Some medical colleges are charging an additional fee of 10 to 20 per cent every year. PHOTO: PEXELS
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) announced a major revision to the Medical & Dental College Entry Test (MDCAT) schedule on Wednesday, aiming to streamline the medical admissions process and reduce waiting times for students.
Under the new policy, the MDCAT will now be held within one month after the FSC exams.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal endorsed the change, calling it a positive development that would help students maintain academic continuity and complete their preparation without losing momentum.
PMDC President Dr Rizwan Taj confirmed to The Express Tribune that the policy would be implemented for the 2026 FSC exams. He explained that reducing the gap between exams would allow students to progress to the next stage sooner, while also making medical college admissions faster and more organised.
“The new schedule has been cleared with provincial authorities, who have expressed readiness to conduct the exams on the revised timeline,” Dr Taj said, adding that the MDCAT was completed smoothly, with no incidents of paper leaks, disturbances or cheating like last year.
In 2025, a total of 140,125 candidates registered nationwide for the admission test. The exam took place in nine cities and ten centres across Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Khairpur, Jacobabad, Larkana, and Sukkur.
However, some students raised concerns about the feasibility of the new schedule. They pointed out that FSC exams were traditional written tests, while the MDCAT was entirely multiple-choice, requiring different preparation strategies.
Students feared that the short gap of a few weeks may not provide sufficient time to prepare for both exams effectively, potentially affecting performance.
Education experts and students suggested that interim guidance and support be provided to help candidates adapt to the new schedule. Some also proposed lowering the FSC passing threshold from 40% to 2030% to allow students more focused preparation time for the MDCAT.
The move sparked debate in academic circles, with supporters praising it as a time-saving measure, while critics warned of increased academic pressure and stress on students. The impact of the new policy will be closely watched during this year’s FSC exams, with potential long-term implications for medical education in Pakistan.
