NRE Exam Guide

The National Registration Examination (NRE) is the licensing exam run by the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC). Foreign medical and dental graduates must pass it before they can receive full registration and practise in Pakistan. It has two parts: a computer-based theory paper (Step 1) and a Clinical Skills Examination (CSE / Step 2) for those who pass the theory.

Graduates who earned their MBBS or BDS (or equivalent) from a medical or dental college outside Pakistan and want PM&DC registration. If you graduated from a Pakistani institution you normally register without the NRE — check pmdc.pk for the rules that apply to your case.

• Theory (Step 1): 200 single-best-answer MCQs on a computer at a test centre.
• Weightage: about 70% clinical sciences and 30% applied basic sciences (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pathology and related disciplines).
• Passing: a minimum of 60% in theory and 60% in the CSE, each passed separately under Angoff standard setting.
• Clinical Skills Examination: 20 stations across medicine and allied, surgery and allied, obstetrics & gynaecology, paediatrics, ophthalmology and ENT.

Clinical questions lean on the big four — Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics — plus ophthalmology and ENT. Basic-science questions cover the subjects on our subjects page: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, Community Medicine and Forensic Medicine. Dental candidates should also cover Dentistry. The official syllabus and weightage tables are published by PM&DC on pmdc.pk.

Registration opens on the PM&DC online portal before each exam session. You create an account, submit your degree and documents for verification, pay the exam fee and receive an admit card with your test centre. Dates and fees change between sessions, so rely on pmdc.pk for the current schedule.

• Start with the real thing: attempt NRE past papers with original numbering to see the actual question style.
• Build speed with timed mock tests — including subject-wise mocks for Surgery, Paediatrics and Biochemistry & Microbiology.
• Fix weak areas through subject and topic-wise practice, with an explanation for every MCQ.
• Revise the most exam-relevant conditions on the high-yield topics pages and flashcards.
• Sign in with Google for progress tracking, bookmarks and mistake revision — all free.

Is the NRE the same as the NLE?

The NRE (National Registration Examination) is the current licensing exam conducted by the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) under the PM&DC Act 2022. It replaces the earlier NLE for foreign medical and dental graduates.

How many questions are in the NRE theory exam?

The theory paper is a computer-based exam of 200 single-best-answer MCQs. Roughly 70% cover clinical sciences and 30% cover applied basic sciences.

What is the passing mark for the NRE?

You need at least 60% in the theory exam and 60% in the Clinical Skills Examination (CSE), passed separately under Angoff standard setting. Always confirm the latest criteria on pmdc.pk.

Is MCQsWala's NRE preparation really free?

Yes. Every MCQ, past paper, mock test, high-yield topic and progress feature on MCQsWala is completely free — no subscription or card required.

Does MCQsWala cover the dental NRE?

Yes. Dentistry is one of our subjects, and dental graduates can practise dentistry MCQs alongside the shared clinical and basic-science subjects.