The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has categorically denied recent social media claims alleging an 80% increase in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) fee. In an official statement issued on Saturday, the Council clarified that the actual increase for the 2025 session is a modest 12.5%.
According to the PMDC spokesperson, the MDCAT for 2025 will be held nationwide on Sunday, October 5, 2025. The fee, which was Rs 8,000 last year, has now been set at Rs 9,000. This adjustment, the Council explained, was made upon the request of the universities responsible for conducting the examination. The increase aims to offset rising operational costs, including paper printing, enhanced security arrangements, administrative expenses, and improvements in facilities at test centres.
The examination will be organized across Pakistan by universities nominated by the federal and provincial authorities. These include the University of Health Sciences (Lahore), IBA Sukkur, Khyber Medical University (Peshawar), Bolan University (Quetta), and Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (Islamabad). An international examination centre in Saudi Arabia will also facilitate overseas candidates.
PMDC confirmed that the uniform syllabus for MDCAT 2025 was prepared in close consultation with all relevant stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the agreed provincial curricula. The examination will be conducted in English, using a paper-based format, and will consist of 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) — 81 from Biology, 45 from Chemistry, 36 from Physics, 9 from English, and 9 from Logical Reasoning. Importantly, there will be no negative marking.
Online registration for the MDCAT opened on August 8, 2025, and will continue until August 25, 2025. Late registration, subject to an additional fee, will remain available until September 1, 2025. Candidates are advised to select only one examination centre and ensure all personal information is accurate, as incomplete or incorrect applications will be rejected.
The detailed syllabus can be accessed at www.pmdc.pk, while online registration can be completed through https://mdcat.pmdc.pk/Account/Login.
With this clarification, PMDC aims to dispel misinformation and assure candidates that the fee adjustment is minimal and necessary to ensure a smooth, secure, and fair examination process.
