PM&DC Unveils New Syllabus for MDCAT 2025, Emphasizes Transparency and Standardization
Islamabad, June 12, 2025 — The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has officially released the new syllabus for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025 on its official website. This updated framework will serve as the basis for the upcoming national entrance exam, expected to be held on either the last Sunday of September or the first Sunday of October. The final exam date will be confirmed shortly after consultation with admitting universities and formal approval by the council.
As the national regulatory authority for medical and dental education, PM&DC oversees curriculum standards, accreditation, and licensing across the country. The newly released MDCAT syllabus comprises five core subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, and Logical Reasoning — with a strong emphasis on conceptual understanding and critical thinking.
The MDCAT 2025 will consist of 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), to be completed in three hours. The question difficulty has been carefully structured: 15% easy, 70% moderate, and 15% difficult. The exam will follow a no-negative-marking policy. To qualify, candidates must secure at least 55% for admission to medical colleges and 50% for dental colleges.
Speaking on the release, PM&DC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj highlighted the council’s commitment to promoting fairness and merit in medical admissions. He noted that the new curriculum was developed to correct gaps found in the previous syllabus and completed in just six months through extensive consultations.
“This syllabus is designed to align foundational knowledge with analytical skills to meet the academic demands of future healthcare professionals,” Dr. Taj stated. “It also lays the groundwork for a unified, merit-based national assessment.”
The MDCAT Committee and its working groups held nine meetings to finalize the curriculum through a collaborative, transparent process. Feedback from stakeholders including provincial education departments, federal and regional boards, the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK representatives, admitting universities, and the general public was incorporated into the final draft.
The syllabus has been approved by both the National Medical and Dental Academic Board and the PM&DC, and is now publicly accessible. Additionally, PM&DC is developing a question bank in consultation with academic experts to further standardize the examination process.
Dr. Taj urged all prospective candidates to begin preparing according to the new syllabus and to monitor the PM&DC website regularly for updates on registration, schedules, and related announcements.
