NTS Announces GAT General (GAT-G-III) Test Schedule 2026

The National Testing Service (NTS) has officially unveiled the GAT General Schedule 2026 , designated as GAT-G-III , for the year 2026. Thousands of prospective graduate students across Pakistan are now racing against today’s deadline to secure their seats for the high-stakes admission test.

Key Dates: Mark Your Calendar

The NTS has set a tight but transparent timeline for the entire examination process for GAT Test 2026 , from application submission to result declaration. Candidates are strongly advised to adhere strictly to the following dates:

• Application Opening Date: March 16th, 2026

• Regular Deadline (Today): April 27th, 2026

• Late Fee Closing Date: April 30th, 2026

• Roll Number Slips Issuance: May 5th, 2026

• Test Date: May 10th, 2026 (Sunday)

• Result Announcement: May 18th, 2026 (Monday)

Urgent Notice: The regular application window for GAT-G-III closes today , April 27, 2026. Candidates who have not yet submitted their forms must do so immediately via the official NTS website.

Application Process and Late Fee Window

As of today, the standard application submission period concludes. However, the NTS has provided a brief three-day grace period for applicants who missed the original cutoff. The late fee closing date is April 30th, 2026 .

Candidates applying during the late fee period will be required to pay an additional processing fee alongside the standard test registration charges. The NTS has urged all aspirants to complete their online applications well before the late deadline to avoid any technical glitches or last-minute payment failures.

GAT General Roll Number Slips

One week before the exam, on May 5th, 2026 , the NTS will issue GAT General roll number slips for all registered candidates. These slips will be available for download from the official NTS web portal.

The roll number slip is a mandatory document for entry into the test center. It will contain crucial information including:

• Candidate’s name and photograph

• Roll number and CNIC/B-Form number

• Assigned test city and center address

• Test timing and reporting instructions

The NTS has advised candidates to carefully verify all details on the roll number slip upon issuance and report any discrepancies immediately.

GAT General Test on May 10th (Sunday)

The GAT General (GAT-G-III) examination is scheduled to be held nationwide on Sunday, May 10th, 2026 . The test will be conducted simultaneously across multiple major cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, and Faisalabad.

The GAT General is a standardized entrance assessment designed for admission to MS/MPhil and equivalent graduate programs in Pakistani universities. The test evaluates candidates in three key areas:

• Verbal Reasoning – Assessing vocabulary, reading comprehension, and sentence completion skills.

• Quantitative Reasoning – Measuring mathematical problem-solving, data interpretation, and arithmetic abilities.

• Analytical Reasoning – Evaluating logical thinking and pattern recognition.

The total duration of the test is 120 minutes (2 hours), consisting of multiple-choice questions (MCQs). A minimum of 50% marks is generally required for admission consideration, though specific thresholds vary by university and program.

GAT General Result Date 2026

After an eight-day evaluation period, the NTS will officially declare the GAT General Result 2026 on Monday, May 18, 2026 . Candidates will be able to access their scores online by entering their roll number or CNIC on the NTS result portal.

The result will include:

• Total obtained marks and percentage

• Percentile rank

• Section-wise breakdown (Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical)

Successful candidates will receive a validity period of two years for their GAT General score, during which they can apply to affiliated universities across Pakistan.

Preparation Tips and Advisory

With the test just two weeks away from today, the NTS has released several guidelines for aspirants:

• Review sample papers: Past GAT General papers are available on the NTS website for practice.

• Time management: Since the test has a high question density, practicing under timed conditions is essential.

• No electronic devices: Mobile phones, smartwatches, and calculators are strictly prohibited inside exam halls.

• Original documents: Candidates must bring original CNIC/B-Form and a printed copy of the roll number slip on test day.

The NTS GAT General (GAT-G-III) 2026 schedule is now final and binding. With the regular application deadline expiring today, April 27, the next critical milestones are the late fee deadline on April 30 and the roll number slip issuance on May 5. All graduate program aspirants across Pakistan are encouraged to finalize their registration and begin intensive test preparation immediately.