2020

Do you believe stethoscopes and scalpels beckon you in your dreams? Do you enjoy reading long research articles on cancer cures and hepatitis treatments across the globe? Is serving humanity your ultimate ambition?

It seems just the case to become a doctor and achieve all your goals! But how?

Is it enough to pass the FSc Pre Medical examination to get admission to a public sector medical college? Is it enough to score passing marks in MDCAT and feel you’ve made it to the college you like the most?

Hold your reins! We are providing below a mental map of all you need to know about MDCAT, Medical and Dental College Admission Test. Scribble some notes and you will be quite satisfied with your knowledge about the test and its results by the end of this blog.

So shall we begin?

1. General Instructions (Eligibility)

Often students, having passed their FSc pre-medical exams and having scored passing marks in MDCAT, lie down knitting dreams about becoming a doctor from a renowned medical college in Pakistan. Don’t do that. Scoring 50% marks in any of the above-mentioned exam do not guarantee your admission.

Keep in view the following facts while embarking on this journey:

• Your admission to medical colleges depends upon the fulfillment of the admission criterion, eligibility, and rank in the merit list issued by the University of Health Sciences, UHS, based in Lahore.
• the candidates having domicile of any district of the Punjab and Federal Capital Area (Islamabad) can take the admission test.
• Aspirants from Gilgit-Baltistan (NorthernAreas) can appear in the test of Punjab for admission against seats reserved for them in government medical/dental institutes of Punjab.
• Children of Overseas Pakistanis and Dual Nationals of Pakistani-origin can take the test (If they have not passed SAT II/SAT Subject examination with a minimum score of 550/800 marks each in three science subjects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics / Mathematics or MCAT International with minimum aggregate score of 500/528), for admission to Medical / Dental Institutions against seats reserved for them under the category of Open Merit Seats for the Children of Overseas Pakistanis/ Dual Nationals of Pakistani-origin in medical/ dental colleges of the Punjab.

2. Registration Guidelines

Prior to the test day, students are informed through online and print advertisements (appearing on the UHS official website and in newspapers) regarding the step by step procedure to attain admittance card and entry test roll number for the test. The previous year, the method was carried out online to ease the aspirants, ensure accountability and avoid any manual errors.

The students

• Filled the online form
• Submitted it after thorough rechecking
• Deposited the test fee in any branch of Bank of Punjab (BOP)
• Took printouts of the admit card for the test day provided by clicking the “Search Admittance Card” button on the Bank of Punjab weblink for MDCAT.

Most likely, UHS is going to maintain this scheme in 2020 as well.

3. Test Day Procedures and Regulations

Panic is your biggest enemy at this stage. Students are observed stumbling, panting and sweating on the test day, heightening the stress before even entering their designated test centers. What should one do to combat this pre-test stress? Simple. Prepare yourself, physically and mentally!

Things you need for the test day? Jot down the list and get the stuff before you leave for the big day!

➔ Check the address if your test center beforehand. If possible, visit and verify the center some days before the test.

➔ Try reaching the center an hour before the test to avoid any mishaps. You don’t want to be late for the most important test for medical colleges admission, trust me. So, set your alarms accordingly.

➔ You cannot leave the examination center or room unless you hand over your answer sheet. Equip yourself with everything you need prior to entering the centers allocated to you.

Now, for the things you must carry with you to the examination center:

➔ Computer print-out of your downloaded admittance card

➔ CNIC / Smart card issued by NADRA for juveniles

➔ One or two blue ball pens

➔ A clean clipboard. Do not write your roll number or even your name on it and save yourself from any interrogation.

Stop a bit. There obviously are some “don’ts” you need to dodge for the test.

➔ No gadgets (mobile phones, tablets, MP3 players, Bluetooth devices), weapons or drugs are allowed within the premises of the test center

➔ No cheating or your paper will be canceled there and then

➔ Physical violence or abusive language will be punishable and can lead to severe consequences

➔ You cannot use a whitener to rectify an answer on the answer sheet

Any candidate indulged in the aforementioned practices will be debarred for a period of 7 years. Furthermore, he/she shall also be liable for criminal action by the Provincial Admission Committee. Their results will also be canceled.

It’s not a joke, so don’t even try doing any such activity.

4. How to Solve the Test?

This is the real game, the real deal. So, pay attention to this part and buckle up for the ride ahead! Before giving any details about the technicalities of the test, let’s just briefly overview its format.

• Test Format

The assessment is based on the ratio, 1:1 i.e., 200 marks for 200 MCQs to be solved in 150 minutes. Alas, the students are not given much time and often have to leave some MCQs altogether.

The breakdown of the MCQs goes as this

• Biology (80MCQs)
• Chemistry (60MCQs)
• Physics (40MCQs)
• English (20 MCQs)

For each right attempt, you score 01 marks. For every wrong or unattempted one, no negative marking. So go ahead with all your guesses. Nothing’s at stake here now.

Note here that the passing marks for the test are 120/200 (60%). Any less than them and the examiner will discard the attempt.

• Response Form

MDCAT candidates are provided with a Response Form that bears all their answers instead of marking them on the question paper directly. Each MCQ given on the question paper has a corresponding set of 4 options on the response form. Pick out one option you deem right in the following manner:

• Fill out the bubble of the corresponding option entirely. (this will automatically be generated on the attached carbonized copy placed beneath the response form)
• Encircling or tick marking is unacceptable.
• Double or canceled (crossed or rectified) options won’t be catered. So choose wisely before marking the answer.
• Fill the bubbles only with a blue ball pen. (the ones filled with pencil or marker will not be considered at all)

• Rechecking

Do not call off this important step while solving the test. Do it side by side. You never know when you have missed ay MCQ and manipulated the order of MCQ on your response form. Check the sequence of your responses every 5 minutes. This works!

5. Self-Scoring System(SSS)

Aspirants often keep contemplating over the estimated marks they’ll achieve and despair over ideas with no results at all. Quick solution! Go for self-scoring!

The university displays the answer keys to the question papers of all the codes /IDs on its website www.uhs.edu.pk within 12 hours succeeding the time of the test. The keys shall also be published in all major national dailies within hours. So keep navigating through online and print sources.

Candidates can then calculate their MDCAT score by checking their responses on the carbonized copy of the response form they bring home. However, the official result of the test shall be declared by UHS as soon as possible.

6. Result Cards

As soon as the official result of the MDCAT is declared, visit the UHS website (www.uhs.edu.pk). A link will appear on their home page, directing you to the MDCAT page. Upon entering the roll number, you get access to the result information page.

This is your final score. Avail it within one year of taking MDCAT. Or you better prepare yourself for another attempt. Don’t worry. There is NO restriction on the number of times a candidate may appear in the Test except for those who have been debarred from appearing in the test.

There’s a way, a chance to do better! Never despair or lose strength to rise again!

With that, best of luck for your attempt(s)!