(Web Desk) - The Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026 is being held across Pakistan today, with 138,158 candidates registered to appear for the entrance examination.
The test began at 10am and will continue for three hours, according to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
Examination centres have been established in 34 cities across the country, as well as in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Punjab has the highest number of registered candidates at 49,199, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 38,841 and Sindh with 34,233 candidates.
A total of 9,923 candidates are registered in Balochistan, 2,761 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 1,721 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 1,245 in Islamabad. Another 237 candidates are eligible to take the test at the centre in Riyadh.
The PMDC said a question bank comprising 8,000 questions had been prepared for MDCAT 2026. Separate question papers will be prepared for each province, while at least two additional papers have also been developed.
Each paper will contain 180 questions.
The PMDC said the examination is being conducted by provincial authorities and designated universities. The relevant universities may retain the question papers after the test.
Candidates will not be allowed to leave the examination centre before the test concludes and must remain seated until the examination ends.
After the test, candidates will be required to hand over their question papers to the invigilating staff before leaving the centre. Failure to return the question paper may result in cancellation of the candidate’s result.
The use of mobile phones and other digital devices has also been prohibited at examination centres.
A key change this year is the removal of the mandatory juvenile card requirement. Candidates without a juvenile card will still be allowed to sit the examination, although authorities will verify their identity through the original marks sheet at the examination centre.
Candidates have been advised to follow all instructions regarding identification and required documents to avoid any inconvenience.