NTS NAT Guide: Categories, Pattern, Validity and Preparation

The National Aptitude Test (NAT) by the National Testing Service is the most widely accepted general entry test in Pakistan. Dozens of public and private universities, including COMSATS University Islamabad and many others listed on the NTS schedule, use a NAT score for undergraduate admission instead of running their own test. This guide explains the categories, what the official NTS NAT page says about validity, fee and registration, and how to prepare in a way that works for a mixed-subject paper.

NTS publishes the NAT schedule and test-specific details through its portal; the general NAT page does not state the number of questions or the duration, so those figures should be read from the announcement for your test date on nts.org.pk.

Who Should Take NAT

NAT suits you if your target universities are on the NTS list of institutions accepting the test, if you want one score that covers several applications, or if you missed a university-specific test. The NTS page refers to admission in the respective subject group, and some listings are restricted (for example, one institution is listed for the Engineering category only), with separate tests for Sindh and Balochistan medical colleges. Source: https://www.nts.org.pk/new/nat.php. Always confirm that your university accepts the NAT category you plan to sit, using our COMSATS NAT category guide as a model for how to check.

NAT Categories Explained

NAT is offered in subject-group categories matched to your intermediate stream. The commonly used categories are listed below; the full and current list, with the subjects covered in each, is on the NTS portal.

Pick the category that matches both your intermediate group and the programme you want; a mismatch can make a good score useless for the admission you actually apply to.

If your stream and your target programme differ

Students who did pre-medical but want computer science, or ICS students aiming at business school, face a real choice. Universities normally specify which NAT categories they accept for each programme, and some accept more than one. Write to the admission office or read the programme page on the university website before you book, and keep the reply as evidence in case the category is questioned at document verification. Our documents checklist explains what to carry to that stage.

Pattern, Duration and Validity

The paper is a multiple-choice test with verbal, quantitative and analytical sections plus subject questions tied to your category. The NTS page notes that question booklets come in five shuffles and include two rough-work sheets, which tells you the paper is answer-sheet based and that memorising a neighbour’s pattern is pointless. The exact section weightings and the total number of questions are not stated on the general NAT page, so check the official website for the test you register for.

One fact is stated clearly: the NAT result is valid for one year. Source: https://www.nts.org.pk/new/nat.php. Plan the test date so the validity window covers the admission cycle you are targeting.

Fee and Registration

NTS lists a NAT fee of Rs. 1,510, or Rs. 2,010 with late fee, payable through 1Link 1Bill banks, ATMs, internet and mobile banking, EasyPaisa, JazzCash and TCS counters. Source: https://www.nts.org.pk/new/nat.php.

1. Register once on the NTS portal and upload a recent photograph with your full face visible.
2. Log in and complete your personal, academic and employment information. For academics, enter major subjects and marks percentage as two digits and use the abbreviated board name, for example BISE Lahore.
3. Select the NAT project for your test date.
4. Choose a primary and a secondary test city.
5. Download the bank deposit slip from the portal and pay the fee.
6. Wait for the roll number slip; NTS posts slips on the website at least seven days before the test and sends an SMS to your number.

NTS warns that incomplete or improperly filled registration details will not be processed, so check every field before you submit.

Preparation Plan

NAT rewards breadth and speed more than depth. This six-week plan gives about three hours a day and works for any category; swap the subject weeks to match yours.

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
• Bring the NTS roll number slip; NTS does not admit candidates without it
• Use only the pen type stated on the slip for the answer sheet and fill bubbles completely

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Sitting the wrong NAT category for the programme you want; universities check the category, not just the score.
• Entering marks percentage or board name in the wrong format; NTS says improperly filled forms are not processed.
• Forgetting that the score expires after one year and sitting the test too early.
• Paying the late fee by waiting for the last day; the difference is Rs. 500.
• Spending all preparation time on the subject section and none on verbal and analytical questions.
• Choosing a secondary city you cannot actually travel to.

FAQs

How long is a NAT score valid?

One year, according to the official NTS NAT page. Source: https://www.nts.org.pk/new/nat.php.

What is the NAT fee?

Rs. 1,510, or Rs. 2,010 with late fee, as listed on the NTS NAT page in October 2026.

Can I take NAT more than once?

NTS schedules NAT several times a year and students commonly re-sit. Check the official website for any limits that apply in the current cycle.

Which universities accept NAT?

The accepting-institution list is on the NTS portal and changes by session. Our entry tests archive lists the test each university uses.

When do I get my roll number slip?

NTS states slips are posted on the website at least seven days before the test, with an SMS alert.

Related Guides

• COMSATS NAT Guide: Which NAT Category Should You Take?
• ECAT vs NET vs NAT
• COMSATS University Islamabad Profile
• Public vs Private Universities in Pakistan
• Admission Documents Checklist
• All Entry Test Guides
• Browse Programmes

Last updated: 19 October 2026. Always confirm details with the official source before acting on them.