Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT)

Special HAT for Commonwealth, Chinese Government and other HEC Scholarships for MS/M.Phil. and Ph.D/Doctoral Programs

The Education Testing Council is conducting Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) for candidates intending to apply for Commonwealth, Chinese Government and other HEC Scholarships for MS/M.Phil. and Ph.D/Doctoral Programs.

Which HAT Category to Apply for?

HAT is conducted in the following five (05) categories based on 16 years or equivalent education. The students may register in any of the categories, keeping in view the university's admission requirements and/or their academic streams.

Test Category	Disciplines	English/Verbal Reasoning	Analytical Reasoning	Quantitative Reasoning	Total
HAT 1	Engineering & Technology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics	30%	30%	40%	100
HAT 2	Management Sciences, Business Education	30%	40%	30%	100
HAT 3	Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology (Clinical & Applied) and Law	40%	35%	25%	100
HAT 4	Agriculture & Veterinary Sciences, Biological & Medical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Education, Media & Mass Communication, Religious Studies	40%	30%	30%	100
HAT-General	CNIC & application data (Madrasa Graduates)	40%	30%	30%	100

Qualifying Score and Validity:

50 out of 100 will be considered as a qualifying HAT score. The test scores will be valid for two (02) years.

Test Schedule: The registration portal will remain open for admission from Sunday, July 19, 2026 till Monday, August 03, 2026 (24:00 hours) and test will be conducted on Sunday, August 30, 2026. Any change in test date will be notified through http://etc.hec.gov.pk and http://etc.hec.gov.pk. ETC conducts HAT on quarterly basis in the major cities of Pakistan. For next test dates, kindly see the Test Calendar 2026 at ETC website.

How to apply?

Visit http://etc.hec.gov.pk for online registration. In case of any difficulty during online registration, please visit https://onlinehelp.hec.gov.pk.
After completion of registration data/information, the candidates need to SUBMIT the application. Only SUBMITTED applications will be considered. Applications in SAVE or INCOMPLETE mode will not be entertained.
The candidates must get queries/complaints resolved before the closure of the web registration portal. Queries/complaints handling beyond the registration deadline is denied by the system due to logistics/security reasons.
Kindly check your personal details, such as name, CNIC number, cell number etc., before submitting your application. Candidates will not be allowed to sit in the test if there is any difference between CNIC and application data.
Candidates who have registered or applied using the CNIC of their parents, siblings, relatives, or any other individual are not permitted to sit in the test.
Fee can be submitted through 1Link/Bill invoice payment services with the generated consumer number. After depositing the fee through 1Link/Bill invoice, click on Verify Online Payment on ETC Dashboard. The test fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Applicants can download their Roll Number Slip from http://etc.hec.gov.pk and through their registered email address a week before the test date.
Email/SMS will also be sent to the registered applicants about the issuance of their Roll Number Slips. While filling out online application forms, candidates are required to provide their valid email/mobile numbers on which they wish to receive their Roll Number Slips. SMS shall not be sent to the mobile numbers that have been converted from one network to another network. These students will get the information from their email.
A printout of Roll Number Slip and Original CNIC/Passport will be required to enter the Test Centre on the Test Day.
The test will be conducted in major cities. Applicants may select any Test Centre from the list available in the application form. Test Centre shall not be changed after registration. However, ETC may assign another test centre if minimum 250 applicants are not available in the selected test centre.
Candidates are advised to carefully select the test categories that best match their subject or area of specialisation. Please note that once a test category has been selected, it cannot be changed at a later stage.

Kindly note that mobile phones or electronic devices such as calculators, recording, communication, or imaging electronic devices are NOT ALLOWED inside the test centre. Moreover, talking, uploading or sharing images of the question book is strictly prohibited and an offence liable to punishment as per the ETC policy.

Last Date for Online Registration: Monday, August 03, 2026
HAT Test will be held on: Sunday, August 30, 2026

Helpline
051-111-119-432
0334-111-9432

Education Testing Council
Higher Education Commission
Sector H-9, Islamabad

Link
https://etc.hec.gov.pk
Education Testing Council