The Smart Guide to Acing the NMDCAT 2022

Premed.blog by MedAngle Premed

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Outline:

Introduction

Paper Pattern

Syllabus

Studying for the NMDCAT

Subject wise breakdown

How to study for the NMDCAT in one month

Managing stress and anxiety

Tips for 1 day before and on exam day

Taking a gap year?

Drive Link for Study Aids

High-yield topics

The national medical and dental colleges admission test (NMDCAT) is one of the most competitive exams in Pakistan. Young aspiring doctors are required to clear the exam to get into their dream medical and dental colleges. We understand that this is an overwhelming time and as your seniors, the best we can do is help you navigate through this, so you make the most out of it.
We will break down the entire exam, from the syllabus to resources to test-taking strategies, Premedical.pk has you covered.

Paper pattern:

The NMDCAT consists of 200 MCQs that must be solved in 210 minutes (3.5 hours).

[ ] Biology (68 MCQs)

[ ] Chemistry (54 MCQs)

[ ] Physics (54 MCQs)

[ ] English (18 MCQs)

[ ] Logical Reasoning (6 MCQs)

There is no negative marking!

The NMDCAT syllabus:

The entire NMDCAT syllabus is available on the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) website.

NMDCAT Syllabus

Studying for the NMDCAT:

Start by covering the most important, lengthy, and significant topics, i.e., the high-yield topics. The syllabus provided by the PMC has listed all the chapters included in a subject. Each chapter has a sub-topic list. Use this sub-topic list as your checklist!

Prioritize mastering all the high-yield topics. For instance, one may think that because “The Cell” from Biology is the first and most basic topic, it should not be given much thought and attention. In reality, this chapter is one of the most important ones; every line from the book can be potential a question.

Conversely, "Kingdom Animalia" from Biology may look like the most challenging and hard-to-memorize topic, but in truth, you should not invest too much time into it; you only need to know about classifications.

Scroll down to check the list of high-yield topics at the end of this blog.

Emphasize active learning and smart studying! Don’t stick to just your books - you will get tired in no time if you stick to one thing. Make your preparation more holistic by solving MCQs and using tables, flow charts, and diagrams!

Use the internet to look up summaries of the topic that you're studying: check out the image sections for diagrams, tables, comparisons, etc.
For example, you can search ‘Classification of Kingdoms diagram’ and quickly go through the relevant results.
Once done with a topic, ask yourself questions. You don’t necessarily need to be sitting at a table for this. Do this mental exercise wherever and however you’re comfortable: lying down, walking, running, crying, anything works.
All in all, your mind should stay active! Smart Topics from Premedical.pk is an excellent resource for helping you test yourself with questions. Cover all topics effectively!

There is a little surprise at the very end of this blog for our future doctors reading this. ;)

Study Aids - the best you can get for efficient revision!
Flowcharts, MCQs, compiled notes, formula sheets, and sample papers!

Keep your mind and body fresh, eat well, sleep well and stay away from negativity.

How to study for the NMDCAT?

Subject-wise breakdown

Biology:

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Biology section takes up a large portion of the NMDCAT. However, the questions are usually straightforward. Most questions require conceptual understanding, while only some require rote learning. In addition, the PMC removed several Biology chapters (such as some Kingdoms) from the NMDCAT syllabus, making things easier for the students.

The recommended books for the Biology section are the Federal or Punjab board books. For further assistance with learning certain difficult-to-understand topics, you can search for their videos on YouTube. The best resource for active learning with MCQ practice is Premedical.pk by MedAngle.

Chemistry:

The Chemistry portion consists of Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry.
To ace the physical chemistry portion, it would be best to utilize the Federal board books (although people also use the Punjab board books). This subject is more about focusing on the concept than rote learning.

Organic and Inorganic Chemistry are the main beasts to conquer. The Federal or Punjab Board books are the best weapons to defeat these beasts. You will have to memorize the reactants, products, intermediates, and some of the main mechanisms of the reaction. I found it easier to make a summary sheet.
To complement your preparation with the topical Smart Sets on Premedical.pk is also the best shield against this subject.

Physics:

Like Chemistry, the best way to learn Physics is through concept and practice.

When you come across a Physics numerical, separate the given data from the required numerical value. Since you will not have much time on your hands, it is best to point out all the given values there and then in the question statement. Then look for what is required in the question. Once you have highlighted those two things, you will easily be able to recall the formula that can be used in that question. Put the values in the formula and then solve the question carefully. If your answer does not match any of the options, go with the value closest to the answer you got. Or you can use the principle of elimination to eliminate the options you think are very obviously incorrect. If you see different SI units in the options, go with the option with the same SI unit as the value required in the question..

To perfect these habits, the best way is to practice more and more MCQs and put yourself to the test.

English:

English portion consists of the following content mentioned in the NMDCAT syllabus:

Vocabulary
Tenses
Punctuation
Subject-verb agreement
Comprehension

The best way to tackle such questions is to do MCQs on Premedical.pk, use YouTube as a source of guidance and use books to supplement your practice like Wren and Martin.

