MDCAT 2026 Results by Province: UHS vs KMU vs Sindh — Pass Rates, Candidate Numbers and Analysis

MDCAT 2026 is a national exam, but it is not a single national paper. PMDC assigns universities in each province or region to conduct it, and separate question papers were prepared for different provinces. The result is a patchwork of announcements, statistics and timelines. This guide puts the published figures side by side and explains how to read them sensibly.

• Exam date: 20 September 2026, 10:00 AM, a three-hour paper (rescheduled from 16 August).
• Candidates expected nationally: around 135,000–136,000 for more than 22,000 MBBS and BDS seats.
• Test cities: 36, including 35 in Pakistan and one in Riyadh.
• Domicile rule: candidates appeared in their province or region of domicile, with an exception allowing Sindh-domicile students to select Islamabad.
• Minimum thresholds: 55% for MBBS and 50% for BDS.
• No negative marking.

PMDC assigned universities such as UHS (Punjab), KMU (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Sukkur IBA University (Sindh), among others, to run the exam in their regions.

Measure	Punjab (UHS)	Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KMU)	Sindh
Result announced	24 September	Late September	Final results 28 September
Candidates	49,202 registered; 47,475 appeared	Second-largest pool nationally	Roughly 34,000 reported
MBBS qualifying rate	79.43%	Reported at about 66%–69% depending on source	Not reported in the sources reviewed
BDS qualifying rate	85.22%	Not reported in the sources reviewed	Not reported in the sources reviewed
Top band (170–180)	1,772 candidates (3.73%)	Not reported in the sources reviewed	Not reported in the sources reviewed

Where the table says "not reported in the sources reviewed", the official figure may exist on the university's own notification, so check it there.

UHS published the fullest breakdown. Of 49,202 registered candidates, 47,475 appeared. A total of 37,708 reached the 55% MBBS mark and 40,457 reached the 50% BDS mark. Marks bands showed 1,772 candidates in the 170–180 band, 6,682 in 160–169 and 6,260 in 150–159, with 7,018 at 89 or below. See our detailed UHS result analysis.

KMU conducted MDCAT for KP candidates, which formed the second-largest pool nationally, and announced results soon after the exam. Different outlets reported the overall success rate at around 66% and at 69.17%. That discrepancy is a reminder to quote the figure from KMU's own notification. KMU has also published its MBBS/BDS admission schedule, with the current portal listing applications from 1 October through 21 October 2026. Confirm later merit-list and placement dates on the official portal. See our KMU admissions guide.

Sindh's MDCAT was held at nine centres across Sindh and Islamabad. After complaints about the exam and results were reviewed and resolved, the final merit-based results were released on 28 September and made available on the testing service's website. For MBBS in Sindh, candidates needed at least 55%. Reports put the number of Sindh candidates at roughly 34,000.

It is tempting to read the table and conclude that "Punjab students are stronger" or "KP is harder". Don't. Several factors make direct comparison unreliable:

1. Different papers. Separate papers were prepared for different provinces, so difficulty can differ.
2. Different candidate mix. The share of first-time versus repeat candidates, and of students from different boards, varies by region.
3. Different reporting. Universities report different statistics, and outlets sometimes round or summarise differently.
4. Pass rate is not merit. A high qualifying rate says nothing about who gets seats. That is decided by aggregate merit and local seat numbers.
5. Standardisation questions. Unless an official equating method is published, raw results are not strictly comparable.

• Competition is large everywhere. Over 49,000 registered in Punjab, a second-largest pool in KP and around 34,000 in Sindh.
• Most candidates clear the minimums, so the minimum thresholds filter little. Merit ranking does the real sorting.
• The top band is crowded. In Punjab, around 31% of candidates scored 150 or above.
• Process matters. Sindh's complaint-resolution stage shows why waiting for final, official results before making decisions is wise.

1. Focus on your own province's process. Your domicile determines which public-sector admissions you can apply to.
2. Read your own university's notice for result details, weightage and timelines.
3. Use closing merit from your own province to plan, not other provinces' statistics.
4. Keep your documents ready for the admission window.
5. Think about Plan B early. If you want to re-attempt, chapter-wise MCQs and board past papers are the fastest way to rebuild weak areas.

Since each province uses its own papers, practising with board-specific questions helps. DIFF. MDCAT's past-paper archive includes UHS, KPK/KMU, Sindh, NUMS and BUMHS collections, which lets you see the style of each board.

Provincial numbers make good reading, but your own score, aggregate and preference list matter far more. Use the data to understand the landscape, then focus on your own plan.

Figures are taken from published reports and official notifications as of 7 October 2026. Some figures differ between sources; verify on official websites.

Practice MCQs → · Past papers →