Students in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have more choice than almost anyone in Pakistan: academies in every sector, private tutors, and online preparation. They also face a choice most students elsewhere do not: whether to prepare for the PM&DC MDCAT, the NUMS test, or both. This guide helps you choose how to prepare, explains what is different for twin-city students, and shows how ePrepare works if you prepare online.
The short answer: pick preparation that covers PM&DC's full MDCAT curriculum and, if you are applying to NUMS colleges, the NUMS pattern too: thousands of explained MCQs, past papers from both, weekly full-length tests and quick doubt support. Count the time you would spend travelling across the twin cities. ePrepare is an online academy with all of this from PKR 8,000, explanations in English and Urdu, and 110 students who scored 174 or more out of 180 in the latest MDCAT.
Why twin-city students often prepare for two tests
Islamabad and Rawalpindi have a large share of the colleges that admit through NUMS, and NUMS sets its own test. NUMS's admission notice lists colleges such as:
- Army Medical College, Rawalpindi
- Bahria University Medical College, Islamabad
- Fazaia Medical College, Islamabad
- Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad
- NUST School of Health Sciences, Islamabad
- HITEC Institute of Medical Sciences, Taxila and Wah Medical College, Wah Cantt nearby
Public colleges in the provinces and Islamabad admit through the PM&DC MDCAT. If you want to keep both doors open, you sit both, and they are not the same paper:
| What | PM&DC MDCAT | NUMS MDCAT |
|---|---|---|
| Subject MCQs | 180 in 3 hours | 150 in 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Biology / Chemistry / Physics | 81 / 45 / 36 | 55 / 40 / 40 |
| English | 9 | 15 |
| Logical Reasoning | 9 | Not tested |
| Extra paper | No extra paper | 50-MCQ psychological test |
| Aggregate | 10% / 40% / 50% | 10% / 40% / 50%, test out of 200 |
NUMS gives Physics and English a bigger share. If you prepare for both, give them a little more time. Compare the two in detail in PM&DC MDCAT vs NUMS MDCAT, and try free NUMS past-paper MCQs.
How to choose an MDCAT academy in Islamabad
With so many options, judge each one on the same points:
| Ask this | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Does it prepare for both MDCAT and NUMS? | Different splits, and NUMS has a psychological paper. |
| Does it cover every unit of PM&DC's curriculum? | Any unit can appear; gaps cost marks. |
| Are MCQs explained, not just keyed? | Explanations are where you learn. |
| Does it have past papers from MDCAT and NUMS? | Each body has its own style. |
| How often are full-length tests held? | Weekly in the final months. |
| How quickly are doubts answered? | Quick answers keep you moving. |
| Can you verify its results? | Names, scores and roll numbers you can check. |
| What does the year really cost? | Fee plus daily travel time and fuel. |
The travel question
Moving between sectors, or between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, can take a large part of the day at peak hours. Over a full preparation year those hours add up to weeks you could have spent studying. That is not a reason to avoid physical classes if they work for you, but it is a real cost to count. Online preparation removes it: the lecture you would have travelled to is on your phone, and you can watch it again.
| What | Physical academy | Online academy |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | Daily, often at peak hours | No travel; study from home |
| Missed a class | Usually gone | Recorded, watch again |
| Pace | Same for the whole class | Your own, chapter by chapter |
| Discipline | A fixed timetable helps | You need a plan you keep |
If you find it hard to study alone, a fixed classroom timetable can help. If you want more practice, less travel and control over your pace, online preparation suits you better, as long as you follow a plan.
How ePrepare works for Islamabad and Rawalpindi students
ePrepare is an online academy, so it works the same in G-sectors, Bahria Town, Saddar or anywhere else:
- 50,000+ MCQs with explanations in English and easy Urdu, and a hint before you answer.
- 787 lectures across all five subjects, recorded so you can watch any lecture again.
- Past papers from every province, including Federal (SZABMU and FMDC) papers, plus NUMS papers under All provinces.
- Full-length tests in the FLP series and your own timed tests in the Quiz Builder.
- A study plan up to exam day and your wrong MCQs saved for revision automatically.
- Mentors on WhatsApp for quick help.
Results and reviews
In the latest MDCAT, 110 ePrepare students scored 174 or more out of 180. Their names, scores and roll numbers are on our toppers page. ePrepare is rated 4.9 out of 5 from 347 Google reviews, including these, word for word:
"ePrepare is undoubtedly one of the best online platforms for MDCAT preparation. What makes it stand out is its excellent quality at a very reasonable price." Hasnain Zafar, Google review
"One of the best online academy for nmdcat😍" Rimla Nawaz, Google review
Fees
One fee for the whole season, valid until the next MDCAT: Basic PKR 8,000, Plus PKR 9,000, Pro PKR 10,000 and Advance PKR 12,000 (with the FLP series). Compare them on the packages page.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best MDCAT academy in Islamabad?
The one that covers PM&DC's full curriculum and the NUMS pattern if you need it, explains every MCQ, has past papers from both tests, holds regular full-length tests and answers doubts quickly. Judge every option, including ePrepare, by the checklist above.
Should I prepare for both MDCAT and NUMS?
If you want to apply to NUMS colleges such as Army Medical College as well as public colleges, yes. Most of the preparation is shared; add NUMS papers, extra Physics and English, and get familiar with the psychological paper.
Are Islamabad academies more expensive?
Fees vary a lot. Add daily travel to any fee you compare. ePrepare costs PKR 8,000 to 12,000 for the season with no travel.
Is online preparation enough for NUMS and MDCAT?
Yes, if it gives you the full syllabus, explained MCQs, past papers, full-length tests and help when you are stuck, and you follow a plan.
Does ePrepare have NUMS past papers?
Yes. NUMS papers are in Past Paper MCQs under All provinces. You can try real NUMS MCQs free on our NUMS past papers page.
Start with a plan
Whichever way you prepare, a plan comes first. Our MDCAT preparation guide has one for every timeline, and registering with ePrepare takes a few minutes.
Sources: NUMS's centralised admissions advert (colleges, weighting) and table of specifications (NUMS pattern); PM&DC's uniform MDCAT curriculum (MDCAT pattern); ePrepare's toppers list and Google reviews (results and quotes, word for word); ePrepare's packages page (fees).
