The wait of hundreds of thousands of medical students from all over Pakistan is at an end. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has announced the exam schedule and rules for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) for the academic year. The official notification has stated that the MDCAT Exam Date 2026 will be on 16th August 2026 on Sunday.
The test is a single national level entry test which is compulsory for all the students who want to join medical and dental colleges of public and private sector in Pakistan. This comprehensive guide provides you with all the necessary information on the new exam pattern, passing marks, essential documents and the new biometric policies.
The Official MDCAT 2026 Test Pattern
The PMDC has announced the exam paper format, which will be the conventional multiple-choice question (MCQ) paper-based, manual format. The council has not made any change in the core syllabus and has retained the same syllabus that was followed the previous year to give relief to the aspirants.
The structural breakdown of the examination paper includes:
- Total Questions: The question paper will consist of 180 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
- Time Duration: Candidates will be allocated exactly 3 hours (180 minutes) to complete the entire exam.
- Negative Marking: There is no negative marking in the exam; no points will be deducted for incorrect answers.
- Subject Distribution: The paper will test candidates on core concepts from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, and Logical Reasoning.
Eligibility and Passing Criteria
The PMDC takes the medical and dental programs very seriously with regards to the standards set in medical education and has very strict minimums for admission into medical and dental programs:
The passing marks for MDCAT are 55% for getting admission in the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program.
The minimum passing marks for BDS is 50% marks.
The student must have obtained a minimum of 60% unadjusted marks in Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) Pre-Medical or any equivalent qualification like A-Levels to apply.
Weightage Formula: There will be a 50:50 weightage formula applied to the final merit list, the weight being 50% for FSc.The scores of FSc (Pre-Medical) and 50% to the MDCAT.
Mandatory Requirements and Biometric Verification Policy
In order to ensure complete transparency and to avoid any unfair means during the entry test, the PMDC has adopted stringent security arrangements which are required to be observed by each candidate:
Mandatory Biometric Verification: Prior to appearing for an examination, each candidate will be subjected to strict Biometric Verification at the Entrance of his/her respective Examination Centre.
Juvenile Card Requirement: If a candidate is below 18 years of age and he/she does not have a National Identity Card (CNIC), then he/she must have a Juvenile Card issued by NADRA. No smart card or CNIC of the parent will be accepted as valid ID at the center.
International Centers: The PMDC will also establish centers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia for overseas students to sit exams besides having centers in all major cities of Pakistan.
It is recommended to the medical students who are thinking of joining medical studies to check the PMDC Official Website frequently for online registration time table, distribution of roll number slip and updates. Make sure that all your identity documents are up-to-date and in good time, before the registration deadline, to prevent any problems at the last minute.
