By Education Correspondent

Karachi — The final results for this year’s Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) have officially been announced, with authorities confirming that the provisional results released earlier will now be considered as the final and binding results.

According to the CEO of the Sindh Testing Service (STS), the provisional results issued immediately after the exam underwent a thorough review process, and “not a single error was found.” Therefore, the previously announced marks will stand as the final scores for all candidates.

A total of 32,424 students appeared in the MDCAT examination this year, competing for limited seats in public medical and dental colleges across the province. As per the admission criteria, candidates securing at least 55% marks qualify for MBBS programs, while 50% marks are required for admission in BDS (Dentistry) programs.

The CEO STS emphasized that the smooth verification of provisional results reflects improved transparency and efficiency in the testing process. “We took special measures this year to ensure accuracy and to eliminate any possibility of human error or manipulation,” he added.

The MDCAT serves as one of Pakistan’s most competitive entrance exams, determining admissions to government medical and dental colleges. Despite several past controversies surrounding paper leaks, result discrepancies, and administrative lapses, officials claim this year’s process remained “completely fair and error-free.”

Students who have qualified in the test can now apply for admission to respective colleges through the centralized merit-based system. Final merit lists will be prepared by considering MDCAT scores along with intermediate marks, in accordance with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) regulations.

Educational experts say the decision to uphold provisional results as final will expedite the admissions timeline and reduce administrative delays. However, some student groups have expressed disappointment, arguing that the lack of an independent review process limits their right to appeal or challenge unexpected results.