The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has dismissed social media reports claiming an 80% increase in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) fee, clarifying that the hike for 2025 is just 12.5%.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the PMDC spokesperson said the MDCAT will be held nationwide on Sunday, October 5, 2025.

Last year’s fee was Rs8,000, while this year it has been set at Rs9,000 — an increase made on the request of exam-conducting universities to meet the rising costs of paper printing, security arrangements, administrative expenses, and improved facilities at test centres.

The MDCAT will be conducted across Pakistan through universities nominated by federal and provincial authorities, including the University of Health Sciences, Lahore; IBA Sukkur;, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Bolan University, Quetta; Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad; and an international centre in Saudi Arabia.

The PMDC said the uniform syllabus was developed in consultation with all stakeholders, and the question bank is based on the provinces’ agreed curriculum.

The test will be held in English, on paper, with 180 multiple-choice questions: 81 from biology, 45 from chemistry, 36 from physics, 9 from English, and 9 from logical reasoning.

There will be no negative marking.

Online registration for MDCAT began on August 8 and will continue until August 25, 2025, while late registration with an additional fee will be open until September 1, 2025.

Candidates must choose only one examination centre and ensure all information on the form is accurate, or their application will be rejected.

The syllabus is available at www.pmdc.pk, and registration can be completed at https://mdcat.pmdc.pk/Account/Login.