Last Updated: 9 November 2026
Author: Muhammad Imran – Educativz.com
Source: Higher Education Commission (HEC) / Education Testing Council (ETC) advertisement “Undergraduate Studies Admission Test (USAT)”, PID(I) 4278-D/26, published in Dawn (8 Nov 2026, page 10, Dawn e-paper). Official sites: etc.hec.gov.pk and hec.gov.pk. Details marked “ETC FAQ”, “ETC calendar” and “ETC content weightages” come from the official ETC pages on hec.gov.pk.
WhatsApp Group & Channel: Channel & Group
Online registration closes Sunday, 22 November 2026, 24:00 hours. That is about 13 days from 9 November. The USAT test is on Sunday, 13 December 2026. Register at etc.hec.gov.pk. Only SUBMITTED applications count; saved or incomplete ones are not entertained.
Quick answer: The Undergraduate Studies Admission Test (USAT) is the ETC entry test for students who want admission in undergraduate (BS / BBA / BSc and similar) programmes in Pakistani universities. You can apply if you have passed HSSC (12 years education) or are awaiting your final HSSC result. There are six categories: USAT-A, USAT-COM, USAT-CS, USAT-E, USAT-GS and USAT-M. 50 out of 100 is a qualifying score, the score is valid for two years, and it is also valid for HEC undergraduate scholarships.
Undergraduate admission 6 categories HEC scholarships Qualifying score 50/100 Register by 22 Nov 2026 Test 13 Dec 2026
In this guide
USAT Test December 2026: Registration, Categories and Dates at a Glance
| Conducted by | Education Testing Council (ETC), Higher Education Commission (HEC) |
| Advertisement | “Undergraduate Studies Admission Test (USAT)”, PID(I) 4278-D/26, Dawn, 8 Nov 2026 |
| Purpose | Admission in undergraduate courses / programmes in Pakistani universities; USAT score also valid for HEC undergraduate scholarships (two years) |
| Eligibility | HSSC or equivalent (12 years education) passed, or appeared in the final exam and awaiting result |
| Registration closes | Sunday, 22 November 2026, 24:00 hours |
| Test date | Sunday, 13 December 2026 |
| Qualifying score | 50 out of 100; score valid for 2 years |
| Register at | etc.hec.gov.pk (help: onlinehelp.hec.gov.pk) |
| Fee payment | 1Link / 1Bill Invoice with the generated consumer number; non-refundable, non-transferable |
| Helpline | 0334-111-9432 and 051-111-119-432 |
| Fee amount | Not printed in the ad |
Related on Educativz: all admissions in Pakistan, HEC HAT Test December 2026 (MS, M.Phil, PhD, same dates), KMU DPT Admissions 2027, COMSATS Admissions Spring 2027 and Sukkur IBA Admissions 2027.
Who Can Apply for USAT?
The ad says the students who can apply are those who have:
- Passed the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) or equivalent examinations (12 years education), or
- Appeared in the final HSSC or equivalent examinations and are awaiting their results.
So if you are a 2nd-year / FSc / FA / ICS / I.Com student who has just given the final papers, you can still register.
Which USAT Category to Apply For? Six Categories
USAT is conducted in six categories. The ad says students may register in any category, keeping in view the university’s admission requirement and / or their academic stream:
| Test category | Academic stream / discipline | Typical student |
| USAT-A | Arts & Humanities | FA / Humanities group |
| USAT-COM | Commerce | I.Com / commerce group |
| USAT-CS | Computer Science | ICS / FSc with computer science |
| USAT-E | Pre-Engineering | FSc Pre-Engineering |
| USAT-GS | General Science | General Science group |
| USAT-M | Pre-Medical | FSc Pre-Medical |
Note from the ad: after qualifying the respective USAT, students become eligible for admission to the relevant universities. USAT is also valid for two years for the award of HEC undergraduate scholarships. ETC FAQ: the selected USAT category cannot be changed after submission, so choose carefully.
USAT Paper Pattern (Official ETC Content Weightages)
The ad does not print the question breakup; it points to the official PDF: Content Weightages for USAT. As read from that PDF (confirm there before you prepare):
- Part I: 75 MCQs in 100 minutes: Verbal Reasoning (20 MCQs: analogy, synonym / antonym, sentence completion, comprehension) and Quantitative Reasoning (25 MCQs: arithmetic, algebra and functions, geometry, equations, statistics, scenario-based / mental mathematics), plus 30 subject MCQs.