Logical Reasoning:

This portion contains the following objectives:

Critical Thinking
Letter and symbol series
Logical deduction and problems
Cause and effect
Course of action

Simply put, these questions are more like puzzles that can be solved easily if you read the question correctly and attempt as many questions as possible.
Make sure to check the high-yield topics listed at the end!

How to study for the NMDCAT in one month:

Due to the reduced syllabus of the NMDCAT, one month of preparation will suffice.

The first thing to do is to open up the syllabus and filter out what is high-yield. Premedical.pk has already done this for you in the Smart Topics section as well.

The concepts and topics which take you more time to understand and learn should be the priority. Using the books and resources previously mentioned should help you breeze through the entire syllabus. Furthermore, the best way to learn is to perform active learning and recall, that is, to do questions.

Premedical.pk offers you authentic questions with wholesome explanations, diagrams, and references after each MCQ, allowing you to spot any concept and knowledge gaps. During your final preparatory phase, it would be best to attempt our full-length Mock tests, which will replicate exam conditions.

Managing stress and anxiety:

The best way to cope with exam anxiety and stress, especially a day before your NMDCAT, is to do something you enjoy. Watch a movie with your sibling or friends. Sit and chat with your family. Listen to a song. Just do anything that makes you happy. Do not believe everything that you see on social media. Make sure to filter out information. Do not let any sort of rumor get to your head. Ask for guidance if you feel lost and don't know what to believe. And choose the person you ask for help wisely. It should be your parent or a reliable senior who has been through the NMDCAT phase and knows how it feels to be confused and stressed. Moreover, trusting the process and making studying enjoyable can help you loosen up and forget your anxiety.
-Aisha Deda, DMC’27

Still feeling stressed or confused? Group counseling sessions are conducted by Premedical.pk by MedAngle on Zoom. These sessions allow you to connect with experienced seniors who have gone through the process before you and know exactly what you are going through. Signing up is completely FREE and you can do so by filling this form:

Group Counselling Sessions Registration Form

Tips for the day before the exam and exam day:

It is counter-intuitive to think that trying to cover everything on the last day before the exam leads to good results. Last-minute cramming is commonly practiced by almost every student these days. It is, however, advised not to force yourself into learning a new topic before the exam day. The best way is to go through some important topics and revise all the formulas (for Physics and Chemistry). Try to finish that off before the evening. A lot of people experience pre-exam anxiety and jitters. Watching a movie, spending time with family/friends, and meditating are some ways to calm your nerves. The exam day, as well as the day before, are in fact, the two most important days of your NMDCAT journey. Your life-long efforts and hard work depend on them. Thus, getting a good 8-9 hours of sleep before the exam should be a part of your preparation. Sitting for the test with a tired and sleep-deprived body will poorly affect your performance.
On the test day, reach your exam center at least an hour before the test starts. That way, you will have plenty of time to get accustomed to your surroundings and mellow down your anxious mind. Be sure to check that the chair, as well as the table in front of it, is not going to cause you any trouble during the test. Some examples include broken chairs and unstable desks. If you feel that there might be something wrong, you must ask the invigilating staff to accommodate you. During the test, keep your focus intact, and don't let yourself get distracted. Do not waste more than 2 minutes on questions you don't know the answer for. Move on to the next question and leave the ones you can't answer for the end.

Taking a gap year?

In our society, taking a gap year is considered a huge shame; however, in my personal experience, a gap year can be very beneficial. What most people do is that they join other programs which are not their 1st choice, instead of working hard another year to get into the preferred program.

Taking a gap year is no shame. Since many of us are forced to make such a lifelong decision at such a young age, we come under pressure. However, a gap year can allow a person to explore their options and truly identify their passion. During my gap year, I was able to attain new skills through various courses, which are now aiding me in breezing through med school, and I also found that I have a talent for baking and cooking. A gap year made me more wholesome as an individual and gave me the extra time I needed to prepare for tackling the NMDCAT!
-Humaira Teli, KMDC'26

Conclusion

This is all that you need to know to ace the NMDCAT.
Remember, it is all about consistency and practice. You will hear things like NMDCAT is impossible to crack and that it is super difficult, only for geniuses, from many people. In those times, remember that every medical student was once a premed who went through everything you are going through. God has more than enough in his treasures for you. All you have to do is your best.

There is a thing called "Fear of the Unknown" that many students usually feel before major exams. Since NMDCAT will be a single test, those who did not attempt such a test before will have this slight feeling of fear. The good news is you can try mock tests for practice. It will help you get familiar with what the test will be like!

Luckily for you, Premedical.pk is conducting free online NMDCAT Mock tests to help simulate exact exam conditions and help you ACE it! We have conducted one FREE mock already, with many more on the way as well.
For your convenience, we have made the first mock exam such that you can either solve all 200 questions together using the combined link, solve only the 100 first year based questions using the first year link, or solve only the 100 second year based questions using the second year link:

NMDCAT Mock Test-1 2022

First Year Mock

Second Year Mock

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Useful Study Aids

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High Yield Topics:

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Author: Rayaan Imran, Amna Naveed, Syed Yusha Hasan Zaidi, Nimrah Iqbal, Humaira Teli, Aisha Deda