Jinnah Sindh Medical University’s Q-Bank expands to 230,000 questions, driving assessment excellence

KARACHI: Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) has reached a groundbreaking milestone with its Question Bank (Q-Bank) surpassing 230,000 questions, reaffirming its leadership in medical education and assessment innovation. Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Laeeque uz Zaman, Director of the Q-Bank Department, this achievement highlights JSMU’s dedication to modernizing evaluation methods and ensuring excellence in medical assessments.

JSMU’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Amjad Siraj Memon (S.I.), emphasized the university’s continuous commitment to academic rigor and innovation. He noted that JSMU’s Q-Bank has grown from 30,000 to 230,000 questions, marking a major step forward in assessment excellence. He added that this extensive database forms the backbone of the university’s examination system, ensuring accuracy, fairness, and efficiency. To further enhance the process, JSMU is developing a Pro Forma system that will allow faculty and reviewers to contribute remotely, streamlining the Q-Bank development process for improved quality control and accessibility.

Dr. Laeeque uz Zaman explained that managing such a vast Q-Bank requires advanced technology, collaboration, and oversight. JSMU employs ToS (Table of Specifications), Post-hoc Psychometrics, and Curriculum Mapping to ensure fairness, relevance, and alignment with educational objectives. He emphasized that a well-structured Q-Bank is essential for producing competent healthcare professionals. By integrating AI tools, psychometric analysis, and real-time feedback, the university maintains high assessment standards while continuously enhancing the system.

During an interactive session, experts delved into the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in question generation and its impact on medical examinations. The discussion featured esteemed speakers, including Dr. Marium Iqbal, Vice Principal of JMDC; Dr. Shazia Babar, Assistant Professor at Aga Khan University; and Dr. Syed Muhammad Azfer, Lecturer at LCMD. The session was expertly moderated by Dr. Jaweria Sikandar, fostering insightful discussions on AI’s potential to transform medical education assessments.

Affiliated colleges proposed collaboration with JSMU for Q-Bank training and software assistance, aiming to standardize assessment systems across institutions. The event concluded with certificates of appreciation for the JSMU Q-Bank team, and JSMU Registrar, Dr. Azma Khan, presented tokens of recognition to distinguished speakers. With its commitment to academic excellence, JSMU continues to lead medical education innovation, ensuring its assessment systems evolve to meet global standards.