- Part II: 40 minutes of essay writing: one argument-based essay and one narrative-based essay (1 out of 3 topics each), in English or Urdu.
| Category | Subject MCQs in the 30-MCQ section (per PDF) |
| USAT-E | Physics 10, Chemistry 10, Mathematics 10 |
| USAT-M | Physics 8, Chemistry 8, Biology 14 |
| USAT-CS | Physics 8, Computer Science 14, Mathematics 8 |
| USAT-A | Islamiat / Ethics 10, Pakistan Studies 10, General Knowledge 10 |
| USAT-GS | Mathematics 10, Statistics 10, Economics 10 |
| USAT-COM | Accounting 10, Commerce 10, Economics 10 |
Qualifying Score and Validity
| Qualifying score | 50 out of 100 is considered a qualifying USAT score |
| Validity | The test score is valid for two (02) years |
| Scholarships | USAT is also valid for two years for the award of HEC undergraduate scholarships |
USAT Test Schedule: 22 November Registration Close, 13 December Test
| Event | Date |
| Online registration closes | Sunday, 22 November 2026, 24:00 hours |
| USAT test | Sunday, 13 December 2026 |
| Roll number slips | Friday, 4 December 2026 per the ETC Test Calendar 2026 (the ad says “a week before the test date” on etc.hec.gov.pk) |
| Result (planned) | Thursday, 31 December 2026 per the ETC Test Calendar 2026 (not printed in the ad) |
| Date changes | Any change in the test date will be notified on hec.gov.pk and etc.hec.gov.pk |
ETC conducts USAT on a quarterly basis in the major cities of Pakistan. If you miss this cycle, the ad asks you to see the Test Calendar 2026 on the ETC website for the next test dates.
How to Register for USAT: Step by Step
Match your HSSC stream to USAT-A, COM, CS, E, GS or M, and check what your target university asks for.
Visit etc.hec.gov.pk. If you face any difficulty during online registration, use onlinehelp.hec.gov.pk.
Name, CNIC number and cell number must be right before you submit. The ad warns you will not be allowed to sit the test if CNIC and application data differ.
Pick a centre from the list in the application form. It will not be changed after registration.
Pay through 1Link / 1Bill Invoice using the generated consumer number, then click Verify Online Payment on your ETC Dashboard.
After completing the data, you must SUBMIT. Applications in SAVE or INCOMPLETE mode will not be entertained.
About a week before the test, download it from etc.hec.gov.pk. An Email / SMS also tells you when it is issued.
Fee Payment: 1Link / 1Bill Consumer Number
- The ad does not print the fee amount, and the official ETC pages we checked do not list it either. See the amount on your ETC dashboard when you generate the consumer number.
- Pay via 1Link / 1Bill Invoice with the generated consumer number, then click Verify Online Payment on the ETC Dashboard.
- The test fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
- ETC FAQ: all generated consumer numbers expire at the closing date and time of registration. If your payment shows “Pending”, try another banking app or e-wallet before the end date.
- ETC FAQ: if you have a payment or consumer-number problem, lodge a complaint at onlinehelp.hec.gov.pk at least three days before the deadline. Last-day complaints are not entertained.
Free tools: need a clear photo or CNIC scan for the form? Resize it with the Image Resizer, clean a photo background with the Background Remover, and find every utility on the Educativz Tools page.
Rules and Warnings Printed in the Ad
- Only SUBMITTED applications are considered. SAVE or INCOMPLETE mode is not entertained.
- Solve queries before the portal closes. Queries / complaints handling beyond the registration deadline is denied by the system for logistics / security reasons.
- CNIC must match. Candidates will not be allowed to sit the test if there is any difference between CNIC and application data (name, CNIC number, cell number).
- Do not use someone else’s CNIC. Candidates who registered with the CNIC of parents, siblings, relatives or any other individual are not permitted to sit the test.
- Provide your own valid email and mobile number. SMS is not sent to numbers that have been converted from one network to another; those candidates get roll slip information through email.
- Test centre. The test is held in major cities; you choose a centre in the application form and it will not be changed after registration.
- Test fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Test Day: What to Bring and What Not to Bring
- A printout of the Roll Number Slip and your original CNIC / Passport (printed in the ad).
- Under 18 and no CNIC? The ad says to bring your original B-Form along with your original SSC / HSSC certificate with your picture on it.
- ETC FAQ: an expired CNIC / Passport is accepted only with the NADRA slip plus the original expired document. Photocopies or phone images of ID are not accepted.
- ETC FAQ: bring a transparent clipboard and black or blue ball pens for the OMR sheet.
- NOT allowed inside the test centre: mobile phones and electronic devices such as calculating, recording, communication or imaging devices.
- Taking, uploading or sharing images of the question book is strictly prohibited and an offence liable to punishment as per the ETC rules.
For Universities and Your Merit
The ad tells universities to give due weightage to the USAT score as per their admission policy while preparing the merit. Students applying to a university that accepts USAT will submit their ETC Score Card of the relevant category for inclusion in the weightage-based merit formula. So: USAT does not guarantee a seat; it is one part of the university’s merit.
