The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has completed all arrangements for MDCAT 2026, which is scheduled to take place on August 16. The entrance test is required for students seeking admission to medical and dental colleges across Pakistan. Officials say all preparations have been finalized to ensure the examination is conducted smoothly and transparently.
According to PM&DC sources, 136,081 candidates have registered for MDCAT 2026. These students will compete for nearly 22,000 seats available in medical and dental colleges nationwide. The large number of applicants highlights the growing demand for medical education in the country.
The MDCAT 2026 examination will be held simultaneously across Pakistan on Sunday, August 16, starting at 10:00 AM. The paper will last three hours and include 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) carrying a total of 180 marks.
PM&DC expects to announce the results by August 22, allowing universities to begin the admission process without unnecessary delays.
The council has confirmed that there will be no negative marking in this year’s examination. Candidates will not lose marks for incorrect answers, giving them the opportunity to attempt every question. The official answer key will also be uploaded after the examination so students can compare their responses.
To improve transparency, PM&DC has introduced the use of carbon copies during the test. Students will be able to keep a copy of their marked answers, helping them review their performance once the official answer key is released.
The council has also announced the minimum passing requirements. Students applying for MBBS programs must secure at least 55 percent marks, while those seeking admission to BDS programs must obtain 50 percent marks.
Different universities have been assigned responsibility for conducting the examination in their respective regions. The University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, will organize the test in Punjab. Sukkur IBA will conduct the examination in Sindh, while Khyber Medical University (KMU) will oversee the process in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In Sindh alone, more than 33,000 candidates have registered for the entrance test. They will compete for approximately 5,100 seats, including 2,300 MBBS seats and 2,800 BDS seats.
Students from Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan will appear under the supervision of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad. The same university will also conduct the examination for Pakistani students appearing from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
PM&DC has introduced additional facilities for students from Balochistan. Bolan University of Medical Sciences will establish an extra examination center in Islamabad. This arrangement is intended to make it easier for candidates holding a Balochistan domicile to take the test.
A special examination center has also been arranged in Islamabad for students from Azad Kashmir. PM&DC has assured candidates that no eligible student from the region will be left out of the admission process because of examination arrangements.
The council has advised students facing registration problems to contact PM&DC as soon as possible. Officials say every effort will be made to resolve genuine issues before the examination date.
In other related news also read PMDC Issues Special MDCAT 2026 Instructions for AJK
With all preparations complete, MDCAT 2026 is set to be conducted under strict measures aimed at ensuring fairness, transparency, and equal opportunities for every candidate. The standardized test remains a key step for students planning to secure admission to medical and dental colleges across Pakistan.
