HEC HAT Practice Test: 100 Questions With Answers, Categories and Pattern
Two full practice sets for Pakistan's Higher Education Aptitude Test, 100 original questions in all, each with an explanation. Then the official pattern from HEC's Education Testing Council: the five categories and their section weights, the qualifying score, registration, the 2026 test dates and the Fall 2027 admission change.
The HAT is the graduate aptitude test run by HEC's Education Testing Council (ETC) for MS/MPhil and PhD admission and HEC scholarships. Every category has 100 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes on a paper OMR sheet, split into verbal, analytical and quantitative reasoning with weights that depend on your category. ETC's qualifying score is 50 out of 100, and results are valid for two years.
HEC HAT facts at a glance
| Questions | 100: multiple choice, in every category |
|---|---|
| Time limit | 120 min: about 72 seconds per question (our arithmetic) |
| Qualifying score | 50 / 100: per ETC's HAT advertisement; programs and scholarships may ask for more |
| Validity | 2 years: per ETC's HAT advertisement |
| Categories | 5: HAT-I to HAT-IV and HAT-General, by your 16-year degree; can't be changed after submission |
| Format | Paper OMR sheet: black or blue ballpoint; calculators, phones and smart watches are banned |
| Fee | Shown on the ETC portal: paid through 1Link/1Bill; non-refundable; the amount isn't on HEC's public pages |
Checked against the official HEC Education Testing Council page and the sources listed at the end of this page on 2026-10-26.
Watch: HEC HAT videos
HEC HAT Practice Test 2026: 50 Verbal, Analytical & Quantitative Questions With Answers
HEC HAT Practice Test 2 (2026): 50 New Questions With Answers
HEC HAT Test Explained (2026): Categories, Pattern, Passing Score & 10 Practice Questions
HEC HAT Test Preparation 2026: 7 Mistakes That Lower Your Score (+ Study Plan)
HEC HAT practice test: 100 questions
These are the questions from our two HAT practice-test videos. Set 1 (50 questions) follows the 40/30/30 mix of HAT-IV and HAT-General; set 2 (50 new questions) follows the HAT-I mix of 30/30/40. Both are worked without a calculator. Pick an answer and press Check Answer to see the explanation; missed questions go to a retry queue. Every question is original, written in the HAT style, not from a real paper.
On each 50-question set, 25 correct matches the 50% qualifying line, 30 matches the 60% line used for PhD admission, and 35 or more (70%) is our own comfort target, not an HEC number.
HAT categories and section weights
Each category has the same three sections with different weights. With 100 questions, each percentage is roughly a question count.
| Category (16-year degree) | Verbal | Analytical | Quantitative |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAT-I: Engineering & Technology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics | 30% | 30% | 40% |
| HAT-II: Management Sciences, Business Education | 30% | 40% | 30% |
| HAT-III: Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology (Clinical & Applied), Law | 40% | 35% | 25% |
| HAT-IV: Agriculture & Veterinary, Biological & Medical, Physical Sciences, Education, Media & Mass Communication | 40% | 30% | 30% |
| HAT-General: Religious Studies (madrasa graduates) | 40% | 30% | 30% |
Source: HEC ETC: HAT advertisement
Passing scores: 50 qualifies, but often isn't enough
ETC's HAT advertisement sets 50 out of 100 as the qualifying score. HEC's Graduate Education Policy 2023 matches that for MS/MPhil admission (50% on GRE or HAT General) and asks for 60% on a GRE or HAT General equivalent test for PhD admission. HEC's Commonwealth scholarship FAQ asks for at least 60% on the HAT, and universities can set higher cutoffs of their own.
So find the number your program or scholarship needs and aim above it. If you think your result has an error, ETC accepts rechecking applications within 20 days of the result announcement, for a fee.
Registration and test day
Register on the ETC portal with your own CNIC (or B-Form), and enter your name and date of birth exactly as on your Matric certificate: the profile locks once registration is complete, and your test city can't be changed later. Choose your category carefully, because it can't be changed after you submit.
ETC generates a consumer number and you pay through 1Link/1Bill, then verify the payment on the portal. The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. On test day bring your printed roll number slip and your original CNIC or passport, use a transparent clipboard and a black or blue ballpoint, and arrive at least 45 minutes early. Phones, smart watches, calculators, earbuds and vapes are prohibited.
2026 HAT dates
HEC's 2026 test calendar (revised August 25, 2026) lists five HAT rounds. Round 4 was held on October 25, 2026, with results due November 16. For round 5, online registration closes November 22, roll number slips are issued December 4, the test is on Sunday, December 13, 2026, and results are due December 31.
