ISLAMABAD: As many as 180,000 students in Pakistan, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia appeared in the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) on Sunday, which was held simultaneously at all the testing centres.

MDCAT is a mandatory test to get admission to medical and dental colleges. It was held on a single day at national and international venues through provincial public admitting universities supervised by PMDC. PMDC President Prof Dr Rizwan Taj stated that students’ bright future was his top priority and the council was working tirelessly to facilitate them.

He apprised that a total of 180,533 students from Pakistan and abroad appeared in the MDCAT exam. Moreover, a total registered 180,151 candidates appeared in national venues whereas 382 candidates appeared at two International centres, i.e. 185 candidates in Dubai (UAE) and 197 candidates appeared in Saudia Arabia.

He further elaborated that in Punjab 66,875, in Sindh 40,528, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 46,439, in Baluchistan 9,230, in Gilgit-Baltistan 926, in Azad Jammu and Kashmir 4,036, and in Islamabad, 12,118 candidates appeared in the exams.

PMDC president says test held in 31 cities, rules out negative marking

Dr Taj said that the test was conducted in 31 cities all over Pakistan to facilitate a maximum number of candidates to appear in the exam. Cities included Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Sialkot, D.G. Khan, Sargodha, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Karachi, Jamshoro, Dera Ismail Khan, Malakand, Nawabshah, Swat, Swabi, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, Abbottabad, Quetta, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Haripur, Larkana, Mansehra, and Mirpur in Pakistan.

He added that special assistance was provided to a few candidates who required help with special needs to fill out answer sheets. He said it was the right of all students to fulfill their wishes and PMDC’s responsibility was to help them fulfil their dreams.

He also informed that to facilitate the candidates a simple examination marking pattern was introduced and added negative marking will not be done for wrong answers.

He said PMDC staff has worked day and night to make all necessary arrangements to conduct MDCAT. He also said students were provided with the best facility to appear in the exam.

Dr Taj also appreciated the vice-chancellors and examination heads of all public sector medical universities for doing a commendable job of ensuring transparency in exams.

He wished all the students and parents good luck in future endeavours, saying: “I know it’s an exam of a complete family not just one student… It’s a profession of extreme talent and hard work I wish all these students add value to the medical profession and the country.”

Initially, the MDCAT was supposed to be held on August 27, but the date was extended on the direction of the federal health secretary to September 10.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2023