The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has officially issued a new syllabus for the upcoming Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT). The modifications aim to encourage critical thinking and simplify the exam structure, along with reducing the total
number of questions.

The core subjects—English, physics, chemistry, biology, and logical reasoning—remain the same, but the new format prioritizes understanding and critical thinking more than rote memorization. The number of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) has decreased from 200 to 180, a significant change.

Now biology accounts for 81, chemistry for 45, physics for 36, and English and logical reasoning for only 9 questions each. The exam’s duration has also been reduced from 3.5 hours to 3 hours to assess students’ productivity and understanding under pressure.

The structure of the revised MDCAT exam was attempted to be more student-friendly and balanced to ensure a fair evaluation of students’ abilities. The question difficulty is now split into three categories: 14% easy, 70% moderate, and 15% difficult.

While BDS applicants need 50% to pass, MBBS candidates need at least 55%. The ongoing policy of no negative marking, which grants full credit for accurate responses without condemning errors, is a big reassurance for students.

The MDCAT 2025 is expected to take place on the last Sunday of September or the first Sunday of October, pending final scheduling by admitting universities.