PMDC to hold MDCAT 2025 on October 5 amid syllabus and policy changes

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has officially announced that the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025 will be held on Sunday, October 5, 2025. The test is a mandatory requirement for aspiring medical and dental students seeking admission to MBBS and BDS programs across the country.

This public notice, signed by the PMDC Registrar and posted on the Council’s website (www.pmdc.pk), ends weeks of speculation and confirms the final exam date after prior indications that the test would likely be conducted in late September or early October.

What is MDCAT?

MDCAT is the national-level entrance test for admission to undergraduate medical and dental programs in Pakistan. It assesses candidates' knowledge and aptitude across key science subjects and reasoning skills. The test ensures merit-based admissions and standardization across all provinces and territories.

New syllabus and policy shift

Earlier, the PMDC introduced a revised syllabus and exam structure for MDCAT 2025 to enhance transparency, fairness, and critical thinking in candidate evaluation. Key features of the updated syllabus include:

• 180 MCQs to be solved in 3 hours
• Difficulty breakdown: 15% easy, 70% moderate, 15% difficult
• Subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, Logical Reasoning
• No negative marking

Passing criteria:

• 55% for MBBS admission
• 50% for BDS admission

The updated syllabus was developed through a broad consultative process involving provincial boards, admitting universities, and stakeholders from AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan, and other regions. PMDC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj emphasized that the new format aims to balance factual knowledge with analytical reasoning, aligning with international standards.

Raised eligibility, domicile-based test restriction

In a subsequent major development, PMDC raised the eligibility threshold for MDCAT 2025 from 60% to 65% marks in F.Sc (Pre-Medical) or equivalent. Additionally, a domicile-based exam restriction has been introduced, requiring students to appear for the test only in their respective province or region of domicile.

For overseas Pakistani students, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been confirmed as the only international test center.

These policy changes, according to PMDC, are designed to reduce administrative inconsistencies and prevent manipulation in test center placements. The MDCAT 2025 syllabus is available for download from the official PMDC website.

Aftermath of past controversies

This year’s reforms follow the controversial MDCAT 2023, which was marred by widespread reports of paper leaks, mismanagement, and subsequent court cases. Students across several provinces protested, and multiple legal challenges led to re-examinations in some regions.

In 2023, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) witnessed massive backlash after allegations of leaked question papers surfaced just before the exam. The matter reached provincial high courts, forcing PMDC and provincial authorities to conduct retake exams to restore credibility. These incidents severely undermined public trust and highlighted the need for tighter exam controls — prompting the current wave of reforms.

Looking ahead

With a clear exam date and reformed policies now in place, PMDC urges students to begin their preparations using the official syllabus and regularly check the PMDC portal for further updates on registration, admit cards, and mock practice resources.

As the healthcare sector in Pakistan continues to expand, the role of MDCAT as a gatekeeper for competent future doctors and dentists has never been more crucial. The success of MDCAT 2025 may ultimately hinge on how well the changes and so-called reforms are implemented and whether the examination process remains fair and transparent — avoiding the pitfalls of previous years.