Overview
Cadet College Hasanabdal (CCH) in Punjab admits students mainly into Class 8 through an entrance test, an interview and a medical examination. This page covers CCH only, based on its own admission page, so check the rules of any other cadet college you are considering.
Who can apply
CCH admits students once a year, mainly into Class 8 (the O Level programme), with a very few places in Class 11 (A Level). For Class 8, the candidate must be at least 12 and not more than 14 years old on 1 August of the year of entry, and no relaxation of the age limit is allowed. An attested copy of the NADRA Form B must be attached to the application.
Exam pattern
The entry test is a written test of 3 hours, held on paper in a booklet that carries space for the answers. It covers three combined papers:
Mathematics
English and Islamiat
Urdu and General Science
The Urdu-Islamiat paper is compulsory. Non-Muslim candidates may skip the Islamiat part by writing "NON MUSLIM" on the answer sheet. Questions can be set from the published syllabus in any form.
Marking and results
Candidates who qualify on the written test are called for an interview and medical examination at the college. The interview may include spoken English, IQ and general knowledge, a psychological assessment, physical fitness and IT awareness. Final selection is based on overall merit across the test, interview and medical. Admission is on open merit, with no quota for any region. The Principal's decision is final. CCH has limited scholarships and financial aid for deserving students, treated as an interest-free loan, plus merit scholarships for top students.
Important dates
For the admission page now live, the last date to apply is 4 December 2026 and the entry test is on 27 December 2026. CCH says the test is normally held in December, and the last date to submit forms is 15 days before the test.
Fees
The registration fee is Rs. 7,000 plus Rs. 58 bank charges, and it is not refundable. Overseas candidates pay an entrance exam fee of Rs. 60,000 for Saudi Arabia, the UAE or online, and also pay 100 to 150 SR or DH centre charges to the host school.
How to apply
Only online applications are accepted, through the CCH admission portal. After you submit the form, approved candidates get an email, and the roll number slip is printed from the portal. The test is held at centres in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Karachi, Quetta and Abbottabad, in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and online for other overseas candidates.
Preparation tips
Practise written answers in a fixed space, since the paper gives no extra answer sheet.
Prepare for the interview and basic fitness, since final selection counts the interview and medical along with the test.
Can candidates apply on paper?
No. CCH accepts only online applications and does not provide or accept manual forms.