ISLAMABAD: More than 140,000 candidates are appearing in the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) exam today (Sunday), competing for just 22,000 seats in medical and dental colleges across Pakistan. The exam is being held simultaneously at 32 centres, including one international venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The test is being organised by various universities, including the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore, Sukkur IBA University, Khyber Medical University Peshawar, Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences Quetta, and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University Islamabad.
Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) President Dr Rizwan Taj said that all participating universities had ensured fair, transparent, and secure arrangements for the nationwide examination. “Examination venues are equipped with proper seating, weather-appropriate heating or cooling, and drinking water facilities,” he said, adding that signal jammers were installed to block the use of unauthorized electronic devices.
To maintain transparency, Dr Taj noted that all universities must provide bubble sheets with carbon copies, open question papers only in the presence of witnesses, and securely collect answer sheets after the test. The original exam materials will be retained for at least 12 months after result declaration.
Dr Taj further announced that the official answer key would be uploaded immediately after the exam, while final results would be released within one week. A comprehensive post-exam analysis must be submitted within 10 days of result announcement, and universities are required to allow rechecking of marks within three days of result publication.
Students barred from MDCAT centre in Rawalpindi
Meanwhile, Students from various cities including Mianwali and Bhakkar barred from MDCAT Centre amid traffic disruptions in Rawalpindi.
The test was underway at the Government Graduate College, Satellite Town, where long queues of candidates formed outside the examination centre. Students were reportedly barred from entering the venue.
Parents accompanying the candidates also expressed distress over the situation. The affected students included those who had travelled from Mianwali, Bhakkar, and other districts.
“We reached the Government Graduate College at 9 a.m., but were not allowed inside,” several students complained. They further claimed that routes leading to Satellite Town were partially closed due to the Pakistan–South Africa T20 match, yet they still managed to arrive at the exam centre on time.
