Islamabad: Over 140,000 students have registered for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) announced on Thursday, adding that the exam will now be held on October 26 instead of October 5 due to difficulties faced by candidates in flood-hit areas.
According to official figures, a total of 140,071 candidates have applied for this year’s test. The MDCAT will be conducted by provincial universities across Pakistan and at one international centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to facilitate overseas applicants.
Punjab recorded the highest number of candidates with 50,443 registering under the University of Health Sciences, Lahore, followed by 39,964 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, and 33,160 from Sindh under the Sukkur IBA Testing Service. From Balochistan, 10,278 candidates registered under Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences, Quetta.
In addition, 1,146 candidates from Islamabad Capital Territory, 3,322 from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and 1,564 from Gilgit-Baltistan will appear under Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad. Another 194 candidates have registered to take the exam at the Riyadh centre.
PM&DC clarified that the exam will not be conducted by the Council itself but by universities nominated by federal and provincial authorities. However, it said the Council had developed a uniform syllabus and item bank in consultation with stakeholders to ensure fairness and transparency.
The Council said universities must strictly follow PM&DC standards in paper setting and results, and all admitting universities have been directed to make necessary arrangements to facilitate the large number of candidates. It added that it was coordinating with FIA, IB and police to prevent paper leaks and cheating, warning that any such incident would be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.
Candidates have been urged to follow only the instructions and advisories issued by the PM&DC and universities and not to believe false reports circulating on social media.
PM&DC President Dr Rizwan Taj said the MDCAT is a mandatory entry test for admission to medical and dental colleges across Pakistan and ensures merit-based selection of competent students into the profession.
He asked universities to make the best possible efforts for smooth conduct of the examination and advised candidates to prepare with dedication, stressing that hard work and merit were the only paths to success.
Ends