Punjab Demands Fix for “Unfair” O/A Level Medical Admissions Formula

Punjab’s Health Department has asked IBCC to review the O/A Level equivalence formula, citing concerns that Cambridge students are disadvantaged in medical college admissions.

Punjab looks forward to major alteration in the O/A Level Equivalence system for admissions to medical and dental colleges.

Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department of Punjab has formally urged the Inter-Board Coordination Commission to carry out review pertaining to the current equivalence in addition to the marks-conversion system concerning the Cambridge O/A Levels at the time the students apply for their admissions in the medical and dental colleges of Punjab.

The primary concern over here is that the high-achieving O/A Level students could be at a disadvantage as compared to the students of FSc when the grades from the University of Cambridge scored by the O/A Levels students are converted to the Pakistani marks. This has been sought in view of the stunning reality that when admissions are in process then even a small difference in the aggregate score could eliminate the chances for admission; it compels the affected students to change their career path for good, thus ruining the dreams of theirs as well as of their families’.

Aim of the Punjab authority?

The IBCC conducts serious re-evaluation of the present O/A Level formula for equivalence; examine to verify if the conversion fairly represents the scored grades by the Cambridge students; mitigate the disparity arising out of the system of grade conversion and on the top of all accord due consideration to revised and, therefore, academically sound grade conversion criteria.

The sought for revised formula be notified prior to the next approaching cycle for admissions to the Punjab medical colleges and dental colleges.

The present move by Punjab bears significant implications since the on-going IBCC conversion assigns A* to above 90 marks and A to 85 marks, while the calculation for equivalence is subject-specific as well. To make things easier, let us focus upon an instance:

As an illustration, under the current IBCC table:

Cambridge Grade	Pakistani Equivalent
A*	Above 90
A	85
B	75
C	65
D	55
E	45

It may be noted that IBCC implements subject-specific A* equivalent marks additionally, this could vary as the examination session changes!

Hence, Equivalence = Qualification Level Marks conversion = Numerical Marks

The proposed reassessment could pave the path towards enhanced equitable marks-conversion system, ascertaining that the O/A Level and FSc students are appraised on fair and comparable grounds in connection with highly competitive medical and dental colleges’ admissions process.