The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has announced a major overhaul of its assessment policy, confirming that all theory exams will consist solely of multiple choice questions (MCQs) starting in 2026.

The decision was approved during the 40th meeting of the UHS Academic Council, chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ahsan Waheed Rathore, according to Dawn News. The reform eliminates short essay questions (SEQs) from all exams, including MBBS, and introduces a fully structured and objective evaluation format.

Under the new system, both undergraduate and postgraduate students will be assessed exclusively through MCQs, while practical exams will follow OSPE and OSCE formats. To pass, students must score at least 65 percent marks separately in both theory and practical components.

Prof Rathore said the reform aims to ensure fairness, transparency, and global alignment in medical education. “Essay-based exams lacked consistency. The MCQ format offers uniform grading and faster result processing for thousands of candidates,” he said.

A quality assurance framework has also been approved, focusing on examiner training, question blueprinting, post-exam moderation, and data-driven performance analysis.

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The policy will be piloted in nursing exams in 2025 before full implementation the following year. The vice chancellor emphasized that this change follows extensive consultation with faculty members and aligns with the standards of the World Federation for Medical Education and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.