MDCAT Reform Committee Holds First Meeting to Improve Exam Standards

Islamabad: The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) has recently established a seven-member committee aimed at improving the Medical & Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) to make it more transparent and efficient.

The committee, comprising representatives from all provinces, has been tasked with identifying challenges, ensuring transparency, reducing errors, and implementing IT-driven solutions. Key areas under consideration include the possibility of a centralized or university-specific test, a standardized syllabus, and scheduling the MDCAT shortly after the intermediate exams to reduce the influence of coaching centers.PMDC Urges Strict Monitoring for MDCAT Exams to Prevent Cheating

The inaugural meeting of the MDCAT Reform Committee took place yesterday at the PM&DC office. The President of PM&DC, Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, expressed his gratitude to the Chairman and committee members for their participation and formally requested the Chairman to commence the session.

Prof. Dr. Suhail Amin, the committee Chairman, greeted all members and provided an update on the proceedings of MDCAT 2024, including its legal aspects under the PM&DC Act 2022. He informed the committee that 167,772 candidates had registered for the 2024 examination, which will take place in Pakistan as well as in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Information on the performance of various universities conducting the exams, including overall pass percentages and top scores, was also shared. Additionally, the committee was briefed on the retakes for exams from two universities in Sindh and the Federal Government.

Following the update, the Chairman stressed the importance of implementing a unified syllabus for the exam and incorporating technology to improve the exam’s quality. He acknowledged that developing a high-tech examination system that minimizes human errors and enhances transparency is a significant challenge. Moreover, ensuring uniformity in the difficulty level across provinces remains a major obstacle. He urged the committee to work diligently to devise a solution.

The Chairman also reflected on interviews with successful candidates, noting a noticeable gap between their scores and overall personality development. He highlighted the need to address the weak predictive validity of these scores and stressed the urgency of improving the exam’s quality. While there may be resistance to adding new domains to the exam, he proposed a practical approach of enhancing cognitive-level assessments as a starting point.

The Chairman of the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) announced the completion of the “Examination Bible,” a detailed guide for grades 9-12 that outlines exam procedures and the development of question banks, set to be implemented nationwide. He expressed support for e-examinations for MDCAT, emphasizing their practicality for multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and highlighted the successful adoption of a new grading system for board exams. He assured his full support for this national initiative.

The committee also reviewed the status of the MDCAT syllabus and question bank. The PM&DC shared that while the MDCAT syllabus has already undergone one round of revision, further updates are still needed. The committee discussed ways to enhance the question bank as well.

It was agreed that developing an e-assessment system is not particularly challenging in today’s technological environment. With adequate planning and technical support, it can be effectively managed without the need for internet-based assessments. Instead, it would be a center-based exam, similar to previous practices, utilizing HEC-supported internet portals for added security.

The committee members noted that, globally, entry tests for health professionals are designed to evaluate candidates’ potential in the field. Therefore, it is important to include content that assesses higher cognitive skills, critical thinking, and ethical considerations. They pointed out that the current approach mainly involves retesting previously covered material, which fails to reflect the significant efforts involved in this high-stakes exam for a specialized profession.

The President of PM&DC, Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, endorsed all points discussed and informed the committee that he had attended several meetings at the Senate and National Assembly on this issue. He stressed that PM&DC must submit an Action Plan for MDCAT reforms by December 2024.

He also acknowledged recent issues with the MDCAT examination and emphasized the need to address concerns to ensure a fair and transparent process across Pakistan. He reiterated that MDCAT should remain free of controversy and maintain its integrity as a standard of examination. Despite efforts to ensure fairness, he expressed regret over the misconduct that occurred in the recent MDCAT exam, stating, “We are deeply concerned about the damage caused by unscrupulous elements who have tarnished the entire system. We are hopeful that the reform committee will implement a transparent system to restore public trust and preserve the credibility of this vital exam.”

The meeting concluded with the identification of three main categories for reform: Content, Conduct, and Policy. The Chairman assigned tasks to three sub-committees (working groups) with specific deadlines to streamline the reform process.

The first sub-committee, the MDCAT Syllabus Committee, consists of four members who will draft a unified syllabus in collaboration with local and foreign boards. They will also develop a Table of Specifications for the exam and a plan for creating a sustainable question bank.

The second sub-committee, the E-Assessment Project Committee, has three members responsible for proposing a secure question bank portal and an e-assessment plan, including technical specifications and cost estimates. They will also draft a working paper on conducting a centralized e-MDCAT.

The third sub-committee, the MDCAT Policy Document Committee, has two members who will develop a comprehensive policy document to ensure the smooth implementation of the national exam.

The Chairman directed all sub-committees to submit their drafts by December, with the action plan to be reviewed at the next meeting. He concluded the session by thanking all members for their valuable input and time.