Overview
The National Aptitude Test (NAT) is run by the National Testing Service (NTS) in Pakistan for admission to universities and degree-awarding institutes that are NTS associates. A candidate takes a single NAT and becomes eligible for admission to all associated universities in the matching subject group. Candidates then apply to each university as it announces admissions, with a copy of the NTS result card. A NAT result is valid for one year.
Levels or stages
NAT is held in two categories, by years of education.
Category One (12 years of education)
Six paper types. Each has 90 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes: English 20, Analytical 20, Quantitative 20 and a 30-question subject section.
| Paper | Group | Subject section (30 questions) |
|---|---|---|
| NAT-IE | Pre-engineering | Physics 10, Chemistry 10, Mathematics 10 |
| NAT-IM | Pre-medical | Physics 8, Chemistry 8, Biology 14 |
| NAT-IA | Arts | Islamiyat or Ethics 10, Pakistan Studies 10, General Knowledge 10 |
| NAT-ICS | Computer science | Physics 10, Computer 10, Mathematics 10 |
| NAT-IGS | General science | Mathematics 10, Statistics 10, Economics 10 |
| NAT-ICOM | Commerce | Accounting 10, Commerce 10, Economics 10 |
Category Two (14 years of education)
Five paper types, each with 100 questions in 120 minutes.
| Paper | Group | English | Analytical | Quantitative | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAT-IIA | Arts and humanities | 20 | 15 | 15 | 50 |
| NAT-IIB | Biological sciences | 10 | 10 | 10 | 70 |
| NAT-IIM | Management sciences | 10 | 10 | 10 | 70 |
| NAT-IIP | Physical sciences | 10 | 10 | 10 | 70 |
| NAT-IIO | Oriental and Islamic studies | 20 | 20 | 20 | 40 |
Syllabus
The English part covers sentence completion, analogy, antonyms, comprehension and synonyms. The analytical part uses scenario-based and statement-based questions. The quantitative part covers arithmetic, algebra and geometry. Subject sections follow the group, as the tables show. NTS publishes a detailed curriculum for each paper.
Important dates
NTS holds the NAT roughly every month. For the rest of 2026: NAT-X on 11 October (registration closed on 21 September, with the late-fee window closed on 27 September), NAT-XI on 15 November (registration closes 19 October) and NAT-XII on 13 December (registration closes 7 December). NTS schedules results roughly one to two weeks after each test.
Fees
The 2026 NAT fee is Rs. 1,510, or Rs. 2,010 with the late fee.
How to apply
Register once on the NTS portal, upload a photograph, apply for the latest NAT listed, and pay with the deposit slip generated there. Choose a test city; some cities run only when at least 100 paid candidates register. Separate tests are held for Sindh and Balochistan medical colleges.
Preparation tips
Practise the English, analytical and quantitative parts, which make up most of the Category One paper.
Revise your group's subject section, which is a third of the Category One paper.
How long is a NAT result valid?
One year, according to NTS.