Saturday 17 August 2013

A complete and comprehensive guide to the AKU INTERVIEW

First of all, I cleared the AKU interview but chose not to go to AKU for several reasons which are not important to mention. What matters is the reasoning behind my acceptance to this prestigious university that many people around the world dream to make it to. To make it to the interview, you must have a percentage above the threshold value in the AKU Test that changes almost every year. In 2012, it was 68% for Sciences (combined) and 55% for English, the former one changed to 66% in 2013. You should remember that once you make it to the interview, it doesn't matter if you have an overall percentage just above the threshold, for example 66.3%, or way above it at 80% as the final decision now rests on your interview performance and your co-curricular activities that you mention in the form you get once you pass the test. But I have seen people with above 85% marks finding it much easier to get the final acceptance than others but even then there is no assurity. Now lets move on to the actual information: 

General Information



You'll have to basically give two, one on one, interviews. Each of the interviews will last from 25-45 minutes with a gap of 5 to 30 minutes in b/w. The interviews are quite general. They'll ask you about your family, your interests, your aspiration to become a doctor and so on. For such general questions you should have some answers in the back of your mind beforehand. They'll try to get you tangled in your own answers but you should follow one rule: DON'T LIE! They always catch you. One of their favourite questions is: "Have you ever cheated" Try to get a good answer to this. If they ask you something that you don't know, just tell them that you don't know. Don't hesitate. And don't start an argument that you can't properly defend. As the interview goes on, you feel really relaxed. The interviewers will actually laugh and try to make you more comfortable, but you should always keep your composure and show them that you are a professional. Another important question is that why do you want to come to AKU? This is also quite important. And if you have done community service, don't stop babbling about it. It really impresses them if you have utilized your time helping out the poor, or working in a hospital or any internship for that matter.


General questions:


Did you ever cheat in your life?
Why do you want to do Medicine?
Why do you want to come to AKU?
What books do you read? Which book are you reading currently?
Any query regarding AKU you may have? 

What are you interests? Co-curricular activities? What do you do in your free time.
Do you play any sports?


My Own Experience + Advice


Its true that one of the interviews is the hard one and the other is the easy one. Usually, one will be in English and another in Urdu but it depends on the interviewers. But for me that is what the case was. This part of the guide will be in a question and answer type just as I was asked last year. I had an overall percentage of 75.85 so you can well imagine that getting accepted in AKU doesn't require a very high percentage but I did have a lot of co-curricular activities. I wore a black dress shirt and grey cotton pants without a tie.


My first interview was with a woman and this was all in English. She got me confused at one time but I made it out unscorched. At the start I was a bit hesitant and tensed but as the interview continued I got pretty relaxed. The first thing she asked me was my name and about what my father's profession and the current status of my siblings and so on. After we were done with the personal information she came to the most important question of the interview: 

"Why do you want to choose medicine as a career?" My answer was pretty blunt at this as I had allready thought of the answer and I knew how she would be impressed. I'm not going to tell you my answer as everyone should have a unique thought behind this and cliched answers like "I want to help people" are just over used now. What I talked about was inspirations and so on.
Next she asked me about my interests and my co-curricular activities. As AKU has people from all over the country, she was particularly interested in activities where I had interacted with people from all over Pakistan and with those from out of the country. My answers included my internships with Shaukat Khanum and SOS along with other volunteer work. As for the national interaction I talked about my experience at competitions like NMO and NBTC. I also told her about my trip to India and other stuff. I kept talking about the stuff for at least 20 minutes. It's the habit of the interviewer to stop you midway at times and ask another question before you complete the answer.

To check my independency, she asked if I had a personal room and if I used to clean it myself. I spoke the truth and told her that I didn't and I had a maid. For the next part let me tell you that a senior advised me about how telling them that you drive a car can be representative of my independent stature but doing so was my biggest mistake. So make sure you just use this whole guide as a help and this is not a compulsory action to follow. Continuing, she asked me if I contributed in any way to the household chores. And I replied that I get the grocery and stuff by driving to the market (my biggest mistake in the two interviews). At this she caught me off guarded and replied that you are not even 18 yet according to the application form in her hand. I tried to recover to this with explanation that I have been driving with parents and just recently got the car. But she asked how I came to the hotel where the interview was being held. And speaking the truth again, I said by driving. She got all judgmental and asked if I don't respect the Pakistani law of underage driving and if it was not important to me. But somehow she managed to stop the inquisition and moved on.


