If you are aspiring to join an army‑affiliated medical college in Pakistan, you need to understand the NUMS entry test. Many students confuse NUMS with MDCAT, but they are different examinations. This guide explains everything you need to know about NUMS – what it is, how to prepare, its difficulty level, merit, aggregate formula, test pattern, and the complete admission process. If you are exploring medical admissions in the twin cities, check the latest admissions in Rawalpindi .
For a broader view of medical entry tests across the country, explore the spring admissions 2026 in Punjab .
Additionally, for other public sector medical universities, visit the govt sector admissions in public sector .
What is NUMS?
NUMS stands for National University of Medical Sciences. It is the entry test conducted for admission to army affiliated medical colleges in Pakistan. The test is required for:
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Army Medical College, Rawalpindi (AMC) – 27 seats for civilians with a fee of approximately 11 lac per year.
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CMH medical colleges in different cities (Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Kharian, Multan, etc.). Fee varies by city. The highest fee is for CMH Lahore (total approximately 1.5 crore for 5 years).
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Other NUMS‑affiliated private sector and armed forces administered medical and dental colleges.
NUMS is a national‑level test – the same paper is conducted across Pakistan. It is not a provincial test.
What is MDCAT?
MDCAT (Medical and Dental College Admission Test) is the entry test conducted by provincial bodies (e.g., UHS for Punjab, JSMU for Sindh, ETEA for KPK, etc.) for admission to public sector medical colleges (government medical colleges) as well as many private medical colleges. MDCAT is mandatory for admission to all public medical colleges in Pakistan.
Key Difference Between NUMS and MDCAT
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NUMS is specifically for army‑affiliated and NUMS‑constituent colleges.
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MDCAT is for public sector (government) medical colleges and many private colleges.
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A candidate can appear for both tests and use the scores for respective colleges.
How to Prepare for NUMS?
You do not need separate preparation for NUMS. If you prepare completely for MDCAT, you will automatically be ready for NUMS. No academy offers a separate NUMS preparation course.
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The syllabus of NUMS is largely similar to MDCAT.
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Some chapters are included in MDCAT but not in NUMS, such as:
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Atomic spectra
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Transition elements
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S and P block elements
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2 or 3 other minor topics.
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For Physics and Chemistry, preparing from your own provincial textbook is fine.
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For Biology, you should also go through the Federal Biology textbook as NUMS follows the federal curriculum.
Difficulty Level of NUMS
Historically, NUMS has been easier than MDCAT. You can confirm this by solving past papers. However, in 2024 (last year), the test was unexpectedly difficult – it contained MCQs of MBBS level and topics beyond FSc/A‑Levels. When the test is harder, overall merit drops, which happened last year.
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Normal years: NUMS is easier than MDCAT.
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Unexpected difficult year (like 2024): Merit drops.
Merit for NUMS Colleges
Merit depends on the difficulty level of the test and the college.
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Army Medical College (AMC), Rawalpindi (for civilians):
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Normal merit: 97‑98%
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Last year (due to difficulty): around 93‑94%
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CMH Lahore:
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Normal merit: around 91%
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Last year: 86%
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CMH other cities (Karachi, Islamabad, Kharian, etc.): Merit is lower than CMH Lahore.
Aggregate Calculation Formula for NUMS
The final merit for NUMS colleges is calculated using the following weightage:
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10% – Matric / O‑Levels marks
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40% – FSc / A‑Levels marks
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50% – NUMS test score
NUMS Test Pattern
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Total questions: 200 MCQs (fill bubbles on answer sheet)
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Subject MCQs: 150 MCQs covering Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English.
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Psychology section: 50 MCQs – these do not carry marks for admission. They are only for psychological assessment. However, they can affect your overall percentage by a few points.
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Scoring: NUMS score is declared as a percentage (out of 100). You do not get to know your exact raw score out of 150 because of the percentage conversion and psychology section impact.
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Question paper: You can take the question paper after the test. However, NUMS does not officially release an answer key.
Complete NUMS Admission Process (Step by Step)
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Registration: Visit the official NUMS website (www.numspak.edu.pk) when registration opens. Fill the online application form, select your test city preference, and pay the fee.
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Admit Card: Download your roll number slip/admit card before the test date.
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Appear for NUMS Test: Take the test on the scheduled date (usually in August/September).
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Result: NUMS announces results as percentages on their website.
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Apply to Colleges: After the result, you must apply separately to your desired NUMS‑affiliated colleges (AMC, CMH institutes, etc.) through their respective admission portals. Some colleges use a centralized system.
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Merit List: Colleges display merit lists based on the aggregate formula (10% Matric, 40% FSc, 50% NUMS).
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Interview / Medical: For Army Medical College, candidates may be called for an interview and medical examination.
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Fee Submission: Selected candidates deposit the fee to confirm admission.
Important Notes
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Psychology MCQs do not carry marks for merit but can affect your percentage slightly.
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No official answer key is released by NUMS.
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The test paper is taken after the exam – you can keep it.
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For Biology, study the Federal textbook in addition to your provincial book.
Final Thoughts
NUMS is your gateway to prestigious army‑affiliated medical colleges like Army Medical College Rawalpindi and CMH institutes across Pakistan. While NUMS is generally easier than MDCAT, you should prepare thoroughly for MDCAT to cover all possible topics. Understand the aggregate formula, aim for high scores in FSc and NUMS, and apply early. Good luck.
