In order to standardize the admission process, the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) has decided to conduct a uniform admission test for all medical and dental institutions in Pakistan. This will ensure that all candidates are given equal opportunity to perform. This was a difficult task as the candidates appearing in this examination come from diverse backgrounds and different levels of education.
One of the greatest challenges was to devise a common syllabus which encompasses not only the content taught in the premedical years but to note the topics missing from various syllabi. The MDCAT syllabus will not favor any group or place another to any disadvantage.
The National Medical and Dental Academic Board of the PMC was directed to complete the above-mentioned task. In order to achieve this, the syllabi documents from the following organizations were reviewed (in alphabetical order):
- Balochistan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education
- Directorate of Curriculum and Teacher Education Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Islamabad
- MCAT syllabus (AAMC)
- Punjab Boards Committee of Chairmen
- Sindh Boards Committee of Chairmen
- University of Cambridge A level syllabus
MDCAT is designed to evaluate the problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social sciences concepts and principles of a candidate required to the study of medicine. MDCAT will be a standardized multiple-choice computer-based examination. MDCAT will also test the aspirants’ other abilities like intuitive and critical thinking skills.
Download PMC National MDCAT Syllabus 2021
MDCAT: STRUCTURE, WEIGHTAGE AND DIFFICULTY LEVELS
Total # of MCQs: 210
Duration of MDCAT: 3.5 hours Format: Computer-based MCQs Minimum pass marks: 65%
No negative marking
| S.No. | Subject | Weightage | |
| Percentage | # of MCQs | ||
| 1. | Biology | 32 | 68 |
| 2. | Chemistry | 26.5 | 56 |
| 3. | Physics | 26.5 | 56 |
| 4. | English | 10 | 20 |
| 5. | Logical Reasoning | 5 | 10 |
| Total | 100 | 210 |
Difficulty levels of MCQs
| Level | Percentage |
| Easy | 20 |
| Moderate | 60 |
| Hard | 20 |
Note: In Biology, Chemistry and Physics section, 70% questions will be recall and 30% will be application level.
Biology MDCAT Syllabus 2021
CONTENT LIST FOR BIOLOGY
- Bio-diversity (acellular life/variety of life)
- Bio-energetic
- Biological molecules
- Cell structure and function
- Coordination and control/nervous & chemical coordination
- Diversity among animals
- Enzymes
- Evolution
- Life process in animals and plants (nutrition/gaseous exchange/ transport)
- Prokaryotes
- Reproduction
- Support and movement
- Variation and genetics/inheritance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR BIOLOGY
- Biodiversity (acellular life/variety of life)
- Classification of viruses
- Discovery of viruses
- Structure of viruses
- Viral disease (for example AIDS)
Learning Objectives
- Trace the discovery of virus
- Classify viruses on basis of their structure/no. of strands/diseases/host etc.
- Identify symptoms, mode of transmission and causes of viral disease (AIDS)
2. Bioenergetics
- Anaerobic respiration (respiration without oxygen)
- Electron transport chain
- Glycolysis/glycolytic pathway/aerobic respiration
- Light dependent and light independent phases/reactions,
- Oxidative phosphorylation /cyclic and non- cyclic phosphorylation,
- Photosynthesis,
- Production of ATP,
- Role of light, water, CO2, /factors effecting photosynthesis
Learning Objectives
- Explain the process of photosynthesis
- Explain the role of factors(light, water, CO2) affecting photosynthesis
- Explain light dependent and independent phases/reaction
- Differentiate among Electron transport chain, phosphorylation, glycolysis, aerobic and anaerobic respiration
3. Biological molecules
- Introduction to biological molecules
- Water
- Carbohydrates
- Proteins
- Lipids
- Conjugated molecules (glycolipids, glycoproteins)
Learning Objectives
- Define and classify biological molecules.
- Discuss the importance of biological molecules
- Describe biologically important properties of water (polarity, hydrolysis, specific heat, water as solvent and reagent, density, cohesion/ionization)
- Discuss carbohydrates: monosaccharides (glucose), oligosaccharides (cane sugar,
sucrose, lactose), polysaccharides (starches, cellulose, glycogen)
- Describe proteins: amino acids, structure of proteins
- Describe lipids: phospholipids, triglycerides, alcohol and esters (acylglycerol)
- Give an account of RNA
- Discuss conjugated molecules(glycol lipids, glycol proteins)
4. Cell structure and function
- Cell wall,
- Cytoplasm and cell organelles
- Nucleus
- Endoplasmic reticulum
- Mitochondria
- Golgi apparatus/golgi complex /golgi bodies
- Lysosomes
- Plastids/chloroplasts
- Vacuoles
- Prokaryote and eukaryote
- Fluid mosaic model
Learning Objectives
- Compare the structure of typical animal and plant cell
- Compare and contrast the structure of prokaryotic cells with eukaryotic cells
- Outline the structure and function of the following organelles: nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, mitochondria
- Discuss fluid mosaic model of cell membrane
5. Coordination and control/nervous & chemical coordination
- Nervous system
- Nerve impulse
- Steps involved in nervous coordination
- Neurons (Structure and Types)
- Transmission of action potential between cells–synapse
- Electrical synapses
- Chemical synapses
- Transmission of nerve impulse across synapse
- Hormones
- Endocrine glands
- Feedback mechanism
- Positive feedback mechanism
- Negative feedback mechanism
- Reflexes and reflex arc
- Levels of the spinal cord and its main functions
- Parts of the brain with their main functions
Learning Objectives
- Recognize receptors as transducers sensitive to various stimuli.
