USMLE Step 1 Exam Practice

MDCAT Preparation - Pattern & Essentials

The MDCAT (Medical and Dental College Admission Test) is Pakistan's entry test for MBBS/BDS, held under PMDC. The current pattern is 180 MCQs across Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English and Logical Reasoning, with no negative marking. These notes explain the pattern, a subject-wise strategy, and a 20-question mixed practice set.

Exam Pattern (PMDC MDCAT)

Total: 180 MCQs. Subject split - Biology 81, Chemistry 45, Physics 36, English 9, Logical Reasoning 9.
Duration: about 3.5 hours; single best-answer MCQs.
No negative marking - attempt every question.
Biology carries the most weight, so it deserves the most preparation time.

Biology (Highest Weight)

High-yield areas: cell biology, biomolecules, enzymes, human physiology (digestion, circulation, nervous, excretion), genetics, and microbiology.
Learn diagrams and processes (e.g. the cardiac cycle, nephron function) - they are tested directly.
Practice recall of definitions and functions; MDCAT biology rewards precise facts.

Chemistry and Physics

Chemistry: atomic structure, chemical bonding, moles/stoichiometry, acids-bases, and key organic reactions.
Physics: mechanics (motion, force, work-energy), electricity, waves, and modern physics - be comfortable with formulas and units.
Both subjects need steady numerical practice, not just reading.

English and Logical Reasoning

English (9 MCQs): grammar, vocabulary, and error identification - quick marks if basics are strong.
Logical Reasoning (9 MCQs): critical thinking, sequences, and analogies.
These smaller sections can lift your total - do not ignore them.

Key Terms

MDCAT: Medical and Dental College Admission Test - Pakistan's national admission test for MBBS/BDS, conducted under PMDC.
No negative marking: Wrong answers are not penalised, so every question should be attempted.
Single best answer: MCQ format where you choose the one best option among the choices.

Practice Quiz — 20 Questions

correct out of 20

How many MCQs are in the current MDCAT?
- A.100
- B.150
- C.180
- D.220
C. 180 — The current PMDC MDCAT has 180 MCQs.
Which subject has the highest number of MDCAT questions?
- A.Physics
- B.Biology
- C.Chemistry
- D.English
B. Biology — Biology carries the most questions (81).
Does the MDCAT have negative marking?
- A.Yes
- B.No
- C.Only in Biology
- D.Only in Physics
B. No — There is no negative marking, so attempt all questions.
The functional unit of the kidney is the:
- A.Neuron
- B.Nephron
- C.Alveolus
- D.Villus
B. Nephron — The nephron is the kidney's functional unit (Biology).
Which biomolecules are the building blocks of proteins?
- A.Fatty acids
- B.Amino acids
- C.Monosaccharides
- D.Nucleotides
B. Amino acids — Proteins are made of amino acids.
The powerhouse of the cell is the:
- A.Nucleus
- B.Mitochondrion
- C.Ribosome
- D.Golgi body
B. Mitochondrion — Mitochondria produce most of the cell's ATP.
Enzymes are biological:
- A.Fuels
- B.Catalysts
- C.Hormones
- D.Pigments
B. Catalysts — Enzymes speed up reactions without being consumed.
The SI unit of force is the:
- A.Joule
- B.Newton
- C.Watt
- D.Pascal
B. Newton — Force is measured in newtons (Physics).
Work is defined as:
- A.Force x distance
- B.Mass x acceleration
- C.Force / area
- D.Charge x voltage
A. Force x distance — Work = force x displacement in the direction of the force.
The SI unit of electric current is the:
- A.Volt
- B.Ampere
- C.Ohm
- D.Coulomb
B. Ampere — Current is measured in amperes.
Water has the chemical formula:
- A.CO2
- B.H2O
- C.O2
- D.NaCl
B. H2O — Water is H2O (Chemistry).
The pH of a neutral solution at 25 C is:
- A.0
- B.7
- C.10
- D.14
B. 7 — A neutral solution has pH 7.
The number of protons in an atom is its:
- A.Mass number
- B.Atomic number
- C.Valency
- D.Isotope number
B. Atomic number — The atomic number equals the number of protons.
A covalent bond is formed by:
- A.Transfer of electrons
- B.Sharing of electrons
- C.Loss of protons
- D.Gain of neutrons
B. Sharing of electrons — Covalent bonds involve shared electron pairs.
DNA carries information in units called:
- A.Amino acids
- B.Genes
- C.Enzymes
- D.Hormones
B. Genes — Genes are the hereditary units in DNA.
Which blood cells are mainly responsible for immunity?
- A.Red blood cells
- B.White blood cells
- C.Platelets
- D.Plasma
B. White blood cells — White blood cells (leukocytes) defend against infection.
Choose the correctly spelled word (English):
- A.Recieve
- B.Receive
- C.Receeve
- D.Receve
B. Receive — 'Receive' follows the 'i before e except after c' rule.
Pick the synonym of 'rapid':
- A.Slow
- B.Quick
- C.Heavy
- D.Late
B. Quick — 'Quick' is a synonym of 'rapid' (English).
If 2, 4, 6, 8 ... , the next number is (Logical Reasoning):
- A.9
- B.10
- C.11
- D.12
B. 10 — The sequence increases by 2, so the next term is 10.
The best MDCAT strategy given no negative marking is to:
- A.Leave hard questions blank
- B.Attempt every question
- C.Answer only Biology
- D.Skip English
B. Attempt every question — With no penalty for wrong answers, attempt all 180 questions.

References

PMDC MDCAT Curriculum 2025 (official): https://pmdc.pk/
MDCAT Test Pattern - subject-wise MCQ distribution