A growing number of medical students in Pakistan are raising concerns about the validity period of MDCAT results, saying the current system is unfair and unclear.
Under the existing rules, MDCAT results remain valid for multiple years, but students argue that the test difficulty changes every year, which affects fairness. Many candidates who pass the test once but fail to secure admission worry that their older result may be considered weaker compared to the latest exam batch.\
Students say the biggest issues are:
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No clear national policy on how long MDCAT results should stay valid
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Different difficulty levels each year, making comparisons unfair
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Seat shortages, forcing many students to wait an extra year
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Fear that older results may lose value during admissions
Parents and teachers are also urging authorities to create a uniform, long-term validity policy, so students don’t have to repeat the exam every year unless they want to improve their score.
Many students want MDCAT results to stay valid for at least three years, with equal weight given in admissions regardless of the exam year.
Education experts believe the government may soon review the policy, as the issue is affecting thousands of candidates planning for medical and dental colleges in 2026.
