About MDCAT
The Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) is Pakistan’s national entry test for MBBS and BDS admissions, conducted by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). It is a mandatory requirement for admission to public and private medical and dental colleges across the country, and hundreds of thousands of FSc pre-medical students appear for it every year.
Exam pattern
MDCAT is a multiple-choice-question (MCQ) test covering core pre-medical subjects, typically Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and English. The exact number of questions, marking scheme, and syllabus weightage are published by PMDC ahead of each test cycle, so candidates should always confirm the current pattern from the official PMDC notification rather than relying on a previous year’s format.
How merit is calculated
Admission to most medical and dental colleges in Pakistan is based on an aggregate merit formula that combines the MDCAT score with FSc (or equivalent) marks and matriculation marks, weighted according to each province’s or institution’s policy. Because the weightage can differ between provinces and between public and private institutions, check the specific merit formula used by the college or province you’re applying to.
Preparation tips
- Focus on FSc-level Biology, Chemistry, and Physics textbooks first, since MDCAT is primarily based on the intermediate syllabus.
- Practice with past MDCAT papers and timed mock tests to build speed and accuracy under exam conditions.
- Track official PMDC announcements for syllabus changes, since the test pattern has been revised in past cycles.
Use the MDCAT Mock Test to practice with a custom timed test, and the MDCAT Solved Paper Bank for past papers with answer keys.