P.M.E.C.E. - Para Medical Entrance Competitive Examination
P.M.E.C.E. (Para Medical Entrance Competitive Examination) is the JCECEB entrance for paramedical diploma courses such as DMLT, DRIT and related programmes. It tests Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English and general awareness with a health-science emphasis.
Core rules
- Biology: human anatomy, physiology, microbiology and haematology basics.
- Chemistry: solutions, concentration, acids-bases and laboratory safety.
- Physics: units, optics, electricity and radiation basics.
- English and general awareness: comprehension, medical terms and health programmes.
- In haematology, distinguish serum from plasma; in microbiology, distinguish culture media from sterilisation methods.
Worked example
A 5% glucose solution is prepared. How many grams of glucose are present in 250 mL? Reasoning: 5% means 5 g per 100 mL. In 250 mL, mass = 5 × (250/100) = 5 × 2.5 = 12.5 g. A common error is to read 5% as 5 g per 250 mL, which would give 5 g.
Traps
- Confusing w/v, w/w and v/v percentages.
- Mixing sterilisation with disinfection.
- Recalling a normal range but not checking the units.
- Choosing a lab test without linking it to the clinical clue.
- Forgetting that a percentage concentration is based on 100 mL, not the total volume.