"The public and private universities are conducting their own admission tests and do not need to follow the HEC testing council's USAT," said Dr Khalid Khan, Registrar of the Punjab University. He said the matter was also discussed in the last academic council meeting and they did not approve of any test other than conduc

The tests would be conducted in 27 disciplines, the university said, adding that it wouldn't be able to adopt the USAT for admissions this year.

It says the USAT is a competitive product that intends to carve out its own niche based on quality tests. It is developed from a standardised question bank with quality, equity, reliability, and validity of the product as well as integrity of the processes involved ensured at all levels of development, administration, grading and result reporting. Its validity will hold for a year. Being a universal test gauging the ability of a student, it can be used by all universities if they so desire. The test is however not intended for the candidates applying for MBBS/BDS programmes.

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi said if the HEC had decided to conduct the test, it should have consulted them prior to announcing the policy. He said the idea to conduct a centralised test was acceptable but a generic test as was announced could not help check the aptitude and interests of the students.

The HEC spokesperson did not answer the phone calls or text messages when contacted for version.

He said the Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISEs) of Punjab did not have the same standard and quality of education and such a centralised test could not help check aptitude and quality of education of the students