MDCAT 2026 Paper with Answer Key

Which MDCAT 2026 papers exist

MDCAT 2026 was conducted province-wise under the PMDC. Each conducting university set its own paper: UHS for Punjab, KMU for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, SZABMU for Islamabad, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, Sukkur IBA for Sindh and BUMHS for Balochistan. Question booklets were collected at the centres, so no university released its paper officially.

The SZABMU Islamabad paper, Code 4, is the only complete 2026 paper available publicly. We transcribed it from the question booklet and matched every answer to the official SZABMU key. Codes 1, 2 and 3 contain the same questions in a different order. UHS has released only its answer keys, not the Punjab question paper.

Paper pattern: SZABMU MDCAT 2026, Code 4

• Biology: Q1–Q81 (81 MCQs)
• Chemistry: Q82–Q126 (45 MCQs)
• Physics: Q127–Q162 (36 MCQs)
• English: Q163–Q171 (9 MCQs)
• Logical Reasoning: Q172–Q180 (9 MCQs)

MDCAT 2026 answer key: SZABMU Code 4 (all 180)

Official SZABMU key for Paper Code 4. Each cell shows the question number and the correct option.

Two official answers are doubtful. Q90 is keyed as o-aminophenol being the most acidic phenol, but by standard chemistry o-nitrophenol is more acidic. Q180 is keyed as “both I and II”, but strictly only statement II, the contrapositive, follows. We keep the official answers so your score matches the university’s.

Solved MDCAT 2026 MCQs with explanations

25 questions from the SZABMU 2026 paper in the real subject proportions, numbered as in the paper. Solve all 180 online with a timer and per-question explanations.

