UHS Replaces Theory Exams With New MCQ-Based Assessment

The University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore has introduced a major reform in its examination system, announcing that from 2026 onward, all Theory Exams With New MCQ-Based Assessment. This marks the most significant change in medical assessment policy in UHS history and is designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and alignment with global education standards.

The decision was made during the 40th Academic Council meeting, chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ahsan Waheed Rathore, with participation from principals and senior faculty of affiliated colleges across Punjab.

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MCQ-Only Exams Replace Essay-Type Questions

Under the new policy, short essay questions (SEQs) will be completely discontinued from all undergraduate and postgraduate programs—including MBBS, BDS, and Nursing.

Students will now be assessed solely through structured MCQs, designed to test conceptual clarity, analytical reasoning, and applied knowledge.
The new format will bring uniformity to the exam structure across medical, dental, and allied health colleges affiliated with UHS.

Prof Rathore explained that essay-type questions often led to subjective marking, inconsistent grading, and delays in result compilation.
The MCQ model, he said, ensures objective scoring and standardized evaluation for every student.

Passing Criteria and Grading System

As part of the reform, students must now obtain at least 65 percent marks separately in both theory and practical components to pass.
This higher threshold replaces the previous 50 percent aggregate rule, raising academic standards across all health-science programs.

The theory portion will consist exclusively of MCQs, while the practical component will continue in the OSPE (Objective Structured Practical Examination) and OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) formats.

Internal assessment will retain its 20 percent weightage, focusing on class participation, attendance, assignments, and professional conduct.

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Why UHS Introduced the New Policy

According to Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore, the reform aims to make assessment more:

• Transparent and evidence-based
• Aligned with international medical education standards
• Objective and free from examiner bias
• Efficient in result processing and moderation

“Traditional essay-based exams lacked consistency and objectivity,” he said.
“With this new system, we will ensure fair evaluation for all students and timely result announcements.”

The policy also reflects recommendations from the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), both of which encourage data-driven, competency-based evaluation models.

Quality-Assurance Framework for the New Assessment

To maintain exam integrity, the UHS Academic Council has approved a comprehensive quality-assurance framework.
Key components include:

1️⃣ Examiner Training:
Faculty examiners will undergo specialized workshops on MCQ construction, cognitive levels, and question reliability.

2️⃣ Question Blueprinting:
Each paper will be created from a blueprint ensuring balanced coverage of all learning outcomes.

3️⃣ Post-Exam Moderation:
Statistical analyses—item difficulty, discrimination index, and reliability—will be performed after every exam.

4️⃣ Data-Driven Decision-Making:
Continuous review of results to refine question banks and maintain quality standards.

Pilot Implementation in Nursing Programs 2025

Before the university fully transitions to MCQ-only exams, UHS will pilot the new system in Nursing programs during 2025.
This will allow the administration to test logistics, software reliability, and examiner preparedness before scaling up to MBBS and BDS programs in 2026.

If successful, the model could later extend to MPhil and PhD-level assessments, making UHS the first medical university in Pakistan to fully adopt objective, computer-scored examinations.

OSCE and OSPE to Continue for Practical Skills

While theory papers will rely solely on MCQs, practical and clinical evaluations will still follow the OSPE and OSCE formats, which are internationally recognized methods of testing clinical competence, procedural skills, and communication.

Each candidate will rotate through structured stations where examiners evaluate performance, professionalism, and problem-solving skills using standardized checklists.
This blended model ensures that both knowledge and practical skills are assessed objectively.

UHS Academic Council Meeting Highlights

The 40th Academic Council meeting also included several other key decisions:

• Approval of updated curricula for new postgraduate programs.
• Establishment of a centralized digital exam management system.
• Introduction of new guidelines for internal assessment moderation.
• Expansion of faculty development initiatives to train educators in assessment innovation.

Principals from affiliated colleges endorsed the reforms, calling them a milestone in medical education modernization.

Benefits of the New Assessment System

The new MCQ-based evaluation framework offers several academic and administrative benefits:

These reforms align UHS with international testing standards, such as those used by USMLE, PLAB, and NBME examinations.

Reactions from Medical Colleges

Faculty members and principals of affiliated institutions welcomed the policy, noting that it will streamline assessment and improve graduate competence.

Dr Khalid Mehmood (Ameer-ud-Din Medical College) said:

“This is a long-awaited reform. Uniform MCQs and OSCEs will help maintain parity among thousands of students and minimize examiner bias.”

Students also expressed optimism, saying the new method will encourage concept-based learning instead of rote memorization.

Challenges and Implementation Concerns

Despite positive feedback, some faculty members raised logistical and pedagogical concerns, including:

• Ensuring the quality of MCQs across all subjects.
• Avoiding repetition in question banks.
• Upgrading IT infrastructure for online marking and result compilation.
• Training examiners in psychometrics and data interpretation.

The UHS administration has committed to addressing these through faculty training workshops and system testing in 2025.

Global Trend Toward Objective Assessments

Internationally, top medical universities have already adopted MCQ-only or hybrid objective assessment systems.
The shift reflects a focus on outcome-based education, where students are evaluated on knowledge application rather than lengthy descriptive writing.

Countries like the UK, US, and Australia follow similar standards for licensing exams, ensuring comparability and global recognition of degrees.

Impact on Students and Institutions

For students, the transition will mean:

• Greater emphasis on conceptual learning.
• Use of digital question banks and mock MCQs for practice.
• Clearer performance metrics for self-evaluation.

For institutions, it means:

• Streamlined exam management.
• Reduced examiner workload.
• Improved transparency for accreditation bodies like PMDC and WFME.

Internal Assessment and Continuous Feedback

Internal assessment will continue to play an important role under the new system.
Teachers will grade students on professional behavior, attendance, presentations, and assignments, accounting for 20 percent of total marks.

This ensures that while MCQs evaluate cognitive knowledge, internal scores still measure communication, teamwork, and attitude—the core competencies of future doctors.

Digitalization and Result Transparency

UHS plans to digitize the entire exam cycle, from paper generation to result release.
A secure portal will:

• Generate randomized MCQ papers for each session.
• Automatically compile scores.
• Provide real-time reporting to affiliated colleges.

Students will be able to access digital transcripts and performance analytics, making the evaluation system more transparent and tamper-proof.

Academic Consensus and Implementation Timeline

Prof Rathore emphasized that the new policy reflects a collective academic consensus achieved after months of consultation with deans, principals, and educational experts.

Implementation timeline:

• 2025: Pilot in nursing programs and examiner training.
• 2026: Full implementation in MBBS, BDS, and postgraduate programs.

By 2027, all affiliated medical colleges under UHS will operate under the new MCQ-based assessment model.

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Conclusion About UHS Replaces Theory Exams With New MCQ-Based Assessment:

The University of Health Sciences’ decision to replace traditional theory exams with an MCQ-based system marks a transformational moment for Pakistan’s medical education.

The reform promises fairer marking, international compatibility, and modernized learning standards for thousands of students across Punjab.

By prioritizing objectivity, transparency, and evidence-based evaluation, UHS is aligning itself with global best practices and preparing future healthcare professionals for a competitive international environment.