PMDC Uniform Curriculum · Official National Blueprint

MDCAT 2026 Syllabus & Registration Guide

Authoritative breakdown of the national PMDC MDCAT curriculum. Verified 180-MCQ paper pattern, 64 chapters learning outcomes, provincial admitting university portals (UHS, NUMS, SZABMU, KMU, DUHS, BUMHS), and roll number slip download instructions.

180 MCQs
Total Marks / Single Key
3 Hours
180 Minutes Duration
0 Penalty
No Negative Marking
55% / 50%
MBBS / BDS Passing Cutoff

MDCAT 2026 Paper Pattern & Marks Distribution

180 Total Marks · Single Best Answer

Under the PMDC Uniform Curriculum, the national MDCAT is a standardized 180-MCQ paper-based examination administered via OMR optical sheets. Each question carries +1 mark with zero negative marking.

Subject Weightage MCQs Total Marks Practice Chapter Questions
Biology
45%
81 81 Solve Biology PYQs
Chemistry
25%
45 45 Solve Chemistry PYQs
Physics
20%
36 36 Solve Physics PYQs
English
5%
9 9 Solve English PYQs
Logical Reasoning
5%
9 9 Solve Logical Reasoning PYQs
Total 100% 180 MCQs 180 Marks 3 Hours (180 Minutes)
180 MCQs vs. Outdated 200 MCQs Pattern: Many online blogs still reference outdated PMC-era guidelines showing 200 MCQs. The PMDC Uniform Curriculum permanently re-structured the national test to 180 MCQs (Biology 81, Chemistry 45, Physics 36, English 9, Logical Reasoning 9).

64 Official PMDC Chapters & Learning Outcomes

Full National Curriculum Breakdown

Biology Syllabus

45% (81 MCQs) · 16 Units
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The highest-weightage section in MDCAT. Emphasizes biochemical pathways, genetic inheritance, physiology, cellular organelles, and regulatory homeostasis.

#01 Acellular Life
  • Viruses classification (structure, strands, diseases, hosts)
  • AIDS and HIV infection (symptoms, transmission, causative agent)
Solve Acellular Life Past Papers
#02 Bioenergetics
  • Cellular respiration of glucose, proteins, and fats
  • Glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and Electron Transport Chain
  • Light and Dark reactions of Photosynthesis
Solve Bioenergetics Past Papers
#03 Biological Molecules
  • Biological importance of water (polarity, specific heat, cohesion, hydrolysis)
  • Carbohydrates (monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides)
  • Proteins & Amino Acids structure
  • Lipids (phospholipids, triglycerides, acylglycerols)
  • RNA & DNA double helix (Watson-Crick model, gene definition)
  • Conjugated molecules (glycolipids, glycoproteins)
Solve Biological Molecules Past Papers
#04 Cell Structure & Function
  • Animal vs Plant cell structure comparison
  • Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic cells
  • Cytoplasmic organelles (Nucleus, ER, Golgi apparatus, Mitochondria)
  • Chromosomes structure and chemical composition
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#05 Coordination & Control
  • Receptors as sensory transducers
  • Neuron structure, nerve impulses, and reflex arcs
  • Brain anatomy and functional lobes (brain stem, midbrain, cerebellum, cerebrum)
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#06 Enzymes
  • Characteristics and mode of enzyme action
  • Factors affecting rate of enzyme reactions (pH, temperature, substrate concentration)
  • Competitive and non-competitive enzyme inhibitors
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#07 Evolution
  • Origin of life theories
  • Lamarckism vs Darwinism natural selection
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#08 Reproduction
  • Human male and female reproductive systems and hormonal control
  • Menstrual cycle hormonal regulation
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) causative agents and symptoms
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#09 Support & Movement
  • Human skeleton (cartilage, muscle, bone)
  • Smooth, cardiac, and skeletal muscle comparison
  • Sliding filament theory and ultrastructure of skeletal muscle
  • Joints classification and arthritis pathology
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#10 Inheritance
  • Mendel’s Laws of Segregation and Independent Assortment
  • Gene linkage and crossing over mechanisms
  • Sex-linked recessive traits and hemophilia pedigree analysis
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#11 Circulation
  • Human heart structure and cardiac cycle phases
  • Arteries, veins, and capillary blood vessels
  • Lymphatic system (nodes, vessels, and organs)
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#12 Immunity
  • Specific defense mechanisms (cell-mediated vs humoral immunity)
  • Antibodies, antigens, and memory cells
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#13 Respiration
  • Human respiratory tract and gas exchange in alveoli
  • Effects of smoking and pollutants on lung physiology
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#14 Digestion
  • Human digestive system anatomy
  • Digestive glands, enzymes, and nutrient absorption mechanisms
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#15 Homeostasis
  • Urinary system and nephron structure
  • Glomerular filtration, selective reabsorption, and tubular secretion
  • Osmoregulation vs excretion
  • Thermoregulation and kidney stone/failure pathology
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#16 Biotechnology
  • Recombinant DNA technology and PCR
  • DNA/RNA probes, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccine synthesis
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Chemistry Syllabus

25% (45 MCQs) · 20 Units
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Balanced across Physical, Inorganic, and Organic Chemistry. Focuses heavily on reaction mechanisms, stoichiometric mole ratios, equilibrium, and thermodynamics.