This was all about the first interview, which went pretty well except the last part. This interview lasted about 35 minutes and ended with the interviewer asking me if I had some query for her. And I replied no and thanked her.


My second interview was with a guy in his fifties. I heard before the interview that this guy was the head of the interview delegation and is usually the hardest one to clear. But as the interview ended I thought it was better than my first one and probably the reason behind my acceptance. Half of this interview was in English and then suddenly he started talking in Urdu which was a break in momentum for me but to keep pace with him I also answered in Urdu. This interview was more about my knowledge and how I perceive the world. It also started with my personal information.


Now the first out of the blue question this old man asked me was "What is the difference b/w a mill and a factory?". He derived this question when I told him that my brother works in a mill. I wasn't sure about this so I told him that I don't know. Next he asked me about the health issues of our country, to which I replied the lack of proper medical institutions and hospitals and so on. He asked me about the major diseases prevalent in our country and I replied to that too. He also asked me about my interests and I talked to him about debating, dramatics and my other co-curricular activities. Then I also talked about sports etc. He asked me if I like to read and what book am I reading. And keep my pace with the truths I told him that I was reading Game of Thrones which he had no clue about. Btw, this question was asked in both interviews. They also asked me what type of music I listen too and which movies do I enjoy. Now one part where I got a little tensed in the 2nd interview was as such: Interviewer: Do you read the newspaper? I: Yes sir, but only occasionally for example on Sundays. Interviewer: Do you go through the international situations page? I: Not much sir. I mostly read the sports section. Interviewer: So you are saying you have no clue about the world's situation. I: Sir, I do have a clue but not much information.

Interviewer: Tell me what is happening in Egypt these days?
I: There have been uprising in the middle eastern areas recently against the dictatorship rule.
Interviewer: But what is happening specifically in Egypt or Syria for that matter? I: No idea, sir.
Interviewer: Okay, tell me what is KGB? I: No idea, sir. Interviewer: Mossad? I: Sorry sir, I have no idea about that either.
Interviewer: You do know about CIA and ISS, right. I: Obviously, sir. CIE and ISS are the intelligence services of USA and Pakistan, respectively. Oh wait sir, Mossad the intelligence service of Israel and KGB was the one in Russia (Thank God I remembered that). Interviewer: Absolutely.

Then he asked me a question that I couldn't really conjure up a good answer to:
"Apne 2 kaam batao jispe aap ko fakhar ho". I really didn't have an answer to that so I talked about how I helped the poor at SOS and hanged out with cancer patients in Shaukat Khanum Hospital during the internship and how I was really proud of it. But I really couldn't get a definitive answer so I just kept telling him about my internships and volunteer works. Against me expectations, this actually impressed him. He asked me if someone told me to this volunteer work. And I was like no, I just had free time and I decided to go for such stuff. Which proved that I use my time efficiently.

He then asked why I wanted to come to AKU: I told him that I want to stay away from my home and experience living independently. Then I talked about how awesome the university campus was. He asked if I visited it but I replied that this was coming only from the pictures (stupidity). Then I told him that the module and PBL system was pretty good. He asked if I knew what PBL was but I had no answer to that. So if you mention anything, make sure you have an answer to that. I talked about international university affiliations that AKU have will be of advantage to me and so on. In the end he asked what will I do if I don't make it to AKU. And I told him that I will be giving UHS MCAT and applying to other universities such as Shifa, CMH etc. He also ended the interview by asking me if I had any query or not. I replied no and he wished me luck and shook my hands and off I went. I was pretty confident after this.

