KARACHI: The results of the National Registration Examination (NRE) Step-I have raised serious concerns among parents and Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) over the transparency of the examination and marking system, following consistently low pass percentages and limited disclosure of results.
According to official figures, the NRE held on December 14, 2025 recorded a 21.17 percent pass rate for medical graduates and 7.23 percent for dental graduates, with more than 7,000 candidates appearing. Similar trends were observed in the previous NRE conducted on June 25, 2025, when the medical pass percentage stood at 25.26 percent, while no dental candidate passed.
Parents allege that the system effectively compels candidates to reappear multiple times, placing a heavy financial burden on families due to repeated examination fees. Some parents have termed the process a systematic method of earning money from students, though no official evidence has been provided to substantiate the claim.
A major concern raised is that, unlike other national examinations such as MDCAT, NRE candidates are not provided with their exact marks, percentage scores, or subject-wise performance details. Students are only informed of their pass or fail status, leaving them unable to assess their academic standing or areas requiring improvement.
Parents and candidates have further questioned the absence of a rechecking or re-evaluation mechanism. They say candidates are not allowed to view their answer sheets, obtain scanned copies, or submit formal complaints to verify whether any marking errors occurred.
Several candidates who describe themselves as academically strong said the lack of access to evaluated papers has created uncertainty over whether failure was due to incorrect answers, ambiguous questions, or possible errors in marking.
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has repeatedly attributed low pass rates to the poor quality and inconsistent standards of foreign medical and dental colleges, advising parents to ensure admissions are sought only in recognized and reputable institutions. Education experts acknowledge this issue but stress that it does not eliminate the need for transparent assessment and accountability mechanisms.
PM&DC maintains that the NRE is conducted strictly on merit and in accordance with international practices to ensure patient safety. However, parents argue that greater transparency, including disclosure of marks and provision for rechecking, would help restore confidence in the examination process.
With thousands of candidates awaiting dates for the NRE Step-II clinical examination, calls are growing for reforms to make the examination system more transparent, fair, and accountable.