#01 Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry
  • Moles and Avogadro’s numbers
  • Limiting and excess reactants
  • Theoretical, actual, and percentage yield
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#02 Atomic Structure
  • Planck’s quantum theory and photons
  • Quantum numbers and orbital shapes
  • Hydrogen spectrum and electronic configurations (Aufbau, Pauli, Hund)
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#03 Gases
  • Kinetic molecular theory
  • Boyle’s, Charles’s, and Avogadro’s laws
  • Ideal gas equation and Real vs Ideal gas behavior
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#04 Liquids & Solids
  • Evaporation, vapor pressure, and boiling point
  • Hydrogen bonding in H2O, NH3, and HF
  • Crystalline vs molecular solids, crystal lattices, and lattice energy
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#05 Chemical Equilibrium
  • Reversible reactions and macroscopic characteristics
  • Le Chatelier’s principle
  • Solubility product and Common ion effect
  • Buffer solutions and Haber’s process
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#06 Reaction Kinetics
  • Rate of reaction and rate equations
  • Factors affecting reaction rates
  • Order of reaction, activation energy, and activated complex
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#07 Thermochemistry & Energetics
  • First law of thermodynamics
  • Exothermic and endothermic reactions
  • Hess’s law of heat summation and enthalpy calculations
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#08 Electrochemistry
  • Redox reactions and oxidation number rules
  • Balancing redox reactions by oxidation number method
  • Standard Hydrogen Electrode (SHE) and standard reduction potentials
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#09 Chemical Bonding
  • VSEPR theory and molecular geometry
  • Sigma and Pi bonds
  • Orbital hybridization (sp3, sp2, sp)
  • Dipole moments and bond energy
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#10 S and P Block Elements
  • Periodic trends in atomic/ionic radii, ionization energy, electronegativity
  • Reactions of Group I, II, and IV elements with water, oxygen, and chlorine
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#11 Transition Elements
  • Electronic structures of d-block elements and ions
  • Complex formation and oxidation states
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#12 Fundamental Principles of Organic Chemistry
  • Classification of organic compounds
  • Functional groups
  • Stereoisomerism and structural isomerism
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#13 Chemistry of Hydrocarbons
  • Alkanes nomenclature and free-radical substitution
  • Alkenes structure, preparation, and addition reactions
  • Alkynes acidity, hydrogenation, and hydration
  • Benzene structure, resonance, and electrophilic aromatic substitution
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#14 Alkyl Halides
  • Nomenclature and reactivity of RX
  • SN1 and SN2 nucleophilic substitution mechanisms
  • E1 and E2 elimination mechanisms
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#15 Alcohols & Phenols
  • Nomenclature and reactivity of alcohols (esterification, ether formation)
  • Reactivity of phenol and electrophilic aromatic substitution
  • Alcohol vs Phenol differentiation
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#16 Aldehydes & Ketones
  • Nomenclature and preparation
  • Nucleophilic addition reactions (acid & base catalyzed)
  • Reduction to alcohols and oxidation reactions
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#17 Carboxylic Acids
  • Nomenclature, structure, and preparation
  • Reactivity and conversion to derivatives (acyl halides, anhydrides, esters)
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#18 Macromolecules
  • Classification and nutritional structure of proteins
  • Enzymes as biocatalysts
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#19 Industrial Chemistry
  • Adhesives and their industrial applications
  • Dyes and pigments classification
  • Condensation and addition polymers
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Physics Syllabus

20% (36 MCQs) · 16 Units
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Tests conceptual problem-solving without calculators. Heavily emphasizes mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, oscillations, and nuclear decay.