This was all about my interviews in which I made several mistakes but I stuck to the truth and tried to find my way out of the problems they threw at me. As you can see I told them many times that I didn't know about something but I always had something to impress them. So you can do well if you remain calm and stick to the truth. :) Frequently asked questions How many interviewers are there?

There are two interviews, one after the other with the time of each interview varying from 25-45 minutes or even more. For each interview, there is only one interviewer that is one on one interview. 

Should one just answer quickly to the questions or taking a few seconds to think of a response won't hurt?
The AKU interview is much like a casual one on one conversation with a stranger. The only difference is that you'll be the only one doing the talking. Think about the question and answer whatever comes in your mind. Speak the truth. If you don't know then say that you don't. Thinking a lot or too less will both be harmful. So just talk like you normally do. 


Should one be all 'I want to help people when I become a doctor' or will that sound all clichéd?
Obviously it sounds cliched. But if you say this along with other stuff then it can work. What matters is the impression you make on the interviewer. 


What should I wear to the interview? 

Anything decent will go. You may wear a suit if you want to but as it was quite hot in June, when the interviews were held last year, I just wore a dress shirt and a cotton pant without a tie.

I will keep updating the FAQs section as the queries pour in. I hope this guide helps you as much as I intended it to. Your response will be valued and I'll try to make this better with time. :)

A guide on preparation of UHS MCAT specifically for UHS students will be coming soon. 

70 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. I have taken AKU mcat for two times but I feel problem in English section. Please help me :-(

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  3. @M.Tauqeer: I will but the AKU test will now take place only next year so I'll make a post when people require it.
    @Tauqeer: You should go through SAT English books. They will prolly help you. :)

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    1. Where can I find SAT English books? Are these available on internet?

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    2. You might find them on internet. But you can easily find them in any good book shop. There are two good publishers for the SAT book: PrincetonReview and Barrons. Get any of these.

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  4. i read ur post and i think u are doing a great job in guiding the students, as all these topics were of my concern i really liked what u wrote..... as far as aga khan is concerned i think they prefer students from the big cities simply, as is evident from this year's and many years' results..

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  5. Can you contact with me personally, please? I want to study in AKU and I need your thorough help. I am waiting for your reply.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Send me a personal message on this forum and I'll reply to it asap: https://www.xtremepapers.com/community/members/oakmoon.975/

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  6. I should begin by complimenting your exceptional blog. It is, I believe, a source to all inspiring pre-med students. What I would love too see is a detailed post on the AKUMCAT. Cheers mate!

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  7. Hi,
    Ive been perplexed about this mysterious AKU interview ever since I started my A levels. This is the most helpful thing Ive come across, thank you
    I want to ask If community service should be a big part of my ECA. I missed all the hospital internships/community service events deadlines because i was too busy with SAT prep. I have other extra cirriculars, but will it put me to a disadvantage if I havent done much community service?

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    1. It won't make a difference if you prove to the interviewer that you have utilized your time efficiently anyways. Talk about your extra curricular activities and show the interviewer how these activities have helped you develop valuable skills which makes you better suited to be a medical student with immense leadership skills which is a requirement for getting admission at AKU.

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  8. Salam,
    First of all, THANK YOU so much for this blog since it provides so much information, especially regarding the AKU entrance procedure.
    One question though, and I am not sure if this is the right place for this, but does AKU give sports scholarships? I heard that they usually give those about 2 out of a 100 that they select. The reason I am asking is that I have been quite successful in table tennis. I have won medals at the Punjab Olympics and also at the Lahore District level to name a few. Can you confirm anything? Plus, would it be advisable to continue any sport during medical studies? I would be appreciative of your help...

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    1. I'm not so sure about it. There is financial aid for new entrants for sure but scholarships are probably available in later years. But you'll have to confirm it with the AKU administration.

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    2. Ok, Thank You

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  9. I scored 1 A*, 4 A and 3 B in O levels and 3 A in A level. What are my chances of getting into AKU and how many marks should I target in AKU test.

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    1. All you need to do is clear the AKU test, and then aim to ace the interview because that is what matters in the end for the final acceptance.

