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MDCAT 2026 · Analysis

MDCAT 2026 answer key & paper analysis

How the official MDCAT 2026 answer key is released and challenged, a subject-wise difficulty framework, and what your paper likely means for your merit.

MDCAT Result 2026 — date & how to checkEstimate your aggregate
Total MCQs
200
Negative marking
No
Objection window
Announced by province
Passing (MBBS)
55%

How the official MDCAT answer key is released

After the MDCAT, the conducting provincial authority usually publishes a provisional answer key on its official portal. Candidates get a short window to review it and file objections against specific questions or answers before the key is finalised and results are compiled.

Only the official key from your province (UHS, DUHS, KMU or BUMHS) or PMDC is authoritative. Answer keys shared by academies or on social media are unofficial and can differ from the final version.

How to file an answer-key objection

  1. Download the provisional answer key from your provincial portal as soon as it is released.
  2. Match it against your remembered responses and flag any MCQ you believe is keyed incorrectly.
  3. Open the official objection form on the portal within the announced deadline.
  4. Attach a clear justification (textbook reference) for each challenged question and pay any prescribed fee.
  5. Keep your submission receipt — valid objections are reviewed before results are finalised.

Subject-wise paper analysis framework

Use this framework to judge your own paper section by section while the key is pending. The MDCAT weights Biology most heavily, so Biology accuracy usually moves your score the most.

  • Biology (68 MCQs) — highest weight; conceptual FSc-based questions dominate.
  • Chemistry (54 MCQs) — mix of Physical, Organic and Inorganic; reaction/appli­cation items decide the spread.
  • Physics (54 MCQs) — numerical and concept balance; time pressure is the main challenge.
  • English (18 MCQs) — grammar and comprehension; usually the highest-accuracy section.
  • Logical Reasoning (6 MCQs) — small but easy marks to secure.

What your paper means for merit (expected)

Because there is no negative marking, count every attempted answer you are confident about, estimate your MDCAT percentage, then plug it into the aggregate formula. The historical closing ranges below are for expectation only — 2026 figures depend on this year's difficulty and applicant pool.

Last-5-year open-merit closing range (MBBS) — historical
King Edward Medical University, Lahore92.7% – 94.4%
Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore91.5% – 93.0%
Nishtar Medical University, Multan90.5% – 92.4%
Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Karachi89.0% – 91.6%
Khyber Medical College, Peshawar89.6% – 91.9%

References

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Frequently asked questions

When will the MDCAT 2026 answer key be released?

The provisional MDCAT 2026 answer key is typically published by the conducting province within days of the test, followed by a short objection window. Watch your provincial portal (UHS, DUHS, KMU, BUMHS) and pmdc.pk for the official notification.

Can I challenge a wrong answer in the MDCAT key?

Yes. Provinces open an official objection window where you submit challenges with textbook justification, usually against a small fee. Valid objections are reviewed and can change the final key before results are compiled.

Are academy answer keys reliable?

Academy and social-media keys are useful for a quick estimate but are unofficial and can differ from the final key. Only the answer key published by your provincial authority or PMDC is authoritative for your result.

How do I estimate my score without negative marking?

Count every MCQ you answered confidently as a likely mark since wrong answers are not penalised, convert your total out of 200 to a percentage, then use the aggregate calculator to project your merit.