#01 Vectors and Equilibrium
  • Rectangular components addition
  • Scalar (Dot) and Vector (Cross) products
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#02 Force and Motion
  • Displacement-time and velocity-time graphs
  • Uniform and variable acceleration
  • 2D Projectile motion (Maximum height, Range, Time of flight)
  • Newton’s laws and momentum conservation in elastic/inelastic collisions
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#03 Work and Energy
  • Work done by constant and variable forces
  • Kinetic, gravitational potential, and absolute potential energy
  • Work-energy theorem in resistive mediums and power
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#04 Rotational and Circular Motion
  • Angular displacement, angular velocity, and angular acceleration
  • Relationships between linear and angular kinematic variables
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#05 Fluid Dynamics
  • Terminal velocity and fluid drag
  • Equation of continuity (conservation of mass)
  • Bernoulli’s principle and blood physics applications
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#06 Waves
  • Progressive transverse and longitudinal waves
  • Wave speed formula (v = fλ)
  • Speed of sound, Newton’s formula, and Laplace correction
  • Superposition of waves, interference, and stationary waves in strings/pipes
Solve Waves Past Papers
#07 Thermodynamics
  • Thermal equilibrium and specific heat capacity
  • First law of thermodynamics (ΔU = Q - W)
  • Molar specific heat at constant volume and constant pressure (Cp - Cv = R)
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#08 Electrostatics
  • Coulomb’s law in vacuum and dielectric mediums
  • Electric field intensity and field lines
  • Electric potential due to a point charge
  • Capacitors charging and discharging
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#09 Current Electricity
  • Ohm’s law and steady current
  • Resistivity and temperature coefficient
  • Internal resistance of sources and maximum power transfer theorem
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#10 Electromagnetism
  • Magnetic flux and flux density (Φ = B·A)
  • Force on a charged particle in a magnetic field
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#11 Electromagnetic Induction
  • Faraday’s law of induction and Lenz’s law (conservation of energy)
  • Step-up and step-down transformers
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#12 Alternating Current
  • Phase lag and lead in AC circuits
  • AC through resistors, capacitors, and inductors
  • Electromagnetic spectrum overview
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#13 Electronics
  • PN junction forward and reverse biasing
  • Half-wave and full-wave rectification using diodes
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#14 Dawn of Modern Physics
  • Quantum theory of radiation and photon energy (E = hf)
  • Photoelectric effect principles
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#15 Atomic Spectra
  • Atomic line emission and absorption spectra
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#16 Nuclear Physics
  • Atomic nuclei composition (protons, neutrons)
  • Spontaneous radioactive decay (alpha, beta, gamma)
  • Half-life calculations and medical radiation applications
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English Syllabus

5% (9 MCQs) · 3 Units
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Assesses lexical precision, reading comprehension, and formal grammar rules.

#01 Reading & Thinking Skills
  • Scanning for specific details
  • Deducing context clues and author tone
  • Figurative language and literary devices
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#02 Formal & Lexical Aspects of Language
  • High-frequency synonyms, irony, and satire
  • Pronoun-antecedent agreement and Tenses consistency
  • Infinitives, gerunds, and adverbial placement
  • Prepositions of time, movement, and direction
  • Punctuation and clause structures
  • Active vs Passive voice and Direct/Indirect speech
Solve Formal & Lexical Aspects of Language Past Papers
#03 Writing Skills & Sentence Correction
  • Faulty sentence structure identification
  • Subject-verb agreement traps
  • Spelling and function errors
Solve Writing Skills & Sentence Correction Past Papers

Logical Reasoning Syllabus

5% (9 MCQs) · 6 Units
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Evaluates critical thinking, sequential deduction, and analytical decision-making frameworks.

#01 Critical Thinking
  • Evaluating logical truth vs falsehood
  • Identifying false beliefs and cognitive biases
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#02 Letter & Symbol Series
  • Arithmetical and geometrical sequences
  • Alphanumeric series progression rules
Solve Letter & Symbol Series Past Papers
#03 Logical Deductions
  • Syllogisms and premise-conclusion relationships
  • Extracting inferences from short diagnostic passages
Solve Logical Deductions Past Papers
#04 Logical Problems
  • Deductive reasoning logic puzzles
  • Multi-variable constraints resolution
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#05 Course of Action
  • Determining appropriate administrative and corrective actions
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#06 Cause and Effect
  • Differentiating direct causation from correlation
  • Validating causal linkages in practical scenarios
Solve Cause and Effect Past Papers

Official Provincial Admitting Portals & Registration

PMDC Authorized Bodies

While PMDC sets the unified syllabus, roll number slip downloads, physical test execution, and public seat merit lists are managed directly by provincial admitting bodies:

Punjab Lahore
UHS Lahore
University of Health Sciences (UHS)

All Public & Private Medical / Dental Colleges in Punjab

Federal & AJK / International Islamabad
SZABMU Islamabad
Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU)

ICT Islamabad, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Overseas Test Centers (UAE, KSA, UK)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar
KMU Peshawar
Khyber Medical University (KMU) / ETEA