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  10. You have mentioned in your blog about your AKU experience. What about CMH and Al shifa? Is their entry test based on fsc or alevels? Can we write their tests without going through Fsc books or we have to read the every corner of FSC books?
    Secondly, I need your opinion. I have heard that the government is finally abolishing the Entry Test scheme. Do you really think that we students are to suffer alot from this? Because MCAT is the only way by which we can make our aggregate to 89-90 %. There are numerous students of FSC scoring more than 1000 marks this year. However the A level ones cannot rise above 990 marks after maximum effort. Will this going to affect A levelians or not?

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    1. For CMH, you'll have to go through the FSc books while the test for Shifa is a bit different from the time I gave it but only the science section in it was based on the FSc syllabus and it wasn't much. You do have to go through the FSc books in any case if you want to make it to a medical college in Pakistan.

      This might not happen in the end, as the PMDC rejected this proposal. But even if it does, 90% is a pretty good score to make it to KEMU. Yes, many guys have above 1000, but they are still in proportion to the guys getting straight A*s in A'levels. So this might not be a disadvantage in the end as the A'levels guys won't have to study FSc syllabus now for the entry test.

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  11. For NBTC, does the screening test include math,physics and chemistry?

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    1. Yes, there is a general section. But there are very less questions regarding other subjects.

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  12. hi,i want your help!i am a fsc student.i hv secured good marks in matric.now i am in 2 nd year of fsc.can you guide me how can i prepare for gernal science and math portion?moreover,does aku check the number of certificates in the interview?i mean i only have a few extracurricular certificates from my school.but i hv other certificates from shaukat khanum,rising sun and fmh.will it be enough?and can you suggest me any competition or stuff like that in which i can participate till next summers to get certificates?thanks!

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    1. You should check out SAT books for the Maths section or else solve O'levels Mathematics past papers. As for general science/science reasoning, the questions are basically from your syllabus but they test your concept instead of factual information so make sure you build your concept for them.
      It isn't the number of the certificates that matter, but the reasoning behind doing them. Think of how these experiences have helped you to become a better person, and how they could help you in future especially when pursuing medicine. Apart from that, they really appreciate if you have used your free time well. Since, you have done so much community work, you should mention this in as much positive light as possible. You don't take your certificates to the interview, but you have to supplement whatever you claim by sending them copies of your certificates later on.

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    2. thanks for the reply!

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  13. hii,i want some sincere advice.i did my fsc in 2013.and at that time i didnt pass the aku test.then i applied there again in 2014 and passed the test but couldnt clear the interview although i had some community work experience and extracurricular certificates.i dont know what was the reason this time.though i got in cmh this year,but i really want to go to aku.can you plz tell is there any chance of mine next year?

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    1. I'd recommend you to be satisfied with CMH. Failing in the test is one thing, but if you haven't cleared the interview that means there is something about you personally that AKU people don't like.about you and its not like you can change that in a year. So just try to be contend with what you have.

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  14. still no reply?!

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  15. i gave agha khan test twice but wasnt selected.what should i do?i feel problem in math n science reasoning portion:( how can i prepare them gud enough to get selected?plz help me i am very dishearted.do they select those who already had appeared in there test or not???because many of my friends told me that they dont select repeaters especially female students?plz help me!!

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    1. Apply to other colleges and complete your medical education. Since, you have already given the test and failed to make it to the interviews twice, I'd recommend you to move on and think of other choices. No doubt AKU is the best institution for medical studies in Pakistan, but at times you have to give up on things that you can't get and look for other choices that are still good for you. They do select repeaters, otherwise they wouldn't have given the option of repeating tests, but if you fail the interview then there is lesser chance next time.

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    2. i am really grateful for your reply!thanks.and i didnt clear the test both of the times nd yes,i am gonna apply other institutes.but,should i apply there next year?coz i hv to prepare for mcat again next year?then should i apply to aku at that time??

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    3. i am just asking that if i clear test next year then these two years will affect on my interview or not??

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    4. You can definitely give it a try once again, and it will not have a negative effect on your interview unless you have a good explanation behind your previous failed attempts.

