Over Half of Candidates Pass, but Many Fall Short of Admission Standards
Khyber Medical University (KMU) has announced the results of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025, revealing that only 53% of candidates from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) qualified for admission to MBBS programs.
The university confirmed that around 1,539 registered students did not appear for the exam. Among those who took the test, the performance varied widely. While 53% met the qualifying marks for MBBS, a slightly higher 58% qualified for BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) programs.
However, only 2% of candidates achieved scores above 170 marks, highlighting the competitive and challenging nature of the exam. Another 9% scored between 160 and 170 marks, while nearly 31% failed to reach 90 marks, rendering them ineligible for medical or dental college admissions.
Test Conducted Across Seven Districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
According to KMU, the MDCAT exam was conducted on 26 October 2025 across seven districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Lower Dir, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, and Abbottabad.
Nationwide, a total of 140,125 students registered for the MDCAT, a mandatory entrance test for admission to Pakistan’s public and private medical and dental colleges. The KMU administration stated that detailed results are now available on the university’s official website.
Challenges in Pakistan’s Medical Entry System
The MDCAT is widely regarded as one of the toughest academic exams in Pakistan. It assesses students’ proficiency in subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, and English. The relatively low percentage of high scorers this year underscores the intense competition and academic pressure faced by aspiring doctors.
In recent years, debates have intensified about the fairness and consistency of the MDCAT, with students and parents calling for reforms to make the system more transparent and standardized nationwide.
Despite these challenges, Khyber Medical University maintains that the testing process was conducted under strict supervision to ensure fairness and merit-based admissions.
