This guide explains how to calculate MDCAT marks in Pakistan. MDCAT is the Medical and Dental College Admission Test for admission to MBBS and BDS programmes in Pakistan. The test has 180 multiple-choice questions, each worth one mark, so the total is 180 marks. There is no negative marking, which makes the calculation simple: your marks are the number of questions you answered correctly.

The figures in this guide are from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). They use the MDCAT-2026 pattern published by PMDC: 180 MCQs, paper-based, in English, with no negative marking. PMDC held MDCAT-2026 on Sunday, 16 August 2026. Always check the current PMDC notice before a new test cycle, because the pattern can change.

What Is MDCAT?

MDCAT is a single national entry test for medical and dental colleges in Pakistan. It tests the FSc (Pre-Medical) syllabus in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, plus English and logical reasoning. You do not need a separate test for most public and private medical colleges, although NUMS runs its own MDCAT for its constituent and affiliated colleges. This guide covers the PMDC MDCAT; see our guide NUMS Entry Test Weightage in Pakistan for the NUMS test.

MDCAT Subject Weightage

How to calculate MDCAT marks in Pakistan starts with the subject weightage, because Biology alone is almost half the paper. The PMDC MDCAT-2026 pattern is:

Biology: 81 MCQs — 45% of the paper
Chemistry: 45 MCQs — 25% of the paper
Physics: 36 MCQs — 20% of the paper
English: 9 MCQs — 5% of the paper
Logical reasoning: 9 MCQs — 5% of the paper
Total: 180 MCQs — 100%

Biology, Chemistry and Physics together are 162 of the 180 questions, or 90% of the paper. English and logical reasoning are only 18 questions between them, but they can still decide a close merit position, so do not leave them out of your preparation.

The MDCAT Marks Formula

Because there is no negative marking in MDCAT, the formula is straightforward. A wrong answer and a blank answer both score zero.

MDCAT marks = number of correct answers × 1

MDCAT percentage = (number of correct answers ÷ 180) × 100

For example, 144 correct answers give 144 marks, and 144 ÷ 180 × 100 = 80%. To work out your percentage quickly, divide your correct answers by 180 and multiply by 100. You can also work it out subject by subject and add the subjects together — the total must be 180 or less.

Worked Example: How to Calculate MDCAT Marks in Pakistan

Suppose a student answers the MDCAT-2026 paper like this:

Biology: 70 correct out of 81
Chemistry: 35 correct out of 45
Physics: 28 correct out of 36
English: 7 correct out of 9
Logical reasoning: 8 correct out of 9

Add the correct answers: 70 + 35 + 28 + 7 + 8 = 148. So the student scores 148 marks out of 180.

The percentage is 148 ÷ 180 × 100 = 82.22%. The student got 32 questions wrong or left them blank, and because there is no negative marking, those 32 questions cost nothing extra — the score is simply the 148 correct answers.

Notice how the subjects contribute. Biology gives 70 of the 148 marks, almost half the total, while English and logical reasoning together give 15 marks. A student who is strong in Biology has a clear advantage in this paper.

From MDCAT Marks to Merit

Your MDCAT marks are not your final merit on their own. For MBBS and BDS admission, the merit is calculated from Matric, FSc and MDCAT together. The formula in the PMDC Admissions Regulations 2025 is:

Aggregate merit = (Matric percentage × 10%) + (FSc percentage × 40%) + (MDCAT percentage × 50%)

Using the student in the worked example, with Matric 90% and FSc 88%:

Matric: 90 × 0.10 = 9.00
FSc: 88 × 0.40 = 35.20
MDCAT: 82.22 × 0.50 = 41.11
Aggregate merit: 9.00 + 35.20 + 41.11 = 85.31%

Because MDCAT carries half the merit, a small change in your MDCAT percentage moves your aggregate more than the same change in Matric. A 2% rise in MDCAT adds 1% to your aggregate, while a 2% rise in Matric adds only 0.2%. Check the prospectus of the college you are applying to as well, because individual colleges must follow the PMDC regulations, and the regulations can be updated.

Common Mistakes When Calculating MDCAT Marks

Subtracting marks for wrong answers. There is no negative marking in the PMDC MDCAT, so do not deduct anything. A wrong answer scores zero, not minus one.
Using 200 as the total. The PMDC MDCAT has 180 MCQs and 180 marks. The figure 200 belongs to the NUMS MDCAT, which is a different test.
Counting Biology as half the paper. Biology is 81 questions, or 45% — close to half, but not half. Use 81, not 90, when you work out a subject score.
Mixing up marks and merit. 148 out of 180 is your MDCAT score, 82.22%. Your aggregate merit is a different number, calculated with Matric and FSc as shown above.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many marks is MDCAT in Pakistan?
MDCAT is 180 marks in total — 180 MCQs, one mark each, with no negative marking, under the PMDC MDCAT-2026 pattern.

Is there negative marking in MDCAT?
No. PMDC states that there is no negative marking in MDCAT. Wrong and blank answers both score zero, so you should attempt every question.

How do I calculate my MDCAT percentage?
Divide your correct answers by 180 and multiply by 100. For example, 148 correct answers is 148 ÷ 180 × 100 = 82.22%.

What is a good MDCAT score?
That depends on the year and the college, because merit lists change every year. As a rough guide, a score above 80% (144 out of 180) is competitive, and a score above 90% (162 out of 180) is very strong. Check the previous year’s closing merit for the colleges you want.

Does MDCAT count for NUMS colleges?
NUMS runs its own MDCAT for its constituent and affiliated colleges, with a different paper and a different weightage. See our guide NUMS Entry Test Weightage in Pakistan for that test.

Sources

Subject weightage, total MCQs and no negative marking: PMDC, Public Notice Regarding Opening of Online Registration Portal for MDCAT-2026, pmdc.pk. Merit formula (Matric 10%, FSc 40%, MDCAT 50%): PMDC Admissions Regulations 2025, pmdc.pk. Figures checked on 11 November 2026; check the current PMDC notice for the next test cycle.