MDCAT 2026 inSee plans
Free mock test
Exam day: Sunday 23 August 2026, 10:00 AM

NUMS MDCAT 2026 Answer Key

Published as soon as the paper is available. Bookmark this page - we update it live on exam day.

NUMS paper begins in

NUMS is a separate exam - don't confuse the two

Candidates lose seats over this every year. The two tests are a week apart and are not interchangeable.

 PMDC MDCATNUMS
Date16 August 202623 August 2026
SyllabusPMDC national syllabusNUMS own syllabus
Merit formula10% Matric + 40% FSc + 50% MDCATSet by NUMS - check the prospectus
CoversPublic and private colleges via provincial admissionsNUMS constituent, affiliated and Armed Forces colleges

Sitting the PMDC MDCAT does not qualify you for a NUMS college, and vice versa.

The week between the two exams

If you are sitting both, those seven days are the highest-leverage revision window you will get - you have just seen a real paper and know exactly where you were weak.

  1. 1Write down every topic that caught you out on 16 August, while it is still fresh. This is a better weak-topic list than any diagnostic could give you.
  2. 2Drill only those topics. There is no time to revise broadly and no need to.
  3. 3Sit at least one full-length timed paper so pacing stays sharp across the gap.
  4. 4Check the NUMS syllabus against the PMDC one - the overlap is large but not total, and the gaps are where marks hide.
Take a free full-length mockNUMS past papers

What to do the moment you finish

  1. 1Write down as many of your answers as you can remember before you forget them - it is the only way to estimate your score before the official key.
  2. 2Check back here for the reconstructed key and count your correct answers.
  3. 3Work out your NUMS aggregate using the weighting in the NUMS prospectus, not the PMDC 10/40/50 formula.
  4. 4Compare against last cycle's NUMS closing merits before choices open.

Frequently asked questions

Is the NUMS test the same as the PMDC MDCAT?
No. NUMS runs its own entrance test on its own syllabus, held a week after the PMDC MDCAT on 23 August 2026. Sitting one does not cover you for the other. If you want a NUMS-affiliated college you must sit the NUMS test specifically.
When will the NUMS answer key be released?
NUMS typically publishes its official key within a few days of the exam. Candidate-reconstructed keys circulate within hours. We publish our reconstruction on exam day and replace it with the official key as soon as it is out.
Which colleges require the NUMS test?
NUMS constituent, affiliated, private-sector and Armed Forces administered medical and dental colleges. Check the current list on the official NUMS admissions portal before you rely on it - affiliations change between cycles.
Does NUMS use the same 10/40/50 merit formula?
NUMS sets its own aggregate weighting and it has differed from the PMDC formula in past cycles. Do not assume the 10/40/50 split applies - check the NUMS prospectus for the cycle you are applying in.
Can I use PMDC MDCAT past papers to prepare for NUMS?
Partly. There is substantial overlap in Biology, Chemistry and Physics because both draw on the FSc syllabus, so past-paper practice transfers well. But NUMS has its own question style and its own emphasis, so work through NUMS papers specifically where you can.
PMDC MDCAT 2026 answer keyAggregate calculator

MDCAT Papers is not affiliated with NUMS or PMDC. The NUMS merit formula and college list change between cycles - always confirm against the official NUMS prospectus for the year you are applying in. Note the 180-question format and 10/40/50 weighting on this site describe the PMDC MDCAT, not NUMS.