On 29 August 2021, an article was published in Dawn newspaper from where we came to know about Universities of Punjab going against HEC’s Aptitude Test decision. Earlier, the public and private universities conduct the HEC Aptitude Test for Undergraduate students. But now, each university in Punjab is conducting its admission tests and does not need to follow the HEC testing council’s USAT, as stated by Registrar of the Punjab University. He mentioned that the matter was also highlighted in the last Academic Council meeting, and they approved the conduction of their own tests rather than HEC’s Aptitude Test.
Meanwhile, Entrance Tests for each department of Undergraduate admissions at the GCU will begin on 28 August and continue until 1 September. To avoid Covid-19 spread & to ensure strict implementation of SOPs, the tests will occur in small groups.
The university added that the tests of 27 disciplines would take place, stating that it wouldn’t hold the USAT for admissions this year.
USAT Test
The vice-chancellors told Dawn that the HEC didn’t contact them about the Undergraduate Studies Aptitude Test as they came to know about this through a newspaper ad. Earlier, the university tests were considered mandatory, but it is optional after the reservations shown by the majority of the vice-chancellors.
They agreed that some people might want to attain financial benefits & that’s why they launched a centralized admission test for Undergraduate students. “University’s test is a general test for all contenders having no specification of any disciplines like science & arts,” they said.
Education Test Council
A few days back, the Education Testing Council (ETC) announced that it would conduct the USAT, a standardized test, for admissions at the undergraduate level in all Pakistani universities on 12 September 2021. The due date for online registration was 30 August. The students who have cleared the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) or equivalent 12th Grade education and contenders awaiting final results can register themselves through http://etic.hec.gov.pk.
It states that the USAT is a competitive test that aims to develop its niche based on quality tests. It is prepared from a standardized question bank preferring quality, equity, reliability, and validity of the Test and honor of the procedure ensured at all development, administration, grading, & result reporting. The validity of the Test is for a year. Being a universal test tests a student’s ability; all universities can use it if they so desire. The Test is, however, not applicable for the applicants applying for MBBS/BDS programs.
The universities might freely ask to accept USAT result cards as valid for their relevant admissions by announcing it for their relevant undergraduate candidates.
GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof said the authorities should have consulted them before announcing the policy. He said the idea of carrying out a centralized test was acceptable, but a generic test could not help check the ability and interests of the applying students.
He added that Punjab’s Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISEs) did not possess the same standard & quality of education. Also, such a centralized test could not help to check the students’ ability and quality of education. He said the HEC should have consulted the authorities of all the universities & addressed their apprehensions.
