The Higher Education Commission runs two aptitude tests through its Education Testing Council that confuse many students: the HAT (HEC Aptitude Test) and the USAT (Undergraduate Studies Admission Test). They serve different levels of study and different purposes, and sitting the wrong one wastes a fee and a month. This guide separates the two, explains who actually needs each, and walks through registration on the ETC portal.
The ETC portal at etc.hec.gov.pk is a login-based web application, so its test details are not visible on the public landing page. That means exact question counts, fees and dates for your cycle must be read inside the portal or from the HEC announcement for that test; where this guide cannot cite them, it says check the official website.
HAT vs USAT: The Short Version
| Point | HAT | USAT |
| Level | Postgraduate (MS, MPhil, PhD) and HEC scholarships | Undergraduate (BS) admission |
| Typical users | Graduates applying to public universities and HEC scholarship schemes | Intermediate or equivalent students applying to BS programmes |
| Categories | Subject-group based (for example HAT for engineering, sciences, business, social sciences) | Stream based (Pre-Engineering, Pre-Medical, Computer Science, Commerce, Arts, General Science) |
| Where used | Universities and schemes that name HAT in their admission or scholarship criteria | Universities that adopt USAT as their undergraduate entry test |
| Registration | ETC portal account | ETC portal account |
Both tests are conducted by HEC’s Education Testing Council, both use an online registration account, and both results are checked by universities directly against the ETC record.
A quick self-check: if you hold or are about to hold an intermediate, A-level or equivalent certificate and are applying for a four-year BS, your question is only whether your chosen universities use USAT. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree and are applying for MS, MPhil, PhD or an HEC-funded scholarship, your question is whether the scheme or university names HAT. Many students read about both tests on social media and register for the wrong one in the first cycle; this table and self-check should prevent that.
Who Needs USAT
You need USAT if a university you are applying to lists it as the entry test for its BS programmes. HEC introduced USAT so that public universities could use a common undergraduate test instead of each running its own. Not every university adopted it; many still use NAT, their own test or a departmental test. Read our HEC USAT guide for background and check each university’s admission notice before registering. Our entry tests archive lists the test used by each university we cover.
USAT categories
- USAT Pre-Engineering
- USAT Pre-Medical
- USAT Computer Science
- USAT Commerce
- USAT Arts and Humanities
- USAT General Science
Pick the category matching your intermediate stream. The subject sections and their weight in each category are published on the ETC portal for the active cycle.
Who Needs HAT
HAT is used for MS, MPhil and PhD admission at public universities that have adopted it, and for HEC scholarship schemes that require an aptitude score. If you are an intermediate student, HAT is not for you; your final-year BS self will meet it later. The HAT paper mixes verbal, quantitative and analytical reasoning with a subject component for some categories. The ETC portal publishes the category list and the validity period of the score; confirm both on the official website.
Pattern and Scoring
Both tests are multiple-choice papers that combine general aptitude (English, quantitative and analytical reasoning) with subject questions tied to the category. The exact number of questions, time allowed, and whether there is negative marking are stated on the test announcement inside the ETC portal and can change between cycles. Do not rely on a coaching academy’s claim about the pattern; download the official announcement PDF for your test date.
Registration on the ETC Portal
- Open etc.hec.gov.pk and create an account with your CNIC or B-Form number and an email address you check daily.
- Complete your profile: personal details, academic record (matric and intermediate for USAT; bachelor’s for HAT) and a recent photograph.
- When a test is announced, select it in the Tests or Apply section and choose the correct category for your stream.
- Select a test city from the list offered for that cycle.
- Pay the test fee through the method shown in the portal; the amount is set per cycle, so check the official website.
- Download the roll number slip when it is released and verify your name, category and centre.
Preparation Plan
Both tests are aptitude-heavy, so this six-week plan weights reasoning over subject recall. Adjust weeks four and five to your category.
| Week | Focus | Daily target |
| 1 | English: vocabulary, grammar, sentence completion, reading passages | 20 words, 30 MCQs |
| 2 | Quantitative: arithmetic, algebra, ratios, percentages, data tables | 40 MCQs timed |
| 3 | Analytical reasoning: arrangements, logical conditions, pattern problems | 25 problems timed |
| 4 | Subject section one from your intermediate (USAT) or bachelor’s (HAT) syllabus | Chapter review, 40 MCQs |
| 5 | Subject section two; combined mixed sets | Chapter review, 40 MCQs |
| 6 | Three full timed mocks; error log review; confirm centre and slip | One mock every second day |
Exam Day Checklist
- Printed admit card or roll number slip (plus a second copy on your phone, though you may not be allowed to use the phone inside)
- Original CNIC, B-Form or the ID document named on your admit card
- Two or three blue or black ballpoint pens; no calculators or notes unless the admit card says otherwise
- Reach the centre well before the reporting time printed on your slip
- Light breakfast and a bottle of water for the waiting area, as food is usually not allowed inside the hall
- Confirm the exact venue a day earlier; many centres are on large campuses and the block number matters
- Leave mobile phones, smartwatches and bags with a family member or at the designated counter
- Print the ETC roll number slip from your portal account; a screenshot may not be accepted
- Check whether the test is computer-based or paper-based at your centre and prepare accordingly
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Registering for HAT when the university actually asks for USAT, or the reverse.
- Choosing a USAT category that does not match your intermediate group.
- Assuming every public university uses USAT; many do not.
- Using an email address you never open, then missing the roll number slip notice.
- Preparing only subject content and ignoring the analytical section.
- Waiting for a coaching centre’s date instead of the ETC announcement.
FAQs
Is USAT compulsory for every BS admission in Pakistan?
No. It is required only by universities that adopt it for their undergraduate admissions. Check each university’s admission notice.
Can an intermediate student take HAT?
HAT is designed for postgraduate admission and HEC scholarships. For BS admission the relevant HEC test is USAT.
What is the fee for HAT or USAT?
The fee is announced per test cycle inside the ETC portal and is not shown on the public landing page. Check the official website.
How long is a HAT or USAT score valid?
Validity is stated in the test announcement on the ETC portal and may differ between the two tests. Confirm it there before planning your applications.
Where do I get my result?
Results are released in your ETC portal account; universities verify them against the ETC record, so keep your login details safe.
Related Guides
- HEC USAT Guide: What Students Should Know
- HEC Undergraduate Education Guide: BS Degree Structure
- How to Check an HEC-Recognised University Degree
- Scholarships Archive
- Quaid-i-Azam University Profile
- All Entry Test Guides
- Admission Guides
Last updated: 19 October 2026. Always confirm details with the official source before acting on them.