1. Biology Constant region of a specific type of antibody is made up of ________ type of amino acids.
   A) Same   B) Different   C) Variable   D) Hydrophobic
   Answer: A — The constant (C) region of a given antibody class has the same amino acid sequence in all antibodies of that class; only the variable (V) region differs to fit different antigens.
2. Biology Primary immune response is characterized by:
   A) Rapid antibody production   B) Slow and low antibody production   C) No antibody formation   D) Immediate and strong immunity
   Answer: B — The primary response (first exposure) is slow: antibodies appear after several days and reach only a low peak, because naive B cells must first be activated and clonally selected. The secondary response is rapid and strong due to memory cells.
3. Biology Breathing is also named as?
   A) Internal respiration   B) Cellular respiration   C) Inspiration   D) Ventilation
   Answer: D — Breathing (inspiration + expiration) is the mechanical movement of air in and out of the lungs and is also called ventilation. Internal/cellular respiration are chemical processes in cells.
4. Biology Warming up of the air in nasal cavity occurs with the help of blood capillaries, located ________:
   A) Underneath mucous membrane   B) Surrounding the cilia   C) Surrounding cartilages   D) In the nasopharynx
   Answer: A — A dense network of blood capillaries lies just beneath the mucous membrane lining the nasal cavity; blood flowing through them warms and moistens the incoming air.
5. Biology Intercostal muscles are ________?
   A) Skeletal muscles   B) Involuntary smooth muscles   C) Voluntary smooth muscles   D) Cardiac muscles
   Answer: A — Intercostal muscles between the ribs are voluntary skeletal (striated) muscles that raise and lower the rib cage during breathing.
6. Biology Expansion and contraction of the lungs is accomplished by
   A) Smooth muscles in bronchioles   B) Smooth muscles in alveoli   C) Intercostal muscles   D) Diaphragm & intercostal muscles
   Answer: D — Lungs have no muscle of their own; their volume changes are driven by contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles.
7. Biology During gaseous exchange in human, how many times are cell membranes of different cells crossed by an oxygen molecule from alveolar air to reach the RBC in alveolar capillaries?
   A) 2   B) 3   C) 4   D) 5
   Answer: D — O2 crosses: alveolar epithelial cell (in and out = 2 membranes), capillary endothelial cell (in and out = 2 membranes) and then the RBC membrane (1) = 5 membrane crossings.
8. Biology The pepsin is converted into active form by the action of:
   A) Trypsin   B) Chymotrypsin   C) Acidic medium   D) Alkaline medium
   Answer: C — Pepsinogen secreted by chief cells is converted into active pepsin by the acidic medium (HCl) of the stomach; pepsin then autocatalytically activates more pepsinogen.
9. Biology The back flush of acidic chyme from stomach to esophagus leads to burning sensation in the chest known as
   A) Pyrosis   B) Cirrhosis   C) Segmentation   D) Peristalsis
   Answer: A — Pyrosis (heartburn) is the burning sensation caused by reflux of acidic chyme from the stomach into the oesophagus.
10. Biology Which component of bile produced by liver may cause gall stones?
    A) Iron   B) Bilirubin   C) Cholesterol   D) Lipase
    Answer: C — Gallstones form mainly when cholesterol in bile precipitates out of solution because the bile is supersaturated with it.
82. Chemistry Alkenes are less acidic than alkynes due to
    A) higher s character   B) lesser s character   C) stronger bonds   D) higher electronegativity
    Answer: B — Acidity of a C-H bond increases with the s-character of the carbon (sp > sp2 > sp3). Alkene carbons are sp2 (33% s) compared with sp (50% s) in alkynes, so alkenes are less acidic.
83. Chemistry 1,3-Butadiene is more stable than 1-butene because it is a:
    A) Conjugated alkene   B) Cumulene   C) Isolated diene   D) Separated diene
    Answer: A — 1,3-Butadiene has alternating double bonds (conjugated diene); delocalisation of pi electrons lowers its energy and makes it more stable than a simple alkene.
84. Chemistry Name of (C2H5)4C
    A) triethyl methane   B) tetramethyl methane   C) tetraethyl methane   D) trimethyl ethane
    Answer: C — (C2H5)4C is a central carbon bonded to four ethyl groups, i.e. tetraethylmethane (3,3-diethylpentane).
85. Chemistry Compared to benzene, nitration of toluene takes place at?
    A) Same rate   B) Slow rate   C) Faster rate   D) Very slow rate
    Answer: C — The methyl group of toluene is electron-donating and activates the ring, so nitration (electrophilic substitution) is faster than in benzene.
86. Chemistry During hydrohalogenation of asymmetric alkenes, which rule favors formation of secondary carbocation over primary carbocation?
    A) Hydration rule   B) Anti-Markovnikov's rule   C) Markovnikov's rule   D) Polymerisation rule
    Answer: C — Markovnikov's rule: the H adds to the carbon with more hydrogens, so the reaction proceeds through the more stable (secondary or tertiary) carbocation.
87. Chemistry Which reagent is used to distinguish 1-butyne and 2-butyne?
    A) Water in the presence of mercuric sulphate and sulfuric acid   B) Ammoniacal silver nitrate   C) Acidified potassium manganate(VII)   D) Aqueous bromine
    Answer: B — 1-Butyne is a terminal alkyne with an acidic C-H and gives a white precipitate with ammoniacal silver nitrate; 2-butyne (non-terminal) does not react.
127. Physics 1 mega ohm × 1 pico farad =
     A) second   B) milli second   C) micro second   D) mega second
     Answer: C — RC has units of time: 1 MΩ x 1 pF = 10^6 x 10^-12 s = 10^-6 s = 1 microsecond.
128. Physics If "F" is the force between two point charges submerged in a medium of dielectric constant "M", then on withdrawing the medium the force between them becomes:
     A) F√M   B) FM   C) F/M   D) M/F
     Answer: B — Coulomb force in a medium F = F0/M (dielectric constant M reduces the force). Removing the medium gives F0 = F x M.
129. Physics Unit of resistivity i.e. specific resistance is:
     A) Ω m   B) Ω   C) Ω^-1 m^-1   D) Ω m^2
     Answer: A — R = ρL/A, so ρ = RA/L with units Ω·m2/m = Ω m (ohm metre).
130. Physics If diameter of a wire is doubled, its resistivity will:
     A) Become half   B) Decrease by four times   C) Increase by four times   D) Remain constant
     Answer: D — Resistivity is a property of the material and does not depend on the dimensions of the wire; only resistance changes with diameter.
131. Physics Two particles with same charge and different masses enter perpendicularly in a uniform magnetic field with same speed; the lighter one will move in:
     A) Straight path   B) Spiral path   C) Large circular path   D) Small circular path
     Answer: D — Radius r = mv/(qB); for the same v, q and B, the lighter particle has a smaller radius and moves in a smaller circle.
163. English Choose the option with correct spelling.
     A) Nusance   B) Neusance   C) Nuisance   D) Nuissance
     Answer: C — The correct spelling is 'nuisance' (something annoying).
164. English Choose the correctly structured sentence.
     A) If he went on time, he will have caught the bus.   B) If he had gone on time, he would have caught the bus.   C) If he had gone on time, he would catch the bus.   D) If he has gone on time, he would have caught the bus.
     Answer: B — Third conditional: 'If + past perfect, would have + past participle' → 'If he had gone on time, he would have caught the bus.'
172. Logical Reasoning If 5 is subtracted from 30, what will be the square root of the remaining?
     A) 25   B) 30   C) 5   D) 10
     Answer: C — 30 - 5 = 25, and the square root of 25 is 5.
173. Logical Reasoning Statement: A hospital staff shortage is causing long patient waiting times. Courses of Action: I. Hire temporary staff and reschedule duties to manage the patients' workflow. II. Close the hospital until full staffing is restored.
     A) Only I follows   B) Only II follows   C) Both I and II follow   D) Neither follows
     Answer: A — Hiring temporary staff and rescheduling duties directly addresses the shortage; closing the hospital is extreme and harms patients, so only course of action I follows.

