NLE Paper Pattern 2026
National Licensing Examination is a paper of 100 MCQs to be attempted in 120 minutes, set by Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, with no negative marking. It covers 6 subjects: Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology, General Anatomy, Biochemistry and Microbiology.
100
MCQs
on the paper
120
Minutes
total time
72
Seconds per MCQ
if paced evenly
No
Negative marking
guessing is free
NLE subject weightage 2026
How many MCQs each subject contributes to the NLE paper. This is the order to revise in. Pathology is worth 18 MCQs against Biochemistry's 15, so an hour spent fixing a weak chapter in Pathology is worth more marks than the same hour anywhere else on the paper.
- NLE Pathology18 MCQs · 18%
- NLE Pharmacology18 MCQs · 18%
- NLE Physiology18 MCQs · 18%
- NLE General Anatomy16 MCQs · 16%
- NLE Biochemistry15 MCQs · 15%
- NLE Microbiology15 MCQs · 15%
| Subject | MCQs | Share | Free MCQs here |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLE Pathology MCQs | 18 | 18% | - |
| NLE Pharmacology MCQs | 18 | 18% | - |
| NLE Physiology MCQs | 18 | 18% | - |
| NLE General Anatomy MCQs | 16 | 16% | - |
| NLE Biochemistry MCQs | 15 | 15% | - |
| NLE Microbiology MCQs | 15 | 15% | - |
| Total | 100 | 100% | - |
NLE marking scheme 2026
Every NLE MCQ carries one mark, for a total of 100 marks, one per question. Nothing is deducted for a wrong answer, so an unanswered question and a wrong answer score exactly the same: zero. That makes leaving anything blank a pure loss. Attempt all 100 MCQs, and in the last few minutes fill in every remaining bubble even if you are guessing outright.
NLE time per subject
120 minutes across 100 MCQs is about 72 seconds a question. Split by weightage, that is the time each subject is worth. Going over on one subject is borrowed from another, not from spare time, because there is none.
| Subject | MCQs | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Pathology | 18 | 22 |
| Pharmacology | 18 | 22 |
| Physiology | 18 | 22 |
| General Anatomy | 16 | 19 |
| Biochemistry | 15 | 18 |
| Microbiology | 15 | 18 |
How to prepare for the NLE 2026 pattern
The pattern tells you where the marks are, not where you are losing them. Start with Pathology, because it carries 18 percent of the paper and a weak chapter there is the most expensive weak chapter you can have. Inside each subject, work chapter by chapter and stay on a chapter until you are consistently above 80 percent before moving on.
Then practise at the real pace. Untimed revision hides the problem that actually costs marks in the hall, which is spending three minutes on a question worth 72 seconds and running out of paper before you run out of time. Sit full papers under the clock, and mark them honestly.
NLE paper pattern: common questions
What is the NLE paper pattern 2026?
National Licensing Examination is a 100 MCQ paper of 120 minutes set by Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, with no negative marking. It is split across 6 subjects: Pathology 18, Pharmacology 18, Physiology 18, General Anatomy 16, Biochemistry 15, Microbiology 15.
How many MCQs are there in NLE?
100 MCQs in total, to be attempted in 120 minutes. The heaviest subject is Pathology at 18 MCQs, which is 18 percent of the paper.
Is there negative marking in NLE?
No. NLE has no negative marking, so a wrong answer costs you nothing more than an unanswered one. Never leave a question blank: attempt every one of the 100 MCQs, even the ones you are guessing on.
How much time do you get per MCQ in NLE?
120 minutes for 100 MCQs works out at about 72 seconds per question. That is the pace to practise at, and it is why timed practice matters more than untimed revision in the last month.
Which subject has the most weightage in NLE?
Pathology, at 18 of the 100 MCQs, which is 18 percent of the paper. A weak topic in the heaviest subject costs you more marks than a weak topic anywhere else, so the weightage order on this page is the order worth revising in.