Exams · 2 min read
MDCAT preparation: a month-by-month plan for FSc students
When to start, how to split the syllabus between biology, chemistry, physics and English, when to move to full mocks, and the mistakes that cost the most marks.
By Scoodemy team · 19 Oct 2026
The MDCAT decides medical college admission for every province except where ETEA applies, and the students who do well are rarely the ones who studied the most hours. They are the ones who started early, followed a plan and practised under time pressure. This is the plan.
The shape of the test
The paper is multiple choice, drawn from the FSc syllabus, and weighted towards biology and chemistry, with physics, English and logical reasoning making up the rest. There is no negative marking in most recent years, so every question should be attempted. Check the current year's notice from the conducting body before you plan, because the weighting and the number of questions change.
Months 1 to 3: finish the FSc syllabus properly
If you are in second year, your first job is your FSc board exam. Do not start MDCAT books yet. Instead:
- finish every chapter of the board syllabus, because the MDCAT is set from it
- keep a one-page summary of each chapter as you go
- fix the topics you are weak in now, while there is time
Months 4 to 5: subject-wise MCQ practice
After the board exams, move to MCQ books and past papers, one subject per block of days. Aim for 150 to 200 questions a day, and keep a notebook of every question you got wrong with the reason. That notebook is your revision material for the final month.
Month 6: full mocks under exam conditions
Sit at least two full-length mocks a week, at the same time of day as the real test, with no breaks and no phone. Review every mock the same day. Most students find their score jumps in this phase, not from new knowledge but from pace and stamina.
The mistakes that cost marks
- Starting MDCAT prep before finishing FSc, and doing neither well.
- Practising MCQs without reviewing the wrong answers.
- Skipping English and logical reasoning because they feel "easy".
- Changing books halfway through the year.
Getting help
Large coaching halls suit some students; many do better in a small group where they can ask questions. The Virtual Academy's Competitive Exams school runs live MDCAT sections with weekly mocks, and Scoodemy lists verified MDCAT & ECAT tutors for one-to-one help on the subjects that will not stick.
