GAT Test (General) Guide for Grad Admissions

If you want to do an MS or MPhil in Pakistan, the GAT test is usually the gate you have to pass first. The Graduate Assessment Test (GAT) is run by NTS and checks reasoning skills, not memorised facts. This guide covers the GAT General pattern, the categories, the score you need, and how long your result stays valid. One important update first: HEC is moving toward its own HAT test for graduate admissions, so always confirm what your university wants before you pay a fee.

What is the GAT test and who needs it?

The GAT test is the Graduate Assessment Test conducted by NTS for admission to graduate programs. There are two versions. GAT General is for MS and MPhil admission. GAT Subject is for PhD admission and tests your specific field. For years, NTS GAT was also required by HEC for many scholarships and university admissions. As of 2026 that is changing (more on this below), but GAT General is still accepted by many universities, so most MS/MPhil applicants still take it.

• GAT General -> MS / MPhil admission (general reasoning test).
• GAT Subject -> PhD admission (your subject area, deeper).
• Eligibility for GAT General: at least 16 years of education (a 4-year bachelor's or equivalent).
• GAT Subject eligibility: 18 years of education.

What is the GAT General test pattern?

GAT General is 100 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes. There are three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Reasoning. There is no separate essay. The mix of the three sections changes depending on which category you pick, because a business student and an arts student do not need the same balance of maths and verbal skill.

GAT General categories by discipline

NTS splits GAT General into four categories. You choose the one that matches your field of study, and that decides your section weighting.

Note that all four categories still have 100 questions and 120 minutes. Only the share of each section changes. Pick the category that matches your degree, not the one that looks easiest, because universities expect the correct category for your field.

What is the passing score and validity of the GAT test?

Most universities ask for a minimum of 50% in GAT General to be eligible for MS/MPhil admission, and the GAT result is valid for two years. A 50% score does not guarantee admission. It only makes you eligible. Your final spot still depends on your degree marks, the university's own merit, and any interview. Some programs and scholarships set the bar higher than 50%, so check the exact cutoff for your target program.

• Common minimum: 50% in GAT General for MS/MPhil eligibility (verify with your university).
• Validity: 2 years from the test date for admissions.
• You can retake the GAT to improve a low score before it expires.
• Passing the GAT is the floor, not the finish line. University merit decides the seat.

GAT General vs GAT Subject: which one do you take?

Take GAT General if you are applying for an MS or MPhil. Take GAT Subject if you are applying for a PhD. GAT General is a broad reasoning test (verbal, quantitative, analytical). GAT Subject goes deep into your discipline, like Computer Science, Economics, or Civil Engineering, and needs 18 years of education to sit. If you are unsure, check the admission notice of the exact program you want, because it will name the test it accepts.

Is the GAT test being replaced by HEC's HAT?

Yes, this is the big change on the horizon. HEC announced that graduate admissions to MS/MPhil and PhD programs will move to its own GRE/HAT test, conducted by the Education Testing Council (ETC), instead of NTS GAT. Reports put the qualifying score at 50% for MPhil and 60% for PhD. As of mid-2026, HEC has deferred the mandatory GRE/HAT requirement to Fall 2027. Fall 2026 admissions continue under existing criteria, meaning NTS GAT General is still accepted at most universities. Confirm directly with your target university and check nts.org.pk and the HEC/ETC site before you register or pay, as the situation may still evolve.

Whichever test your university lands on, the core skills are the same: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical reasoning. If you build those skills now, you are ready for GAT or HAT. The fastest way to build them is daily timed practice, which is exactly the habit that helps on every entry test. If you are also prepping for MDCAT or ECAT, you can build that timed-MCQ habit on Parhlai and carry the same speed into your GAT prep.

How to prepare for the GAT test

The GAT rewards practice, not cramming. Because it tests reasoning, you improve by doing past papers and timed mock tests until the question types feel familiar. Spend the most time on your weakest section.

1. Download the official GAT sample paper from NTS and learn the question types.
2. Pick your correct category (A, B, C, or D) and focus on its section weighting.
3. Drill vocabulary, analogies, and sentence completion for Verbal.
4. Revise basic maths, ratios, percentages, and data interpretation for Quantitative.
5. Practise logic puzzles and seating/order problems for Analytical.
6. Do full 100-question mocks in 120 minutes so timing never surprises you on exam day.