Regulator revises syllabus for next MDCAT

Islamabad:In a move to standardise medical and dental education nationwide, the regulator PMDC has revised the syllabus for the upcoming Medical and Dental College Admission Test.

The updated curriculum, now available on the PMDC’s website, will serve as the core framework for the upcoming national entrance examination, according to PMDC President Dr Rizwan Taj. The MDCAT 2025 will be held either on the last Sunday of September or the first Sunday of October. However, the final date will be declared following consultation with admitting universities and approval from the Council.

The PMDC insisted that the revised MDCAT syllabus covered five essential subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English and Logical Reasoning, with a strong emphasis on analytical and reasoning skills, ensuring a modern, merit-based evaluation process.

The exam will consist of 180 multiple-choice questions to be attempted over three hours, with the difficulty level of the paper being distributed as 15% easy, 70% moderate and 15% difficult.

Importantly, the examination will not include negative marking. To qualify for admission, candidates must secure at least 55% marks for medical colleges and 50% for dental colleges. PMDC President Prof Rizwan Taj described the updated syllabus as a milestone in promoting fairness, transparency and academic rigor in the admissions process.

He said the previous syllabus had certain gaps, which had been addressed through a structured review and reform process completed within six months. "The new syllabus was developed through extensive consultations with education experts, universities, and provincial authorities, aligning it with national academic standards and international best practices. It places strong emphasis on conceptual understanding and analytical skills across core science disciplines," he said.

Prof Taj also revealed that PMDC was in the process of developing a national question bank with the assistance of subject matter experts to ensure consistency in testing. He said the MDCAT Committee, along with its dedicated working groups, had finalised a unified national curriculum through a transparent, inclusive and collaborative process.

"A total of nine meetings were held by the Committee and its working groups to develop and refine the curriculum. The first draft was issued in March, after which comprehensive feedback was sought from all stakeholders, including education and health departments from all four provinces, the regions of AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen, federal and regional boards, admitting universities and the public at large," he said.

The PMDC president said suggestions and inputs from all stakeholders were thoroughly reviewed and carefully incorporated into the curriculum syllabus before it was approved by the National Medical and Dental Academic Board and PMDC.