Punjab urges IBCC to fix O/A level equivalence formula amid MBBS merit concerns

The Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Department has formally approached the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC)

LAHORE: The Punjab government has called for an urgent review of the equivalence and marks-conversion system used for Cambridge O/A Level qualifications in admissions to public-sector medical and dental colleges, saying the existing mechanism may disadvantage high-achieving students.

The Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Department has formally approached the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC) over concerns about the way O/A Level results are converted for comparison with students from the conventional FSc stream.

In a letter dated August 29, 2026, addressed to the Executive Director of IBCC, the department highlighted concerns over differences in merit calculations for students holding Cambridge qualifications and those completing their education through Pakistani examination boards.

Under the current medical admission system, candidates’ merit is calculated using their Matriculation, FSc or equivalent qualification results along with their MDCAT scores. The Punjab department has argued that the existing equivalence methodology could create a significant gap between students achieving outstanding grades in the Cambridge system and those securing high marks in FSc.

The department noted that even students obtaining the highest grades in O/A Levels could face a comparative disadvantage when competing for medical seats. This becomes particularly significant in public-sector medical admissions, where selection can depend on extremely narrow differences in aggregate scores.

While recognizing that Cambridge examinations and Pakistani boards follow different assessment structures, the Punjab government stressed that the equivalence process should provide a fair, transparent and academically sound basis for comparing candidates.

The department has also pointed out that even a minor difference arising from the conversion formula can have a substantial impact on a student’s chances of securing admission when merit margins are exceptionally tight.

Punjab has therefore urged IBCC to conduct an immediate assessment of the existing O/A Level equivalence and marks-conversion methodology and consider necessary changes to prevent any unintended disparity between Cambridge and FSc candidates.

The department has further requested that any revised criteria be finalized and notified before the next medical and dental college admission cycle so that students from both educational systems can compete under equitable conditions.

Copies of the communication have been sent to senior officials, including the Secretary Federal Education, Secretary National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, President of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and Vice Chancellor of the University of Health Sciences Lahore.

The move follows increasing concerns among O/A Level students and their parents over the impact of equivalence calculations on medical college merit. The Punjab government’s intervention is aimed at ensuring that differences between examination systems do not unfairly influence the admission prospects of academically strong candidates.