Written by Zufishan · MS Environmental Science · Updated June 2026
How merit lists work in Pakistan
Pakistani universities publish ranked merit lists for each program during admission season. Your position on the list depends on your aggregate, which combines Matric, Intermediate, and entry test percentages using a fixed weighting formula. Seats are filled from the top of the list until all seats are allocated. The percentage at which the last seat is awarded is the closing merit for that year.
Standard formulas by program
| Program | Matric | Inter / FSc | Entry test |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBBS / BDS (PMC MDCAT) | 10% | 40% | 50% |
| UET engineering (ECAT) | 17% | 50% | 33% |
| NUST (NET) | 10% | 15% | 75% |
| FAST-NUCES | 10% | 40% | 50% |
| General BS programs (NTS) | 25% | 50% | 25% |
These are standard formulas. Always check your target university's current prospectus because weights can change between admission cycles.
Worked example
A student applying for MBBS with these scores:
| Component | Score | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matric | 90% | 10% | 9.0 |
| FSc Pre-Medical | 85% | 40% | 34.0 |
| MDCAT | 82% | 50% | 41.0 |
| Total merit | 100% | 84.0% |
An 84% merit would be competitive for many provincial government colleges but would typically fall short of top-tier institutions like KEMU or Dow, where closing merits have historically been higher.
Typical closing merit ranges (historical)
| Program and institution type | Typical closing merit |
|---|---|
| MBBS, top government colleges | 89% to 93% |
| MBBS, provincial government colleges | 84% to 89% |
| BDS, government colleges | 80% to 85% |
| NUST CS and EE | 85% to 90% |
| UET Lahore engineering | 75% to 82% |
| General BS, public universities | 65% to 75% |
These ranges are historical estimates only. Closing merits shift each year with the applicant pool. Check the previous year's official merit lists on university websites for the most accurate comparison.
How to use this calculator
- Select the program preset from the dropdown.
- Check the weights shown match your university's published formula. Edit them if needed.
- Enter your Matric percentage, Intermediate percentage, and entry test percentage.
- Read your estimated merit percentage in the result panel.
- Compare your merit against the closing merits from last year to gauge your chances.
When to use this calculator
Use it after your entry test results are announced to calculate your merit before university merit lists are published. Use it with different score scenarios to plan which programs are realistic and which would require a stronger test performance. For MBBS specifically, use the dedicated MDCAT Aggregate Calculator which is pre-loaded with the PMC formula. For engineering admissions, use the ECAT Aggregate Calculator.
Common mistakes
Using the wrong formula for your university. NUST weights the entry test at 75%, which is far higher than the 50% used by most other universities. Using the wrong preset will give a significantly wrong merit estimate.
Entering your marks instead of your percentage. All three fields need percentages, not raw marks. If your Matric result shows 950 out of 1100, calculate the percentage first: 950 divided by 1100 times 100 equals 86.4%.
Comparing your merit to closing merits from several years ago. Closing merits shift with the applicant pool size each year. Use the most recent cycle's data for a realistic comparison.
Related calculators
- MDCAT Aggregate Calculator for MBBS and BDS admission merit
- ECAT Aggregate Calculator for engineering admission merit
- HEC Aggregate Calculator for general HEC aggregate scores
- Matric Percentage Calculator for converting Matric marks to percentage
- FSc Grade Calculator for converting FSc marks to percentage
Disclaimer: Merit estimates are based on the standard formulas shown and the percentages you enter. Actual merit lists are compiled by universities using official policies that may include additional criteria such as domicile, gender quotas, and special seats. Always refer to the official prospectus and merit lists of your target university.