More than 138,000 candidates are appearing for MDCAT 2026 across Pakistan today.
The examination is being conducted for admissions to medical and dental colleges across the country.
According to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), examination centres have been established in 34 cities nationwide.
An international examination centre has also been established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The large number of candidates reflects the scale of this year’s medical and dental college entrance examination.
Seven MDCAT Centres Set Up in Islamabad and Rawalpindi
Authorities have established seven examination centres across Islamabad and Rawalpindi for candidates from the region.
Students are appearing at their designated centres under arrangements made for the nationwide examination.
Separate question papers have been prepared for each province.
The arrangement allows the relevant testing authorities to conduct examinations under the framework established for their respective regions.
PMDC oversees the broader standards and requirements associated with the medical and dental admission process.
Juvenile Card Requirement Removed
A notable change has also been introduced for MDCAT 2026 candidates this year.
The mandatory requirement to carry a juvenile card has been removed. Candidates without a juvenile card are therefore permitted to appear for the entrance examination.
The change affects students who previously faced concerns regarding this identification requirement.
Candidates must still follow other instructions issued by examination authorities for entry and participation.
STS Rejects Alleged MDCAT Paper Leak
The examination has also attracted attention after an alleged question paper circulated on social media.
SIBA Testing Services (STS) rejected claims that the circulating document was an authentic examination paper.
The testing authority described the alleged paper circulating online as fake.
STS advised candidates not to trust or share unverified question papers and misleading examination material.
Students have also been urged to obtain examination information only from official and verified sources.
MDCAT 2026 Important for MBBS and BDS Admissions
The MDCAT remains a key requirement for students seeking admission to medical and dental colleges in Pakistan.
Candidates use their test results as part of the admission process for MBBS and BDS programmes.
With more than 138,000 candidates appearing this year, the examination is being conducted on a large scale nationwide.
Testing arrangements cover 34 Pakistani cities, while candidates abroad can appear at the Riyadh centre.
After the examination, attention will shift toward answer keys, results and the admission process.
In other news read more about: MDCAT 2026 BUHMS Bolan University Answer Key and Question Paper
Candidates should continue following official PMDC and relevant testing authority announcements for further updates.
