ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) officially announced schedule for Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026, providing clarity to thousands of students aspiring to secure admission to medical and dental colleges across Pakistan.
MDCAT 2026 will be held on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (PST). The announcement marks beginning of a crucial phase for pre-medical students, as MDCAT remains the mandatory entrance examination for admission to MBBS and BDS programs nationwide.
PMDC said the online registration portal for MDCAT 2026 will open on June 22, 2026. Candidates will be able to submit their applications and pay the prescribed fee until July 8, 2026. The regular registration fee has been set at Rs9,000.
Students who fail to register within the standard deadline will be given a final opportunity through a late-registration window, which will remain open until July 13, 2026. However, applicants utilizing this facility will be required to pay a higher fee of Rs13,000. PMDC has clarified that all registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
The council advised students to complete their registration well before the closing date to avoid technical issues and last-minute inconvenience.
MDCAT serves as primary admission test for undergraduate medical and dental programs throughout Pakistan. Performance in the examination plays a significant role in determining eligibility for admission to public and private medical institutions.
With less than two months remaining before the examination, students are now entering the final stage of preparation for one of the most competitive academic tests in Pakistan.
MDCAT Structure – Paper Pattern
Here’s uniform MDCAT curriculum and examination structure. The test will consist of 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to be completed within three hours. Candidates will not face any negative marking, allowing them to attempt all questions without the risk of losing marks for incorrect answers.
To qualify for admission consideration, candidates seeking admission to medical colleges must obtain at least 55% marks, while applicants for dental colleges are required to secure a minimum of 50% marks. The MDCAT paper will be divided among five subjects, with Biology carrying the highest weightage.
| Subject | MCQs | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | 81 | 45% |
| Chemistry | 45 | 25% |
| Physics | 36 | 20% |
| English | 9 | 5% |
| Logical Reasoning | 9 | 5% |
Biology remains the key subject of MDCAT and covers a broad range of topics, including cell structure and function, biological molecules, genetics and inheritance, human physiology, nervous coordination, reproduction, immunity, biotechnology, evolution, and homeostasis.
Students are expected to demonstrate a thorough understanding of these concepts, as Biology contributes the largest number of questions in the test.
MDCAT 2026 paper pattern – Check Subject wise MCQs, difficult levels
