ISLAMABAD: As many as 121,310 of the 126,025 registered students on Sunday sat the National Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) across the country.

According to the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC), 138 candidates remained absent after being infected with Covid-19 and a separate exam would be conducted for them on Dec 13.

The PMC said 210 centres had been set up across the country for the test.

Separate tests will be held on Dec 13 for 138 students found infected with Covid-19

About an incident in which question papers were sold in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the commission claimed that a group was selling fake papers and had been arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

“The papers obtained from their custody are fake. The MDCAT examination remained fully secure,” it stated.

An official of the PMC said the the exam results would be announced in 10 days.

Earlier, the PMC had announced that MDCAT would be held on Nov 15. However, some students approached the Sindh High Court, saying the date of exam was announced without establishing an academic board.

According to PMC Act, the test had to be held as per recommendations of the academic board, so the court directed to establish the board before holding the exam.

Later, the PMC set up the academic board and again announced the date for the test.Public sector colleges will have to give 50pc weightage to MDCAT and can decide for the remaining marks by their own/provinces. Private colleges can admit students by their own but candidates have to clear MDCAT.

The merit list of all colleges will be issued in January.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2020