what students need to know

The MDCAT exams for MBBS and BDS admissions have been revised for the academic session 2026. The Express PAkGazette spoke to Dr Fatima Abid, director of admissions at Jinnah Sindh Medical University, who outlined the key details of the changes.

He said candidates must now secure at least 65 per cent marks in FSc (Pre-Medical) or equivalent qualification to be eligible for the test, compared to the previous requirement of 60 per cent.

Candidates must also have matriculation, intermediate and domicile certificates from the same province where they intend to appear for the MDCAT. According to Dr. Abid, “the measure aims to reduce logistical and administrative challenges, while ensuring equity in seat allocation and tracking.”

The updated MDCAT syllabus includes five subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English and Logical Reasoning, and consists of 180 multiple-choice questions without negative marking.

Dr Abid added that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has mandated that all exams be prepared under a uniform national framework, and a centralized question bank is being developed to ensure transparency and fairness.

In light of the national situation, the MDCAT exams have been rescheduled to be held from October 5 to 26, 2025 at various centres. Dr. Abid confirmed that biometric attendance and identity verification systems already exist at universities and testing sites.

Addressing public concerns over past document leaks, Dr Abid acknowledged anxiety among students and parents across Sindh, but noted that it is encouraging to see the PMDC implementing stronger safeguards, including digital encryption and secure distribution of documents, to prevent future leaks.

• Digital encryption and secure, monitored delivery of questionnaires to testing centers with sealed printing and distribution protocols in place, monitored by PMDC observers.
• Any violation of the examination code by a center or official will result in immediate suspension and legal action under Section 25 of the PMDC Examination Rules.
• Surveillance cameras and biometric verification in testing centers.
• an audit procedure and a post-examination review to increase public confidence.

On the issue of temporary licences, Dr Abid noted that although several universities in Sindh appear in the approved list (including DUHS, JSMU, LUMHS and Isra University), many graduates have reported delays in receiving their provisional licences. He urged the PMDC to clarify whether the delays are due to pending inspection reports or delays in procedures, and emphasized that timely issuance is vital for home work placements in public hospitals.

Dr Abid said: “The PMDC reforms 2025 demonstrate efforts to ensure merit-based admissions across the country and strengthen academic standards for future medical professionals.” However, he warned that the new 65 percent eligibility criterion could temporarily reduce the number of qualified candidates in Sindh’s rural districts, where educational opportunities remain limited.

MBBS Seat Allocation in Public Medical Colleges of Sindh

Sindh’s government-run medical colleges collectively offer 2,450 MBBS seats. There are 12 medical schools, seven dental schools and six public medical universities across the province.

The distribution of MBBS places is as follows:

• Dow School of Medicine – 350 seats

• Dow International Medical College – 150 places

• Jinnah Sindh Medical University – 350 seats

• Liaquat Medical University, Jamshoro – 350 seats

• KMC – 250 seats

• Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Chandka Medical College, Larkana – 250 seats

• Women’s Folk Medicine College, Nawabshah – 250 seats

• Khairpur Medical College – 100 seats

• Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Lyari Medical College – 100 seats

• Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College, Sukkur – 100 seats

• Gambat Faculty of Medicine – 100 places

• Bilal Medical School for children – 100 places

Challenges persist

The MDCAT exams conducted by public sector universities in 2023 and 2024 were affected by reports of paper leaks, raising concerns about transparency. In contrast, the 2019 and 2020 exams, conducted under the Pakistan Medical Council (PMC), proceeded without such problems.

After the 18th Constitutional Amendment, responsibility for the MDCAT was transferred to provincial public sector universities, with a different institution administering the exam each year.

However, since Sindh’s public universities took over, repeated reports of document leaks have emerged. In comparison, this year’s MDCAT, conducted by the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) under the federal Ministry of Defence, concluded without any reported violations.