On June 12, 2025, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) released the updated curriculum for the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025, set for late September or early October. The exam aims to ensure fairness by featuring 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) across five subjects with no negative marking.
PMDC President Dr. Rizwan Taj announced that the MDCAT 2025 will be held in the last week of September or the first Sunday of October. The three-hour exam will include 180 MCQs from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, and Logical Reasoning. Questions will be 15% easy, 70% moderate, and 15% difficult, with no negative marking. A minimum of 55% marks is required for medical college admission, and 50% for dental colleges.
“The revised curriculum ensures transparency and fairness,” Dr. Taj stated, emphasising PMDC’s commitment to equitable testing.
The new MDCAT curriculum was developed with academic experts, educational boards, and universities to align with Pakistan’s educational standards. PMDC is also creating a comprehensive question bank to enhance exam quality and address past concerns about out-of-syllabus questions. This initiative aims to provide a standardised test that accurately assesses candidates’ knowledge and skills.
MDCAT Exam Structure Breakdown
The MDCAT 2025 will consist of the following subject distribution:
| Subject | Number of MCQs | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | 68 | 37.8% |
| Chemistry | 54 | 30% |
| Physics | 44 | 24.4% |
| English | 10 | 5.6% |
| Logical Reasoning | 4 | 2.2% |
The absence of negative marking encourages candidates to attempt all questions, reducing exam stress.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, chaired by Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, recently stressed the need for transparency and equity in MDCAT. The committee proposed a nationwide curriculum to eliminate regional disparities and address concerns about inconsistent educational standards. Past issues, such as out-of-syllabus questions, prompted revised answer keys, and the committee urged greater accuracy to prevent future disputes.
Read: PMDC Lowers MBBS, BDS Admission Merit by 5% to Fill Vacant Seats
Students and educators have welcomed the no-negative-marking policy and praised PMDC’s student-friendly approach, though some express concerns about exam difficulty. Final curriculum reforms await legal reviews and stakeholder consultations, ensuring broad consensus. PMDC’s focus on a robust question bank aims to enhance credibility, which is vital for the 200,000+ annual MDCAT candidates.
