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Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT)
Pakistan's national graduate aptitude test for admission to MS/MPhil (and PhD) programmes in Pakistani universities and for HEC postgraduate scholarships, conducted quarterly by the Education Testing Council (ETC) of the Higher Education Commission (HEC); a paper-based, 100-multiple-choice, 120-minute test taken in one of five field-based categories (HAT-1 through HAT-4 and HAT-General) that share one uniform structure — English/Verbal, Analytical, and Quantitative Reasoning sections with category-specific weightings — with a qualifying score of 50 out of 100 and scores valid for two years.
Official exam siteJump to prep options ↓
Questions100 multiple-choice questions in every category (four-option MCQs; no separately published unscored/pretest count)
Testing time120 minutes
ScoringQualifying score of 50 out of 100
Exam feeNot publicly disclosed — The current first-party exam pages and candidate materials cited for this record were reviewed; they do not publish this field.
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Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- ETC
- Category
- Undergraduate Admissions
- Current version
- Current specification per 'Approved Content Weightages for HEC HAT Regular Streams' (100 MCQs, 120 minutes; no dated edition label); administered as quarterly numbered rounds — 2026 rounds per the annual ETC Test Calendar
- Where it applies
- PK — national
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- 0–100 (score out of the 100 MCQs; 50 is the qualifying threshold)
- Testing provider
- Education Testing Council (ETC) — HEC's own testing body; no external delivery vendor
- Format
- Paper-based: printed MCQ question book answered on an OMR (bubble) sheet with black or blue ball pen, at ETC test centres in major cities; no calculators or electronic devices allowed
- Availability
- Quarterly rounds on fixed national dates per the annual ETC Test Calendar (five HAT rounds scheduled in 2026); registration windows open for roughly three weeks before each test date
- Results
- Answer keys published on the ETC Result and Keys page after each administration; final results announced on the ETC web portal on calendar dates roughly three to seven weeks after the test (e.g., the 5 July 2026 HAT result date is 31 July 2026)
- Score validity
- Two years
- Remote testing
- Not available
Exam structure
One 100-MCQ paper taken in one of five field-based categories, each combining the same three sections with category-specific weights: HAT-1 (Engineering & Technology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics) 30% verbal / 30% analytical / 40% quantitative; HAT-2 (Management Sciences, Business Education) 30/40/30; HAT-3 (Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology (Clinical & Applied), Law) 40/35/25; HAT-4 (Agriculture & Veterinary Sciences, Biological & Medical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Education, Media & Mass Communication) 40/30/30; HAT-General (Religious Studies / Madrasa graduates) 40/30/30. The category cannot be changed after registration.
Where rules vary
National aptitude test for Pakistan: used for admission to MS/MPhil programmes in Pakistani universities and for HEC postgraduate scholarships; administered in-person at test centres in major cities across Pakistan with one uniform specification nationwide
Eligibility
16 years of education (or equivalent); intended for candidates seeking MS/MPhil admission in Pakistani universities or HEC postgraduate scholarships (already applied, applying, or intending to apply); candidates register in the category matching their academic stream and university requirements and cannot change category afterwards
Retake policy
No published attempt limit or waiting period; HAT is offered quarterly so candidates may register for any later round (a new fee applies each time)