Stricter MDCAT 2025 rules announced: What Pakistani students need to know

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) has released a major policy update for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025, introducing key changes to eligibility requirements and test center allocations for both local and overseas students.

According to an official notification signed by PMDC Registrar Dr. Shaista, the minimum academic eligibility for MDCAT 2025 has been increased from 60% to 65% in F.Sc (Pre-Medical) or an equivalent qualification. This higher benchmark will apply to all MBBS and BDS admissions for the academic session 2025–2026.

In addition, the Council has restricted exam center eligibility based on candidates' domiciles. This means that students may now only appear for the MDCAT within the province or region stated in their domicile, a move aimed at ensuring transparency, administrative fairness, and consistency in exam management.

For candidates residing abroad, the PMDC has confirmed that Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will be the only international location approved to host the MDCAT 2025 exam.

Furthermore, the official MDCAT 2025 syllabus has been made publicly available on the PMDC website to facilitate preparation and promote curriculum transparency.

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