Every MDCAT season brings the same questions. How many marks is the paper? Is there negative marking? Can I take a calculator in? Do my Matric marks even matter? This page answers each one in a few lines, using what PM&DC and the conducting universities have actually published, and links to the deeper guide when you want more.
The short answer: MDCAT has 180 MCQs worth 180 marks, from 5 subjects (Biology 81, Chemistry 45, Physics 36, English 9, Logical Reasoning 9), in 3 hours. There is no negative marking. Calculators are not allowed. You need 55% (99) to pass for MBBS and 50% (90) for BDS. Matric counts for 10% of your aggregate. PM&DC sets one national syllabus and framework, and each province's nominated university conducts the test.
Marks, MCQs and subjects
How many marks are there in MDCAT?
180. Each MCQ carries one mark, so the paper is out of 180. Older MDCAT papers (2023 and 2024) were out of 200; if you see 200 in an old calculator or past paper, that is why. More in the MDCAT paper pattern.
How many MCQs are there in MDCAT?
180 MCQs. PM&DC fixed this with its revised syllabus in June 2025, and the conducting universities received 180-question papers for MDCAT 2026.
How many subjects are in MDCAT?
Five:
| Subject | MCQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | 81 | 45% |
| Chemistry | 45 | 25% |
| Physics | 36 | 20% |
| English | 9 | 5% |
| Logical Reasoning | 9 | 5% |
The syllabus for each is in MDCAT syllabus, subject by subject. NUMS MDCAT is different: four subjects in 150 MCQs plus a psychological test, and no Logical Reasoning.
How much time do you get?
Three hours for all 180 MCQs, about one minute per question. UHS's notice for MDCAT 2026 gave the timing as 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
How difficult are the questions?
PM&DC sets the mix at 15% easy, 70% moderate and 15% difficult. See "Is MDCAT difficult?" below for what the results say.
Marking rules
Is there negative marking in MDCAT?
No. PM&DC's announcement of the MDCAT pattern says "no negative marking will be applied", and UHS's MDCAT guide says the same. A wrong answer and a blank answer both score zero, so never leave a circle empty. The full rules, including NUMS, are in is there negative marking in MDCAT.
Fill every bubble properly. UHS's guide says any bubble not properly filled is treated as an incorrect response. No negative marking does not protect a half-filled circle.
What are the passing marks?
55% for MBBS (99 out of 180) and 50% for BDS (90 out of 180), as PM&DC sets them. Passing makes you eligible to apply; it does not decide your college. Read MDCAT passing marks.
What happens if a question in the paper is wrong?
Universities review the paper and the answer key. UHS's MDCAT guide says a panel of subject experts validates the MCQs, and any MCQ found "invalid, ambiguous, or inappropriate for assessment shall be deleted", with marks adjusted proportionately for all candidates. Candidates can also raise objections to questions and to the answer key through the university's portal within the deadline it sets.
Exam-hall rules
Is a calculator allowed in MDCAT?
No. UHS's official notice for MDCAT 2026 lists the items "strictly prohibited within the Examination Centre premises" as: "Mobile phones, Calculators, Books, Notes or any written material, Weapons or any arms, Smart or digital watches, Any electronic or communication or Bluetooth device, etc." It warns that possessing a prohibited item leads to expulsion and cancellation of the paper, and that such candidates "shall be debarred from taking MDCAT examination for further two (02) consecutive years". Each conducting university prints its own instructions on the admit card and its notices, so read yours, but plan every Physics and Chemistry calculation for pen and paper.
What can I take into the exam hall?
UHS's 2026 notice allowed only a transparent clipboard, two blue ballpoint pens and a small transparent water bottle, plus the printed admittance card and an original photo ID (CNIC, NADRA Juvenile Card or passport). It said documents such as a B-Form, domicile or SSC/HSSC certificate were not accepted as ID. Rules on ID and items can differ by university, so follow the instructions on your own admit card. Our MDCAT exam-day tips has a full checklist.
Why is no calculator a problem only if you have not practised?
MDCAT numericals are built to be done by hand: simple ratios, powers of ten and units. Students who practise with a calculator at home lose time on the day. From the start of your preparation, solve every numerical on paper.
Matric, FSc and merit
Do Matric marks matter for MDCAT?
Not for the test itself, but yes for admission. PM&DC's regulations set the merit for MBBS and BDS as MDCAT 50%, FSc 40% and Matric 10%, for public and private colleges. With Matric out of 1100, each Matric mark adds about 0.009 to your aggregate, against about 0.036 for an FSc mark and about 0.278 for an MDCAT mark.
So Matric is small, but not nothing: 50 more Matric marks add about 0.45 aggregate points, and merit lists are often separated by fractions of a point. Matric can also break ties. KMU's policy, for example, places the older candidate first in a tie, then the one with higher Matric marks. You cannot change your Matric now; you can change your MDCAT score, which is why it deserves most of your effort. The full method is in how to calculate MDCAT aggregate.
What FSc marks do I need?
PM&DC's regulations require at least 60% in HSSC (FSc) or equivalent, with Biology and Chemistry, for an open-merit seat. Some admitting universities ask for more: KMU asks for 65% for KPK's public colleges.
National or provincial?
Is MDCAT national or provincial?
