MDCAT 2026 Result: UHS Pass Percentage, Marks Breakdown and What It Means for Your Merit

The University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore declared the Punjab MDCAT 2026 result on 24 September 2026, four days after candidates sat the paper on 20 September. If you appeared in Punjab, the numbers released alongside the result tell you far more than your own score alone: they show where you stand in a very crowded field.

This guide breaks down the official UHS statistics, explains what each figure means, and shows how to turn your result into an admission plan.

Metric	Figure
Candidates registered	49,202
Candidates who appeared	47,475
Absent	1,727
Qualified for MBBS (55% or above)	37,708
MBBS qualifying rate	79.43%
Qualified for BDS (50% or above)	40,457
BDS qualifying rate	85.22%

Roughly 3.5% of registered candidates never turned up. Of those who did, nearly four in five cleared the MBBS minimum and more than eight in ten cleared the BDS minimum.

UHS also published how candidates were spread across mark bands. The top of the table is where most competitive public-college seats are decided:

Marks range (out of 180)	Candidates	Share of appeared
170 – 180	1,772	3.73%
160 – 169	6,682	14.07%
150 – 159	6,260	13.19%
89 or below	7,018	—

Add the first three rows and you get 14,714 candidates, about 31% of everyone who sat the paper in Punjab, scoring 150 or higher. That is a large cluster of strong performers competing for a limited number of public-sector MBBS and BDS seats.

1. A high pass rate does not mean an easy path to admission

The 79.43% MBBS qualifying rate only says that most candidates cleared the minimum eligibility mark. It does not tell you how many will actually get a seat. Nationally, around 136,000 candidates were expected for more than 22,000 MBBS and BDS seats, so the real filter is merit ranking, not the pass mark.

2. The top band is thick

With 1,772 candidates at 170 or above in Punjab alone, a score in the high 160s can still sit well below the very top of the merit list once FSc and matric are added. Every mark matters, and small differences in academic marks often decide placements.

3. The bottom of the distribution matters too

More than 7,000 candidates scored 89 or below, which falls below even the BDS minimum. For those candidates, the practical choices are a re-attempt in the next cycle or exploring other health-science programmes. Note that KMU's 2026-27 admission notice accepts MDCAT 2024, 2025 or 2026 scores, so a previous qualifying score can remain useful where a university's rules allow it. Always check the rules of the specific university you are applying to.

Because merit combines MDCAT with academic results, your position depends on more than your MDCAT number. As a rough way to think about it:

• 170+: You are in the top few percent of Punjab candidates. You are competitive for most public-sector options, subject to your academic marks.
• 160–169: A strong score, but this band is large. Your FSc and matric percentages will matter a great deal.
• 150–159: Competitive for many seats, but you should look carefully at last year's closing merit for your preferred colleges and keep backups.
• 99–149: You have qualified for MBBS but may need to widen your college list, including self-finance and private options, and consider BDS as an alternative.
• 90–98: You qualify for BDS but not MBBS.
• Below 90: You have not met either minimum in this attempt.

These are guides only. Closing merit changes every year with the number of candidates, paper difficulty and the seat matrix.

1. Verify your result on the official UHS portal. Check your name, roll number and marks carefully. If anything looks wrong, follow the official complaint or correction procedure in the notification.
2. Calculate your aggregate. Use the DIFF. Merit Calculator with the official weightage for the university you are applying to.
3. Study previous closing merits. They are not predictions, but they show the range in which seats have closed for each college and category.
4. Prepare your documents early. Domicile, matric and FSc certificates, CNIC or B-Form, and photographs are usually required, and delays can cost you a seat.
5. Build a smart preference list. Include ambitious, realistic and safe options. Do not list only your dream colleges.
6. Have a Plan B. If you did not reach your target, start preparing now rather than waiting. Use chapter-wise MCQs to rebuild weak units and past papers to practise under timed conditions.

Each province used separate papers for MDCAT 2026, and different universities administered the exam. That means pass rates are not strictly comparable across regions. A higher pass rate in one province does not automatically mean that its students are stronger, since paper difficulty and candidate mix both play a role. For a side-by-side look, read our province-wise MDCAT 2026 comparison.

Your MDCAT result is one input into a larger merit calculation. Whether you are celebrating a high score or planning a comeback, the best next move is to act on real data: verify your result, calculate your aggregate, study closing merits, and build a realistic plan.

Figures in this article come from published reports of the official UHS result notification. Always confirm details on the official UHS and PMDC websites.

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