Materia Medica Malaysiana

6,000 students for medical aptitude test

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 6,000 students nationwide will undergo the Malaysian Medical School Admission Test (MSSAT) next year to assess their suitability to do medicine in public universities.
The assessment, which comes under a pilot project, comprises a three-hour objective test, an interview and an orientation programme in public universities, sources told The Star here yesterday.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh had on June 6 announced that students interested in taking up medicine might be required to undergo an aptitude test before they are offered university places.
He also said the proposal for the MSSAT would be presented to the Cabinet soon.
There has been a serious shortage in places for medicine in public universities with 128 straight As students being rejected in the 2004 intake.
The students in this pilot project – 4,000 STPM and 2,000 matriculation – are participating on a voluntary basis and they have been made to understand that the outcome will not affect the 2005 intake.
They will sit for the three-hour objective test on Feb 12 conducted by the Malaysian Examination Council.
The three-part test, comprising 45 questions each, will be on three areas: critical thinking, interpersonal understanding and problem solving.
The schools are given until tomorrow to register their students for the project.
In Parliament yesterday, MP for Air Hitam Dr Wee Ka Siong asked Dr Shafie whether this pilot project – its details, objectives and implementation –had been discussed by his ministry. The minister is expected to give his reply today.