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Pakistan: passing criteria, attempts and validity in the NRE standard

Sources checked · Unofficial summary

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) sets the passing criteria for the National Registration Examination (NRE) 2024 in Section II of its standard. Under that section, a candidate must pass the theory (MCQs) component and the Clinical Skills Examination (CSE) separately, and the minimum pass percentage for each is 60%. Section II also sets the rules on attempts and on how long a result stays valid.

These rules are Pakistan's. They come from PM&DC's own standard for the NRE 2024, and they are not rules of any Chinese university or of any other country's regulator. For the wider picture of practising back home, see this register's section page.

Passing criteria

Section II says that candidates must pass the theory and CSE components separately to be declared successful in the NRE. The minimum pass percentages are set out below.

Component Minimum pass percentage Where it is set
Theory (MCQs) 60% Section II, "Passing criteria"
Clinical Skills Examination (CSE), including mandatory stations 60% Section II, "Passing criteria"

The rules that apply within the CSE are these:

  • The CSE has three mandatory stations.
  • A candidate must clear all three mandatory stations to be declared to pass the CSE.
  • A candidate who obtains an aggregate of 60% or above in the CSE but fails even one mandatory station is declared to have failed the entire CSE.

Two further points in Section II apply to the examination as a whole. Angoff's method will be adopted for standardisation of the NRE examination. Section II also says there will be no negative marking in either the theory or the CSE component.

Attempts

Section II sets out what happens after a failed attempt.

  • A candidate who passes the theory (MCQs) component but fails the CSE must re-appear in the CSE component only.
  • Such a candidate re-registers for the CSE only.
  • A candidate who fails three consecutive attempts at the CSE must appear in both the theory (MCQs) and CSE components on the fourth attempt.
  • After every three failed attempts at the CSE, candidates must sit the entire NRE.

Section II also says there is no bar on the number of times a candidate can attempt the complete NRE.

Validity

Section II sets two time limits under "Validity".

  • A pass in the theory (MCQs) component remains valid for five years from the date of passing that component.
  • The CSE component must be passed within five years of passing the theory (MCQs) component.

Section II repeats the rule on three consecutive CSE failures under "Validity". A candidate who fails the CSE in three consecutive attempts must reappear in both the theory and CSE components of the NRE.

What this page covers

This page describes one document: the National Registration Examination (Medical): Standard, Structure and Syllabus 2024, published by PM&DC. Section II states that the NRE 2024 has been designed under Section 18 of the PM&DC Act 2022. The page reads the 2024 standard only. Before a sitting, check PM&DC's current notice for that sitting.

The 60% figures are pass marks set by the standard. They are not pass rates, and this page gives no pass rates.

Questions people ask

What is the minimum pass mark for the NRE 2024?

Section II sets a minimum pass percentage of 60% for the theory (MCQs) component and 60% for the CSE, including the mandatory stations. The two components are passed separately, and the CSE also requires clearing all three mandatory stations.

How long is a passing theory result valid?

Section II says a pass in the theory (MCQs) component remains valid for five years from the date of passing that component. The CSE must be passed within five years of passing the theory component.

What happens after three failed CSE attempts?

Section II says that a candidate who fails the CSE in three consecutive attempts must appear in both the theory and CSE components on the fourth attempt. It also says that after every three failed attempts at the CSE, candidates must sit the entire NRE.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026.

This page is an unofficial summary of the document listed above. It is not legal, medical or professional-licensing advice, it is not published by PM&DC or any other body named here, and it promises no admission, examination or registration outcome. If the official text or the regulator's own instructions differ from this page, the official text and the regulator's instructions prevail.

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