UHS MDCAT 2026 answer keys (Punjab), Paper IDs A–D

UHS published signed official answer keys for all four Punjab paper IDs. Match your paper ID, then check your carbon-copy response sheet against the key. The UHS question paper itself has not been released.

What to do with the 2026 paper now

• Waiting for merit lists? Estimate your aggregate with the MDCAT merit calculator, then compare it with last year’s closing merit for all 15 Punjab colleges.
• Preparing for MDCAT 2027? Start with past papers from 2008 to 2026, the chapter notes and timed mock tests.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get the MDCAT 2026 paper PDF?

The complete SZABMU Islamabad MDCAT 2026 paper (Code 4, 180 MCQs) can be solved online on our past papers page with the official answer key and an explanation for every question. Universities did not release the question booklets officially, so the SZABMU paper is the only full 2026 paper available publicly.

Is the UHS Punjab MDCAT 2026 paper available?

No. UHS collected the question booklets at the centres and has not released the Punjab paper. UHS did publish signed official answer keys for all four paper IDs (A, B, C and D), which are shown on this page so you can check your carbon-copy response sheet.

How many MCQs were in the MDCAT 2026 paper?

180 MCQs in 3 hours: 81 Biology, 45 Chemistry, 36 Physics, 9 English and 9 Logical Reasoning. There was no negative marking.

Are there mistakes in the official MDCAT 2026 answer key?

Two answers in the official SZABMU Code 4 key are doubtful. Q90 marks o-aminophenol as the most acidic, although o-nitrophenol is more acidic by standard chemistry. Q180 marks both statements as deducible, although strictly only the contrapositive follows. We keep the official answers and flag both.

Do SZABMU codes 1, 2 and 3 have different questions?

No. Codes 1 to 4 contain the same 180 questions in a different order, so the answer key differs by code. The key on this page is for Code 4 only.