All Public & Private Medical / Dental Colleges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Sindh Karachi
DUHS Karachi
Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS)

All Public & Private Medical / Dental Colleges in Sindh (DUHS, JSMU, LUMHS, SMBBMU)

Balochistan Quetta
BUMHS Quetta
Bolan University of Medical & Health Sciences (BUMHS)

All Public & Private Medical / Dental Colleges in Balochistan

Armed Forces / Defence Rawalpindi
NUMS Rawalpindi
National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS)

Army Medical College (AMC) & all Combined Military Hospitals (CMH) across Pakistan

How to Download Your MDCAT Roll Number Slip

Admit cards / Roll number slips are uploaded to provincial admitting university portals approximately 7 to 10 days before the national test date. Follow this verified checklist to print your official admit card:

STEP 01

Access Provincial Portal

Open the official examination portal of your conducting university (e.g. UHS for Punjab, SZABMU for Federal/AJK/Overseas, KMU for KPK, DUHS for Sindh, BUMHS for Balochistan).

STEP 02

Enter Credentials

Provide your 13-digit CNIC / Smart B-Form / Passport number without hyphens, followed by your registered application registration ID or mobile number.

STEP 03

Print in High-Resolution

Download the PDF and print a clear color copy. Verify your candidate photograph, assigned test center, reporting time (usually 08:30 AM), and roll number.

Mandatory Exam-Day Checklist:
Original Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) / Juvenile Card / Smart B-Form / Passport
Printed Official Admit Card / Roll Number Slip
Two clean Blue or Black ballpoint pens (gel pens, markers, and pencils are strictly banned)
Clean transparent hardboard / clipboard with zero markings

PMDC MDCAT vs. NUMS Entry Test Comparison

A common point of confusion for pre-med candidates is the difference between the national PMDC MDCAT and the military NUMS admission test:

Feature PMDC National MDCAT NUMS Entry Test
Conducting Authority PMDC via Provincial Admitting Universities National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS)
Total MCQs 180 MCQs 200 MCQs (150 Subject + 50 Psychological/Aptitude)
Total Marks 180 Marks 200 Marks
Exam Duration 3 Hours (180 Minutes) 2.5 Hours (150 Minutes)
Negative Marking No Negative Marking No Negative Marking
Applicable Colleges All Public & Private Medical Colleges in Pakistan Army Medical College (AMC Rawalpindi) & Military CMH Institutes
Passing Score 55% for MBBS (99/180) / 50% for BDS (90/180) 55% for MBBS / 50% for BDS

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Official answers to the most common queries regarding MDCAT 2026 syllabus, eligibility, scoring, and admissions:

What are the total marks and number of MCQs in MDCAT 2026?
MDCAT 2026 consists of 180 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for a total of 180 marks (+1 mark per correct answer). There is no negative marking, and the total test duration is 3 hours (180 minutes).
What are the minimum passing marks for MDCAT 2026?
As mandated by the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC), the minimum passing threshold is 55% for Medical College (MBBS) admission (99/180 marks) and 50% for Dental College (BDS) admission (90/180 marks).
Is there negative marking in MDCAT 2026?
No. PMDC does not implement negative marking. Incorrect or unattempted questions receive 0 marks with no penalty, meaning candidates should attempt all 180 questions.
What is the subject-wise weightage in the PMDC 2026 syllabus?
Biology carries 45% (81 MCQs), Chemistry carries 25% (45 MCQs), Physics carries 20% (36 MCQs), English carries 5% (9 MCQs), and Logical Reasoning carries 5% (9 MCQs). Biology and Chemistry together account for 70% of the entire paper.
How do I download my MDCAT Roll Number Slip?
Roll number slips are issued 7–10 days before the exam directly on your respective provincial admitting university portal (UHS for Punjab, SZABMU for Federal/AJK/Overseas, KMU/ETEA for KPK, DUHS for Sindh, BUMHS for Balochistan). You enter your CNIC/B-Form number and registered mobile number to print the official colored slip.
What documents are mandatory on MDCAT exam day?
Candidates must bring: (1) Original CNIC / Juvenile Card / Smart B-Form / Passport, (2) Printed Official Roll Number Slip, (3) Two clean blue or black ballpoint pens (markers/gel pens are strictly forbidden), and (4) A transparent hardboard/clipboard.
What is the difference between PMDC MDCAT and NUMS Entry Test?
PMDC MDCAT (180 MCQs, 3 hours) qualifies you for all public and private medical colleges across all provinces. The NUMS Entry Test (200 MCQs, 2.5 hours) is administered specifically for admission into Army Medical College (AMC Rawalpindi) and military Combined Military Hospitals (CMH) institutes.

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