- Define neurons
- Explain the structure of a typical neuron (cell body, dendrites, axon and myelin sheath and schwann cells)
- Define nerve impulse
- List the levels of the spinal cord
- List the functions of the spinal cord
- Classify reflexes
- Briefly explain the functions of components of a reflex arc
- List the main parts of the brain (e.g. components of brain stem, mid brain, cerebellum, cerebrum)
- Describe the functions of each part
6. Diversity among animals (The Kingdom Animalia)
- Characteristics and diversity among the animals (animal phyla, characteristics)
Learning Objectives
i. Describe general characteristic of animals
7. Enzymes
- Introduction/characteristics of enzymes
- Mechanism of action of enzymes
- Factors effecting rate of enzyme action
- Enzyme inhibition
Learning Objectives
- Describe the distinguishing characteristics of enzymes
- Explain mechanism of action of enzymes
- Describe effects of factor on enzyme action (temperature, pH, concentration)
- Describe enzyme inhibitors
8. Evolution
- Concepts of evolution
- Inheritance of acquired characteristics
- Darwinism’
- Darwin’s theory evolution
- Neo-Darwinism’s
- Evidence of evolution
Learning Objectives
- Explain origin of life according to concept of evolution
- Describe the theory of inheritance of acquired characters, as proposed by Lamarck.
- Explain the theory of natural selection as proposed by Darwin
9. Life processes in animals and plants (nutrition/gaseous exchange/transport)
- Carnivorous plants/parasitic nutrition (pitcher plant, venus fly trap, sundew)
- Water and mineral uptake by roots, xylem and phloem
- Osmotic pressure/potential
- Cardiovascular system (including human heart structure, blood vessels)
- Respiratory system
- Digestive system
- Immune & system
- Lymphatic system
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the examples of carnivorous plants (pitcher plant, venus fly trap, sundew)
- Describe osmotic pressure and its importance in life processes in animals and plants
- Describe water and minerals uptake by roots, xylem and phloem
- List general structure of human heart
- Define the phases of a cardiac cycle
- List the differences and functions of capillaries, arteries and veins
- Describe lymphatic system (organs, nodules, vessels)
- Define and discuss the functions and importance of main components of immune system
- Discuss the functions of main part of respiratory system
- Discuss the role of surfactant in gas exchange
- Discuss the process of gas exchange in human lungs
- List the parts of human digestive system
- Explain the functions of the main parts of the digestive system including associated structures and glands
10. Prokaryotes (Kingdom Monera)
- Cellular Structure of bacteria
- Shape and size of bacteria
- Importance and control of bacteria
Learning Objectives
- Describe cellular structures of bacteria
- Explain diversity in shape and size in bacteria
- Highlight the importance of bacteria and control of harmful bacteria
11. Reproduction
- Male reproductive system
- Female reproductive system (including menstrual cycle)
- Sexually transmitted diseases
Learning Objectives
- Describe the functions of various parts of the male & female reproductive systems and the hormones that regulate those functions
- Describe the menstrual cycle (female reproductive cycle) emphasizing the role of hormones
- List the common sexually transmitted diseases along with their causative agents and main symptoms
12. Support and movement
- Cartilage
- Types of muscles
- Skeletal muscles
- Cardiac muscles
- Smooth muscles
- Structure of skeletal muscles
- Mechanism of skeletal muscle contraction
- Types of joints
- Gout and arthritis
Learning Objectives
- Define cartilage, muscle and bone
- Explain the main characteristics of cartilage and bone along with functions of both
- Compare characteristics of smooth muscles, cardiac muscles and skeletal muscles
- Explain the ultra-structure of skeletal muscles
- Describe in brief the process of skeletal muscle contraction
- Classify joints
- Define gout and arthritis
13. Variation and genetics/inheritance
- Mendel’s law of inheritance
- Gregor John Mendel and his work
- Mendel’s experiment
- Inheritance of single trait
- Mendel’s principles of inheritance
- Inheritance of two traits
- Law of independent assortment
- Scope of independent assortment in variation
- Statistics and probability relevant to genetics
- Multiple alleles
- Gene linkages and crossing over
- Sex linkages in drosophila
- Sex linkage in human
o Genetics of hemophilia
Learning Objectives
- Associate inheritance with the laws of Mendel.
- Explain the law of independent assortment, using a suitable example.
- Describe the terms gene linkage and crossing over
- Explain how gene linkage counters independent assortment and crossing-over modifies the progeny
- Describe the concept of sex-linkage.
- Briefly describe Inheritance of sex –linked traits
- Analyze the inheritance of hemophilia.
