More than 50,000 students appear for MDCAT every year but only 3022 (open merit) of them secure admission, which means that almost 94 percent of students attempting the exam fail to get admission in medical college. In this article, we’re writing down some of the reasons students fail to get the required marks in MDCAT.
1. Misdirected and improper preparation for the exam:
Most of the students are not really aware of learning techniques for MDCAT when they start their preparation. They use the same study techniques they used for FSc. MDCAT is a lot simpler and trickier at the same time when compared to FSc. More than rote learning, it demands consistency and concept building. You have learned all your textbooks during FSc, now is the time to learn how to apply that knowledge. For that, you need to start practicing MCQues right from the start. Here are 9 rules that you need to know before starting your preparation for MDCAT. 
2. Not following a proper schedule:
Before starting your preparation for MDCAT, the first thing you need to do is plan your time according to the syllabus for the test. Studying randomly without making any schedule can lead to a lot of distractions and wasting of time. So make a detailed schedule and try to achieve your daily target as it gives you a sense of accomplishment and encourages you to study more. You can also use Nearpeer MDCAT schedule if you haven’t made a schedule yet!
3. Not getting a grip over calculations:
This has to be one of the hardest things about MDCAT. A lot of questions are numerical based and calculator isn’t allowed, which means you have to get used to solving calculations on your own in a very short time. If you don’t practice such questions beforehand so you’ll end up spending too much time on them during the exam day. Read this article to know about 5 most critical factors that determine your MDCAT score.
4. Not clearing your doubts on time:
If you don't 'understand' something in your 'textbook', this is something to be dealt with immediately. The longer we latch onto confusion, the worse. Seek help from your friends, teachers or even Nearpeer online courses, but don't give up unless you understand that topic or chapter you're confused about. Memorizing stuff is extremely important in the long run, but if you don't understand something in the first place, what's memorizing it going to get you?
5. Relying too much on practice books:
You must have heard this a lot by now that your textbooks should be your number one priority. Do not rely on any other guide book available in the market. If you learn your textbooks well enough and solve MDCAT past papers, you’re good to go. The syllabus is already quite lengthy so don’t let yourself get distracted by the guide books your friends are using. 
6. Exam fear:
Exam fear is very common. Students overestimate the test and consider it a matter of life and death. The fear of exams is more before the exams causing them to underperform on that day. The truth is, MDCAT is not that hard as is normally portrayed. You have to calm your nerves and keep a firm belief that if you go through every nook and cranny of your textbooks, dedicate all of your energy and time on practicing rather than fearing, you can (and will!) definitely do well on your test. It's not something enigmatic! Don’t underestimate yourself!
7. Problems with time management:
In MDCAT, time is quite limited. You get 40 seconds per question on average. So you need to manage your time very intelligently during the test if you want to avoid a mishap. A very simple solution is to attempt MDCAT like tests beforehand so you can practice time management and overcome exam fear. Some of the tests that you can attempt are:
1. NTS National aptitude test
2. NET-III (NUST)
3. ECAT
4. Nearpeer MDCAT Online Tests
So, while you prepare for MDCAT, keep the following points in mind. It's once in a lifetime chance, make sure you don't lose it because of a few silly mistakes.
1. Make a proper study plan. Don’t study randomly without planning. First, plan your day and then execute it accordingly. Developing a proper study plan will help you remain focused on all the subjects equally.
2. Don’t pile doubts on any subject. Be sure of all the information you receive. Don’t hesitate to ask a question your teacher about any doubtful topic. Be crystal clear on the topic. Clearing your doubts on time will help you build a strong foundation in all the subjects.
3. MDCAT is challenging, but remember impossible can’t be spelled without the word possible! You've to overcome your fear. Attempt MDCAT-like tests beforehand so you can learn about time management and overcome exam phobia.