MDCAT exam-day guide
MDCAT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed admit card or roll-number slip
Download it from the official portal named in your registration instructions and print it as directed. Check that your name, photograph, CNIC/B-Form number, and test centre are correct. Confirm with the provider whether a colour print, attestation, or multiple copies are required.
Original CNIC or B-Form
Carry the original government-issued identity document used at registration; the name and number must match your admit card. Bring a photocopy as backup. Confirm with the provider which ID is accepted for your age group and whether a expired document will be rejected.
Passport-size photographs
Carry two to four recent photographs matching the one on your registration. Confirm with the provider whether photographs are required on exam day and whether a specific background or size is mandatory.
Black ballpoint pens
If your test is paper-based, carry two or three black ballpoint pens of a type permitted in the instructions. Do not assume the centre will supply pens. Confirm with the provider whether only black ink is allowed and whether correction fluid or tape is prohibited.
Transparent water bottle
A clear, label-free bottle is usually the safest option. Confirm with the provider whether water is allowed inside the hall and whether the bottle must be transparent.
Simple wristwatch
A basic non-smart watch can help you pace yourself if the hall has no visible clock. Confirm with the provider whether watches are permitted; smartwatches, fitness bands, and alarms are almost always prohibited.
Comfortable, simple clothing
Wear layers you can manage easily and avoid clothing with excessive metal, logos, or accessories that may slow security checks. Confirm with the provider whether a dress code applies and whether head coverings or sleeves have specific conditions.
Centre location, reporting time, and transport plan
Print or save the official centre address and reporting time, and plan your route with a backup option. Visit the area beforehand if possible. Confirm the reporting time with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.
Confirmation of exam mode and schedule
Check whether your test is paper-based or computer-based, the total duration, and any scheduled break. Confirm these details with the provider because they can change between sessions.
Medical or accommodation documentation
If you need a permitted accommodation, carry the approval letter or medical documentation exactly as instructed. Confirm with the provider well before exam day; requests made at the gate are unlikely to be accepted.
Prohibited items left at home
Do not bring mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, notes, books, bags, or any unauthorised material into the centre. Possession can be treated as misconduct even if the device is switched off.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Save a family contact and the provider's helpline in your bag or on a paper slip, not only on your phone. Arrange backup transport and a meeting point in case of delays.
Plan the day
Confirm your admit card, ID, centre address, reporting time, and exam mode with the official provider. Print everything you need and pack your bag early. Keep revision light and focused on formulas, high-yield summaries, and weak areas you can fix quickly; do not start new topics.
Adjust your sleep schedule so you are awake and alert at the test start time. Reduce late-night study, avoid social media speculation about the paper, and do one or two timed practice sets under exam conditions if you still have energy.
Do a short review of key facts and formulas, then stop. Lay out your clothes, admit card, original ID, pens, water bottle, and any approved documentation in one place. Check transport timings and charge nothing that is prohibited in the hall.
Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy caffeine or unfamiliar food, and sleep at a reasonable hour. Do not attempt to learn new material or stay up late; fatigue costs more marks than one extra topic gains.
Eat a light breakfast, take only permitted items, and leave with enough margin to reach the centre before the reporting time. Recheck that your original ID and admit card are with you. Confirm entry rules with the provider if anything is unclear at the gate.
Use the washroom before entering the hall. Once seated, follow the invigilator's instructions, check that your paper or computer displays the correct test, and read the instructions before the timer starts.
Do a quick scan and answer questions you are confident about first, then return to harder ones. Keep an eye on the clock and set rough checkpoints so you do not spend too long on any single question. If there is no negative marking, confirm that policy and attempt every question.
Transfer answers carefully to the answer sheet or interface. Check numbering, keep your work inside the permitted area, and do not leave questions blank unintentionally. Before the end, use remaining time to verify that answers are marked in the correct places.
Rules to check
Carry only permitted items into the hall. Mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, notes, and unauthorised materials should be left outside; possession can lead to disqualification even if the item is switched off.
Present the original identity document that matches your admit card. If the name, photograph, or number differs, report the discrepancy to the provider before exam day rather than at the gate.
Follow all invigilator instructions. Do not talk, exchange materials, look at another candidate's paper or screen, or disturb the test environment; misconduct can result in cancellation of your result.
Breaks are usually limited or not allowed during the timed test. Use the washroom before entering and confirm the centre's break policy with the provider in advance.
Scoring and negative marking can change between sessions. Confirm the current policy in the official instruction booklet. If wrong answers are not penalised, a considered attempt at every question is usually better than leaving blanks.
Fill the answer sheet or computer interface exactly as instructed. Ambiguous, misplaced, or multiple marks may not be scored, and corrections should be made only in the permitted way.
Arrive before the reporting time. Late-entry rules vary by centre, so confirm the cutoff with the provider and do not rely on being admitted after the gate closes.
Do not bring food into the hall unless you have an approved medical accommodation. Carry any approved documentation and show it only when asked by the invigilator.