Both, in different ways. The framework is national: PM&DC sets one syllabus, the paper standards and a common question bank, registers all candidates, and fixes the date. The test is conducted province by province: PM&DC has said that "the respective provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad Capital Territory conduct MDCAT". For MDCAT 2026, UHS conducted it in Punjab, Sukkur IBA University in Sindh, KMU in KPK, BUMHS in Balochistan, and SZABMU for Islamabad, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan and Riyadh. Each province received its own papers built from the national bank. PM&DC's 2026 regulations describe the same arrangement; we will update this page if it changes for 2027.
Is a result from one province valid in another?
Yes. PM&DC has said the MDCAT score is valid nationwide. Some admitting universities have their own rules on where you sit it: Punjab's admission policy, for example, says candidates with a Punjab domicile must sit the MDCAT in Punjab. Check your province's policy before you register.
Is NUMS MDCAT the same test?
No. NUMS holds its own test, which PM&DC's regulations say counts only for Armed Forces-administered medical and dental colleges. See PMDC MDCAT vs NUMS MDCAT.
Syllabus
Does the MDCAT syllabus change every year?
Not as a rule, but it does change from time to time, so always check the current one. The biggest recent change was PM&DC's revised syllabus for MDCAT 2025, which moved the test to 180 MCQs and fixed "few gaps" in the previous syllabus, in PM&DC's words. MDCAT 2026 kept the same 180-MCQ pattern. NUMS changed its subject split for 2026 (Biology down from 65 to 55 MCQs, Physics up from 30 to 40) without changing its topic lists. If PM&DC publishes a new syllabus, it does so on its website before registration.
Which books does MDCAT follow?
The syllabus is set at FSc (intermediate) level and lists topics and learning outcomes, not one board's book. Studying your own board's textbooks against the syllabus covers it. Our chapter-wise weightage shows where the marks are.
Results, validity and retakes
How long is an MDCAT result valid?
Three years. UHS's MDCAT guide cites Section 17(4) of the PM&DC Act, 2022: scores "shall remain valid for a period of three (03) years from the date of conduct of the examination". Each admitting university lists in its notice which years' results it accepts.
Can I retake MDCAT?
Yes. MDCAT is normally held once a year, and you can sit it again in a later year to improve your score. You then apply with the result that the admitting university accepts for that session. Our MDCAT repeaters guide covers how to plan a repeat year, and KMU's rules for improvers and repeaters covers KPK.
When is the MDCAT result announced?
Within days of the test. In 2026, the test was on 20 September; Sukkur IBA posted Sindh's provisional result on 25 September and the final result on 27 September, and SZABMU issued its result notification on 26 September. UHS's 2025 guide promised the result within seven days of the test. See how to check your MDCAT result.
Is MDCAT difficult?
Passing it is within reach for a prepared student; scoring high enough for a government seat is hard. SZABMU's official result notification for 2026 shows that of 5,648 candidates who appeared, 4,157 reached the MBBS minimum, but only 83 scored 170 or more. In Sindh's official final list of 33,336 candidates, 16,507 scored 99 or more, and 376 scored 170 or more (our count from Sukkur IBA's list). Government MBBS seats usually need scores near the top of that range: in 2025-26 the last open-merit MBBS seat in a KPK public college closed at an aggregate of 93.107. The difficulty is the competition, not trick questions: 70% of the paper is moderate, textbook-based material.
Frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in MDCAT?
No. A wrong answer scores zero, the same as a blank, so attempt every question.
How many marks are in MDCAT?
180 marks: 180 MCQs of one mark each.
Is a calculator allowed in MDCAT?
No. UHS's MDCAT 2026 instructions list calculators among the items strictly prohibited in the examination centre, along with phones, smart watches and any electronic device.
How many MCQs are there in MDCAT?
180 MCQs in 3 hours.
How many subjects are in MDCAT?
Five: Biology (81 MCQs), Chemistry (45), Physics (36), English (9) and Logical Reasoning (9).
Is MDCAT 2026 national or provincial?
PM&DC sets one national syllabus, framework and question bank, and each province's nominated university conducted the test: UHS, Sukkur IBA University, KMU, BUMHS and SZABMU.
Does the MDCAT syllabus change every year?
No, but it has changed: PM&DC revised it for MDCAT 2025 and MDCAT 2026 kept the same 180-MCQ pattern. Check PM&DC's website for the current syllabus before you start.
Do Matric marks matter for MBBS admission?
Yes. Matric is 10% of the aggregate (FSc 40%, MDCAT 50%). Each Matric mark out of 1100 adds about 0.009 aggregate points.
Get ready for the real paper
Most of these answers point to the same thing: the score you can still change is your MDCAT score. Register on ePrepare to practise chapter-wise MCQs and full-length papers in the real 180-MCQ pattern under a 3-hour timer, without a calculator, and track your predicted score as it rises.
Sources: PM&DC: new syllabus for MDCAT 2025 (pattern, negative marking, passing marks); PM&DC press release, 16 September 2026; PM&DC press release, 18 September 2026; PM&DC press release, 22 October 2025 (validity); PM&DC admissions, curriculum and conduct regulations 2026; UHS: issuance of admittance card and instructions, MDCAT 2026; UHS MDCAT 2025 information guide; Punjab admission policy for MBBS and BDS; SZABMU MDCAT 2026 result notification; Sukkur IBA Testing Services: MDCAT 2026 results; KMU admission policy (public colleges); NUMS MDCAT 2026 table of specifications.
