MDCAT 2026 Set for Sunday, 138,000 Candidates Registered
PM&DC says the September 20 medical and dental admission test will be conducted across 34 cities and towns in Pakistan and at an international centre in Riyadh, with more than 138,000 candidates registered nationwide.
ISLAMABAD: The Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026 is scheduled to be held on Sunday, September 20, with more than 138,000 candidates registered to take the examination across Pakistan and at an international centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has confirmed that final arrangements have been reviewed for the examination, which will be conducted in 34 cities and towns across the country in addition to Riyadh. The council has reviewed security, examination-centre preparedness, emergency arrangements and candidate facilitation with the universities and provincial health authorities responsible for conducting the test.
Punjab Has Highest Number of Registered Candidates
According to the candidate breakdown provided for the examination, Punjab has the largest number of registered candidates at 49,199, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 38,841 and Sindh with 34,233. Balochistan has 9,923 candidates, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 2,761, Gilgit-Baltistan 1,721, and Islamabad Capital Territory 1,245. Another 237 candidates are listed for the Riyadh centre. The supplied breakdown gives an overall total of 138,160 candidates.
There is a minor discrepancy in publicly reported totals: PM&DC-related reporting from the final arrangements meeting puts the nationwide figure at 138,158, while the latest breakdown supplied for the examination totals 138,160. Earlier compiled university data published by Dawn also reported 138,158 candidates.
PM&DC has also developed a question bank containing approximately 8,000 questions, prepared with the involvement of around 80 subject experts. Separate examination papers have been prepared for each province, with at least two versions available for each, and every paper will contain 180 questions. Recent reporting on the council’s arrangements confirms the 8,000-question bank and two 180-question papers provided for each provincial examination setup.
Under the examination framework, the practical conduct of MDCAT rests with the relevant provincial authorities and designated universities, while PM&DC’s statutory role includes setting the examination framework, procedures and standards. Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has similarly stated that the universities conducting the test are responsible for its smooth and transparent administration.
PM&DC’s latest review also indicated that universities may retain question papers after the examination as part of measures aimed at maintaining examination security, confidentiality and transparency.
