MDCAT test 2026: Everything students need to know before August 16
The MDCAT test 2026 will be conducted simultaneously across Pakistan on Sunday, August 16, starting at 10am. A total of 136,086 students have completed their registration after submitting the required fee.
Candidates have been instructed to reach their examination centres between 6:30am and 7am. Authorities have asked students to arrive early to complete security and verification procedures without delay.
Exam pattern and passing criteria
The test will last three hours and will consist of multiple-choice questions carrying a total of 180 marks. There will be no negative marking in the examination.
Students must obtain at least 55 percent marks to qualify for admission to medical colleges. Those applying for dental colleges must secure at least 50 percent marks.
Answer key and results
The MDCAT answer key will be uploaded after the test is completed. The final results are expected to be announced by August 22.
To ensure transparency, candidates will be allowed to solve the paper using a carbon copy of the answer sheet. They can keep this copy for their personal record and compare it with the official answer key later.
Universities to supervise the test
Arrangements for MDCAT 2026 have been completed across the country for admissions to medical and dental colleges. Different universities have been assigned responsibility for conducting the test in their respective regions.
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The University of Health Sciences Lahore will supervise the test in Punjab. Sukkur IBA University will manage the exam in Sindh, Khyber Medical University will oversee it in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences Quetta will conduct the test in Balochistan.
Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University Islamabad will organize the test for students from Islamabad, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The university will also conduct the MDCAT examination in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Special arrangements for Balochistan candidates
A separate MDCAT test centre will also be established in Islamabad for candidates from Balochistan. Only students holding a Balochistan domicile will be eligible to appear at this special examination centre.
Sindh will have 5,100 seats available in medical colleges. These include 2,300 MBBS seats and 2,800 BDS seats.
The new transparency measures, including the carbon copy of answer sheets, may increase students’ confidence in the examination process. Reaching exam centres early and understanding the exam rules can help candidates avoid unnecessary stress on test day.
