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MDCAT 2026-27 · Pakistan
MDCAT Guide: Test Pattern, Syllabus, Merit Formula & Admissions
Everything a pre-medical student needs in one place — what MDCAT is, how the 180-MCQ paper is built, how your merit is calculated and where to apply in your province.
What is MDCAT?
The Medical & Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) is the national entry test for MBBS and BDS in Pakistan, regulated by the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC). It is held once a year, usually province by province through a designated public university. Your MDCAT score counts for half of your admission merit in government colleges, and private medical and dental colleges also admit students on the basis of MDCAT.
MDCAT Paper Pattern & Subject Weightage
The paper has 180 multiple-choice questions to be solved in 3 hours. It is paper-based and there is no negative marking, so you should attempt every question.
| Subject | Weightage | MCQs |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | 45% | 81 |
| Chemistry | 25% | 45 |
| Physics | 20% | 36 |
| English | 5% | 9 |
| Logical Reasoning | 5% | 9 |
| Total | 100% | 180 |
Difficulty split: about 15% easy, 70% moderate and 15% difficult questions. See the complete subject-wise syllabus (18 Biology, 20 Chemistry, 13 Physics, 5 English and 8 Logical Reasoning topics).
Eligibility
- FSc Pre-Medical / HSSC, or A-Level with Biology, Chemistry and Physics (or equivalent).
- At least 60% marks in HSSC / FSc Pre-Medical for MBBS/BDS admission.
- A-Level, O-Level and foreign qualifications need an IBCC equivalence certificate.
- Government-college seats depend on your domicile and province rules.
How Admission Merit is Calculated
Government colleges (and most private colleges) use the PM&DC formula:
| Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| MDCAT score | 50% |
| HSSC / FSc Pre-Medical | 40% |
| SSC / Matric | 10% |
Because MDCAT is half of your aggregate, every extra MDCAT mark directly raises your merit. Work out your own aggregate with our MDCAT aggregate calculator, then compare it with last year’s closing merits of MBBS & BDS colleges.
Province-wise MBBS / BDS Admissions
MDCAT is a national test, but admission to government colleges is run separately in each province, each with its own admitting university, seats, fee and deadlines. Open your province for full details:
| Province / Region | Admitting body | How seats are filled | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sindh | JSMU Karachi (with DUHS, LUMHS, SMBBMU) | District-wise domicile quota | Full guide → |
| Punjab | UHS Lahore | Province-wide open merit + reserved seats | Full guide → |
| KPK | KMU Peshawar | Merit-cum-choice, province-wide + reserved seats | Full guide → |
| Balochistan | BUMHS Quetta | District + divisional quota | Full guide → |
| AJK | Joint Admission Committee (JAC), AJ&K | State-subject merit + reciprocal seats in Pakistan | Full guide → |
| Gilgit-Baltistan | Nomination Board GB | Open merit + district quota on GB-reserved seats | Full guide → |
| Federal (Islamabad) | SZABMU Islamabad | Open merit + ICT / provincial / federal-employee quotas | Full guide → |
| Armed Forces / CMH | NUMS Rawalpindi | NUMS merit for Army Medical College & CMH colleges | Full guide → |
Current deadlines for 2026-27 are on our MBBS & BDS admission 2026-27 page.
Preparation Plan
- Start with Biology — 81 of 180 MCQs. Then Chemistry and Physics.
- Solve past papers of your province to learn the style of questions — see MDCAT past papers.
- Take timed full mocks to build speed for 180 MCQs in 3 hours.
- Do not skip English and Logical Reasoning — 18 easy-scoring MCQs.
- Review every mistake and keep a short notes list of weak topics.
Useful MDCAT Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many MCQs are in MDCAT?
MDCAT has 180 MCQs to be solved in 3 hours, with no negative marking.
What are the passing marks for MDCAT?
You need at least 55% for MBBS and 50% for BDS.
What is the MDCAT merit formula?
Admission aggregate = MDCAT 50% + HSSC/FSc 40% + SSC/Matric 10%.
Is there negative marking in MDCAT?
No. There is no negative marking, so attempt every question.
Are MBBS admissions done province-wise?
Yes. Sindh (JSMU), Punjab (UHS), KPK (KMU), Balochistan (BUMHS), AJK (JAC), Gilgit-Baltistan (Nomination Board), federal colleges (SZABMU) and Army/CMH colleges (NUMS) each run their own admissions.
Where can I practise MDCAT for free?
Use the free MDCAT practice tests and full mocks on EducationInKarachi.net — subject-wise tests and 8 full-length mocks with answer keys.
More on MDCAT & MBBS
Last reviewed: 22 October 2026. Dates and fees change every year — always confirm on the official portal before applying.