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  16. Hey, I have heard that A's students can appear in aku test. By that I mean that one can appear in test after completing his A levels part 1 ... Is there any such thing?

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    1. This wasn't possible in my time back in 2012 as you had to appear in the test in the same year as you are going to start college, but you should check with the university administration in case the rules have changed.

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  17. Hey , OakMoon i want a little help

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  18. Your blog gave me some hope. I want to gain clinical experience like u did(internship or volunteership) or if I can shadow any physician. How and where can i apply? Why hospitals would allow u to work with doctors? Secondly, i have heard that aku prefer alevels students. Iam from akueb and everyone says that its nt easy for us to clear the admission process unless you have got highest percentage. In your batch whats the ratio of akueb and alevels students?

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    1. I had clinical experience at the hospital of a family friends, so basically you need to have such contacts otherwise most hospitals don't allow such exposure. But you can focus on other volunteer work apart from clinical field and that is also appreciated. I didn't go to AKU in the end so I don't know the ratio, but many FSc students even with low percentages make it there. All you need to do is impress the interviewers, and show them that you deserve a seat in their prestigious university.

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  19. If one doesn't have much co curriculur activities or any volunteer work,then aku out of his league?

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    1. It's all about the impression you have on the interviewer. They value the fact that you have used your time efficiently.

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  20. Hi!
    I am currently in A2 and have my final A level exams in a few days. I have taken SAT 2 Chemistry and Biology tests (750+) in each and have also prepared for my A level exams quite well. However, I haven't studied anything from the fsc syllabus. I will have three weeks after my exams til the AKU test, so I could revise from A level and SAT 2 books again or I could study some topics from Fsc. What would you suggest?
    Thank you!

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    1. Since A'levels syllabus would be pretty fresh in your mind, try doing topics from FSc syllabus during the first 2 weeks. And revise A'levels in the last week before the exams along with SAT2 books.

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  21. aoa. I too have some questions regarding fsc students. What are the chances of an fsc student to get admitted? And does the fsc % matter as I had heard that the admission is 100% entry test based. Is that true? What if I have not participated in any extra curricular however I am good at singing painting and swimming?

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  22. aoa. I too have some questions regarding fsc students. What are the chances of an fsc student to get admitted? And does the fsc % matter as I had heard that the admission is 100% entry test based. Is that true? What if I have not participated in any extra curricular however I am good at singing painting and swimming?

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  23. Do u know anything about akus internship exam... they have no info on their stupid website..

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  24. Hi Hameed,
    Alhamdollilah I've been offered admission in AKU medical college's class of 2020. Your blog was a big help; particularly in the interviews.
    Thank you and God bless!

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    1. hi
      i need ur help regarding admission in AKU.
      im currently doing A's, so when should i start applying to AKU?
      Like is it necessary to give SAT 1 in-order to give SAT 2?
      If I don't give SAT than i'll have to give MCAT?
      If YES,than where and when should take MCAT(i meant practice)?
      Does internship helps us in getting admission?

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  25. Hey do u still think this will be the criteria for aku this year as well. I am a student from roots and many brilliant student with sat 1 scores above 2000 and sat 2 above 2200 are applying. It's really scary because all of these students git rejected from ivy leagues and their backup plan was aku. The only advantages I have over them is I play sports a lot except I dint have certificates to verify that and also I have a sister who recently graduated from aku

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  26. SAT scores don't matter a lot I think unless the new requirements for admission have made SAT compulsory which I am not aware of. Basically, the point is that you have to impress the interviewers in some way. They have a lot of experience looking at different kind of students and in some way or other you've got to be distinct. Show that you have utilised your free time efficiently.

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  27. Hey I am in the final year of o levels recently I appeared for Urdu isl and pakstd . I just wanna know that how do I ace science subjects and also maths . I am never able to score more than 70% in maths and science subjects no matter how hard I study so oakmoon I wanna know that how do I score more than 90% in cies:/

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    1. Practice as many past papers as you can, 10-15 years. That will clear many of your concepts that seem much more difficult in the book. And if that is not helping then hire a personal tutor especially for Maths. And even for Physics and Chemistry. I have helped my students cover the gap using past papers.