What the Advertisement Does NOT Print
| Item | Status |
| Fee amount | Not printed: see the consumer number on your ETC dashboard |
| Test cities / centre list | Not printed: “major cities”; the list is in the application form |
| Question breakup | Not printed: given as a link to the official Content Weightages PDF (summarised above) |
| Exact roll number slip date | Not printed: only “a week before the test date” (ETC calendar: 4 Dec 2026) |
| Result announcement date | Not printed (ETC calendar: 31 Dec 2026) |
| Test timing | Not printed: check your roll number slip |
| Which universities accept USAT | Not printed: check each university’s admission advertisement |
Karna / Nahi Karna
| Karna (Do) | Nahi Karna (Don’t) |
| Register and submit well before 22 Nov 2026 | Don’t wait for the last night: banking apps and portals get slow |
| Check name, CNIC and mobile number twice before submitting | Don’t use a parent’s, sibling’s or relative’s CNIC |
| Pay only via your generated 1Link / 1Bill consumer number and click Verify Online Payment | Don’t pay anyone outside the official consumer number; fee is non-refundable |
| Pick the category that matches your HSSC stream and your university’s requirement | Don’t assume you can change the category later (ETC FAQ) |
| Print the roll slip and bring original CNIC / Passport (B-Form if under 18) | Don’t carry a phone, calculator or any electronic device into the centre |
| Read the official Content Weightages PDF and practise essay writing | Don’t share or photograph the question book |
USAT Test December 2026: FAQs
What is the last date to register for USAT in November 2026?
Sunday, 22 November 2026, 24:00 hours.
When is the USAT test in December 2026?
Sunday, 13 December 2026. Any change will be notified on hec.gov.pk and etc.hec.gov.pk.
What is USAT?
The Undergraduate Studies Admission Test, conducted by the Education Testing Council (ETC) of HEC, for admission in undergraduate courses / programmes in Pakistani universities.
Is USAT compulsory for undergraduate admission?
Only if the university or scholarship you are applying to asks for it. The ad says universities give due weightage to the USAT score as per their own admission policy, so check each university’s advertisement.
Who can apply for USAT?
Students who have passed HSSC or equivalent (12 years education), or appeared in the final HSSC / equivalent exams and are awaiting results.
How many USAT categories are there?
Six: USAT-A (Arts & Humanities), USAT-COM (Commerce), USAT-CS (Computer Science), USAT-E (Pre-Engineering), USAT-GS (General Science) and USAT-M (Pre-Medical).
Which USAT category should a pre-medical student choose?
USAT-M (Pre-Medical), unless your university asks for a different category. Always match the university’s admission requirement.
What is the qualifying score and how long is it valid?
50 out of 100 is a qualifying score, and the score is valid for two (02) years.
Is the USAT score valid for HEC scholarships?
Yes. The ad says USAT is also valid for two years for the award of HEC undergraduate scholarships.
How do I pay the fee and how much is it?
Through 1Link / 1Bill Invoice with the generated consumer number, then click Verify Online Payment on the ETC Dashboard. The ad does not print the amount; the fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
When can I download the roll number slip?
About a week before the test date from etc.hec.gov.pk (ETC calendar: 4 December 2026). ETC also sends an Email / SMS.
What should I bring on test day?
A printout of the roll number slip and your original CNIC / Passport. Under 18 without CNIC: original B-Form with original SSC / HSSC certificate with picture. Mobile phones and electronic devices are not allowed inside the test centre.
What if my CNIC and application data do not match?
You will not be allowed to sit the test. Check every detail before you submit.
Can I change my test centre or category after registration?
No. The ad says the test centre will not be changed after registration, and the ETC FAQ says the category cannot be changed after submission.
What if I miss the December 2026 USAT?
ETC conducts USAT quarterly. See the Test Calendar 2026 on the ETC website for the next dates.
Who can I call for help?
The ETC helpline numbers in the ad: 0334-111-9432 and 051-111-119-432. Online help: onlinehelp.hec.gov.pk.
Keywords: USAT test registration November 2026 HEC USAT 13 December 2026 Undergraduate Studies Admission Test 2026 USAT-A USAT-COM USAT-CS USAT-E USAT-GS USAT-M ایچ ای سی یو سیٹ ٹیسٹ انڈر گریجویٹ داخلہ ٹیسٹ رجسٹریشن بی ایس داخلہ ٹیسٹ 2026 ETC USAT roll number slip
Disclaimer: Educativz.com is not HEC or ETC. We read the advertisement published in Dawn (8 November 2026, page 10), checked every figure at zoom, and added details marked “ETC FAQ”, “ETC calendar” and “content weightages” from the official ETC pages on hec.gov.pk. Confirm all details on etc.hec.gov.pk and hec.gov.pk before applying.
