NUMS MDCAT: test pattern, content lists and how it differs from the UHS MDCAT

The short answer

The National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) holds its own MDCAT for admission to MBBS and BDS in its constituent, affiliated and armed forces administered medical and dental colleges. This test is separate from the MDCAT that other colleges use, so read the notice of NUMS for your year. For 2026 the NUMS notice gave Sunday 13 September 2026 as the date after a postponement.

Test structure

This is the structure in the NUMS table of specification for 2026. The test is a paper based multiple choice test with one best answer.

Difficulty and style

• NUMS plans 20 percent of the questions to be easy, 60 percent moderate and 20 percent hard.
• In Biology, Chemistry and Physics, 70 percent of the questions test recall and 30 percent test application.
• Paper II is a psychological test that looks at aptitude and mental strength for medical study.

Content lists

NUMS lists the chapters of each subject in its table of specification. Biology has 13 content areas, Chemistry has 19 and Physics has 13. Use the syllabus checklist on this site for the full lists.

Registration and test day for 2026

• Online registration opened on 18 May 2026 and closed on 22 June 2026. Registration with a late fee was open until 19 August 2026. The test date was later moved to 13 September 2026.
• The fee for local centres was Rs 7,500, and Rs 8,500 with the late fee. The fee for the centre in Saudi Arabia was Rs 40,000, and Rs 50,000 with the late fee. The fee cannot be refunded or transferred.
• The test is held at all local centres at 10:00 AM. You choose two cities in order of preference, and NUMS may move you to another location.
• Reach your centre at least three hours before the test. The centres close half an hour before the start.
• Bring the printed admit card, your original matriculation certificate with a photograph, and your juvenile card, original CNIC or original passport. Bring a clean clip board and two blue or black ball point pens. Pencils, markers and gel pens are not allowed.
• Mobile phones, smart watches and other electronic devices are not allowed in the hall, and NUMS may cancel your paper if you bring one.

Which colleges use it

NUMS conducts the test for the NUMS constituent medical and dental colleges, including Army Medical College in Rawalpindi (medical cadets only), for the private sector colleges that it affiliates, such as the CMH colleges, HITEC, Wah Medical College and Karachi and Quetta Institutes of Medical Sciences, and for armed forces administered colleges such as Bahria University, Fazaia, Foundation University and NUST School of Health Sciences. Read the NUMS notice for the full list and the rules for each college.

How to prepare

• Spend the most time on Biology, which has 55 of the 150 questions in Paper I.
• Learn the application type questions as well as the facts, because they are 30 percent of the science questions.
• Use the NUMS mock on this site. It follows the number of questions and the time of Paper I and uses MDCAT style questions. This site does not have a psychological test.
• Read the instructions of NUMS for the answer sheet, because the test is paper based.

Before you apply

• Check your eligibility and the registration dates in the NUMS notice. Candidates under 18 need a juvenile card from NADRA.
• Check the test centres and what you must bring on the test day.

Practise on this site

Where this comes from

• NUMS, MDCAT 2026 table of specification (numspak.edu.pk): the structure, subject numbers, difficulty levels and content lists.
• NUMS news page for NUMS MDCAT 2026: the date, the registration schedule and the instructions.
• Check the notice of NUMS for your year before you rely on any number.