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    2. So according to you should I only practice past papers rather than reading the book for clearing my concepts, but wouldn't it be risky. And also tell me about your experience in these subjects when you were in o levels

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    3. You said you've studied hard before, so doesn't that mean you have gone through the books once or more times and yet haven't got clear concepts? Since, you still have a year ahead until your O'levels start doing past papers, and where ever you find a confusing question consult your books and also a teacher if you are still stuck. You can do topical past papers after studying a chapter from book. Questions based approach always helps. And once you are done with the complete syllabus, start doing full past papers.
      For me, I was pretty good in these subjects but I did complete at least 8-10 years past papers and that was enough to ace the exam. Contact me on my email address if you want to discuss further. hamid391@gmail.com

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  28. First of all, thank you so much for making this post. I found it extremely helpful, so thank you for that.

    I was wondering if you could offer any insight for an international student applying to AKU. Would it be harder for me compared to local students to get in? And what kind of questions can I expect different from in Pakistan(my interview is in Canada). I'll appreciate any advice you can give. Thank you.

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  29. Greetings,
    I'm an American student and will be applying to AKU soon. Apart from the required tests and such, i have a question regarding the INTERVIEW: If I cannot speak Urdu fluently, will this have a negative impact on me???
    The problem is, I can speak a bit Urdu but I cannot completely converse with someone fluently. I am working on it but I fear that it might not get better. As you mentioned that the interview varies from Urdu/English, I'm worried if I would be asked entirely in Urdu in one of the interviews.
    Please give me an answer to. Thank you and for your informative article. :)

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    1. I don't think this can be a reason to reject you, as English is the medium of instruction in all the medical colleges of Pakistan. The only problem that could occur is when you interact with your patients at the AKU hospital, but I am sure whatever little Urdu you know will be enough for that for now and you won't be downgraded for sure. But of course, the discretion lies in the hands of the interviewer.

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    2. I don't think this can be a reason to reject you, as English is the medium of instruction in all the medical colleges of Pakistan. The only problem that could occur is when you interact with your patients at the AKU hospital, but I am sure whatever little Urdu you know will be enough for that for now and you won't be downgraded for sure. But of course, the discretion lies in the hands of the interviewer.

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    3. I don't think this can be a reason to reject you, as English is the medium of instruction in all the medical colleges of Pakistan. The only problem that could occur is when you interact with your patients at the AKU hospital, but I am sure whatever little Urdu you know will be enough for that for now and you won't be downgraded for sure. But of course, the discretion lies in the hands of the interviewer.

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  30. Ok thanks. I'll see what happens. :)

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  31. Another question I have:
    when you gave your interview, which month did it place? I'm applying to AkU for the 2017-18 cycle, however the website/information brochure doesn't specifically mention which month(s) the interview take place.
    Also, when do they send out rejection/acceptance letters? Is it a month before December or earlier?

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    1. You get your interview call/rejection letter along with the test result within September. And then 20 days after the interview you'll get your final acceptance in late October/Early November but these dates vary every year.

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  32. Hey,
    As someone categorized as on overseas student, I wanted to ask if the AKU admission test and MCAT are mandatory for my application. O'level grades are 8A*2As and A'level subjects are Biology, Chemistry, Math, and Government and Politics. Are chances slim? I'd also like to ask about any student loan options that might exist at AKU. Thanks!

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    1. I am not really sure about that, please check AKU's prospectus for overseas students, I think they do accept SAT 2 in lieu of their test but not confirmed. There are student loans and aid system in place, but you apply for that only once you get your acceptance letter.

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  33. How important are those SAT II subject tests? I mean, do they select you for the interview based on those scores, too? I think I might be able to reach the minimum scores but I don't know about getting perfect scores on those.

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  34. Does anyone know the average SAT scores for last year (I am referring to overseas/foreigners)? How is it possible to get selected for the interview if you just meet the minimum scores?

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Your suggestions and comments will be valued.