It was very gracious of the Punjab government and its Chief Minister to have held separate entry tests for A-levels and Fsc. students for admission in medical colleges of Punjab. But the question-setters for the A-level tests did not realize that their students were given an impossibly inadequate time (only 150 minutes) to complete their paper. Most of us know very well that there is a big difference between the A-levels and Fsc. pattern of MCQ paper. The Fsc. MCQs are statement-based and require only quick instincts to solve whereas the A-level MCQs are based on tables, graphs, ratios (of equations), and lengthy calculations. These inference questions require more than quick instincts. They require one to be critical in ones approach, and therefore, compared to the Fsc. MCQ, take more time. An A-level paper conducted by UCLES gives us 90 seconds per question (40 MCQs/hour). But at the medical entry test conducted by UHS, the MCQs of similar standard were required to be done in 40 seconds (220 MCQs in 150 minutes). The UHS entry tests for A-level students was, thus, impossible to solve completely in given time. Although the entry test was very transparent, the A-level students stand no chance of getting good grades in this test. All an A-level student gets after studying so hard and spending so much money is misery and dejection. Pakistani students get around 40% of world distinctions in A-level exams. It is ironic that students from under developed districts make it to KEMC and AIMC while none of A-level students that are good enough to compete in international arenas, make it. -TALHA ABDUL AWWAL, Lahore, September 30.