Some medical schools charge an additional 10 to 20 percent fee each year. PHOTO: PEXELS
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Wednesday announced a major overhaul of the Medical and Dental College Entrance Test (MDCAT) schedule, aiming to streamline the medical admission process and reduce waiting times for students.
As per the new policy, the MDCAT will now be conducted within a month after the FSC exams.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal endorsed the change, calling it a positive development that would help students maintain academic continuity and complete their preparation without losing momentum.
PMDC president Dr Rizwan Taj confirmed to The Express PAkGazette that the policy would be implemented for the FSC exams in 2026. He explained that reducing the gap between exams would allow students to move to the next stage sooner, while also making admissions to medical colleges faster and more organised.
“The new schedule has been approved by the provincial authorities, who have expressed their willingness to conduct the exams on the revised schedule,” Dr Taj said, adding that the MDCAT was completed smoothly, with no incidents of paper leaks, riots or cheating like last year.
In 2025, a total of 140,125 candidates registered nationwide for the admission test. The exam was conducted in nine cities and ten centers of Sindh including Karachi, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Khairpur, Jacobabad, Larkana and Sukkur.
However, some students expressed concerns about the viability of the new schedule. They noted that the FSC exams were traditional written tests, while the MDCAT was completely multiple choice and required different preparation strategies.
Students feared that the short gap of a few weeks would not provide them with enough time to prepare effectively for both exams, which could affect their performance.
Education experts and students suggested that interim guidance and support be provided to help candidates adapt to the new schedule. Some also proposed reducing the FSC pass threshold from 40% to 20-30% to allow students to spend more time preparing for the MDCAT.
The move sparked debate in academic circles, with supporters praising it as a time-saving measure, while critics warned of increased academic pressure and stress on students. The impact of the new policy will be closely monitored during this year’s FSC exams, with possible long-term implications for medical education in Pakistan.