The Fall 2027 change: GRE or HAT through ETC
HEC's notification of May 13, 2026 said admission to Level 7 (MS/MPhil) and Level 8 (PhD) programs would be based on GRE or HAT General plus a relevant subject test conducted only through ETC, and that universities would stop running their own admission tests. On May 25, 2026, HEC deferred this to Fall 2027 admissions. The deferral notice pairs GRE/HAT-General with Level 7 and GRE/HAT-Subject with Level 8.
Note the naming: here, HAT General means the general aptitude test, not the religious studies category.
Seven mistakes that cost HAT marks
These come from our HAT preparation video. The study advice is our own, not HEC's.
- Picking the wrong category. Check your university's admission rules first, because the category locks when you submit.
- Giving every section equal time. Split your hours by your category's weights, then add extra time for your weakest section.
- Ignoring the clock. Make a first pass for the quick questions, mark the slow ones, and fill the OMR sheet as you go rather than at the end.
- Solving logic games in your head. Draw a row of slots for ordering games or two columns for grouping games, and write each rule in shorthand.
- Practicing with a calculator. Calculators are banned in the hall, so drill percentages, fractions, ratios and simple equations by hand.
- Registration slips. Use your own CNIC, match your Matric certificate exactly, and verify your payment on the portal.
- Aiming only for 50. PhD admission and many scholarships ask for 60%, and universities can set higher cutoffs.
A six-week study plan
Week 1: download ETC's free sample paper for your category and take it timed (100 questions, 120 minutes, no calculator). Rank your three sections from weakest to strongest.
Weeks 2 and 3: put half your hours on your weakest section. Do one logic game a day with a diagram, read English for 20 minutes daily, and keep a list of new words with their opposites. Weeks 4 and 5: mix all three sections and take one full timed test each weekend, using the practice sets on this page. Week 6: go lighter, review your error list, print your roll number slip, and check your test centre.
ETC's public pages don't state a negative marking rule for the HAT, so read the instructions on your paper before deciding how to handle guessing.
Sample HEC HAT questions with answers
One question from each content area of the practice set above, with the answer and explanation. Try it before you open the answer.
Verbal Reasoning
THERMOMETER : TEMPERATURE as β¦
- barometer : pressure
- clock : hour hand
- ruler : wood
- scale : kitchen
Show answer
A. barometer : pressure
A thermometer is the instrument that measures temperature, and a barometer is the instrument that measures air pressure. A clock has an hour hand, which is a part, not what it measures. A ruler can be made of wood, and a scale can sit in a kitchen, but neither pair is instrument to quantity.
Analytical Reasoning
6 runners P, Q, R, S, T, U finish 1stβ6th, no ties. R is 3rd. P beats S. U is right after T. Q is not 1st or 6th. Which order could be correct, 1st to 6th?
- Q, P, R, S, T, U
- P, Q, R, T, U, S
- P, S, R, U, T, Q
- T, U, S, R, P, Q
Show answer
B. P, Q, R, T, U, S
Check each rule against each option. Option A puts Q first, which isn't allowed. Option C has U before T, and Q last. Option D puts R fourth instead of third. Option B passes every rule: R is third, P is ahead of S, U comes right after T, and Q is second.
Quantitative Reasoning
A price rises from Rs 800 to Rs 1,000. What is the percent increase?
- 20%
- 22.5%
- 30%
- 25%
Show answer
D. 25%
The increase is 200 rupees. Percent change always divides by the original value, so it's 200 over 800, which is one quarter, or 25%. 20% is the trap: that's 200 over the new price, 1000.
HEC HAT FAQ
How many questions are on the HEC HAT?
100 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes, in every category, split into verbal, analytical and quantitative reasoning.
What is the HAT passing score?
ETC's qualifying score is 50 out of 100. HEC's Graduate Education Policy asks for 60% for PhD admission, the Commonwealth scholarship asks for at least 60%, and universities may set higher cutoffs.
How long is a HAT result valid?
Two years, according to ETC's HAT advertisement.
Which HAT category should I choose?
The one that matches your 16-year degree and your university's admission rules: HAT-I for engineering, computing, maths, statistics and physics; HAT-II for management and business; HAT-III for arts, social sciences, psychology and law; HAT-IV for agriculture, biological, medical and physical sciences, education and media; HAT-General for religious studies. It can't be changed after you submit.
Is there negative marking on the HAT?
ETC's public pages don't state a negative marking rule for the HAT. Read the instructions printed on your paper.
Can I use a calculator in the HAT?
No. Calculators, phones, smart watches and earbuds are prohibited, so all the maths is done by hand.
Related practice and guides
Sources
Exam facts on this page were checked against these official pages on 2026-10-26.
- HEC ETC: Frequently asked questions
- HEC ETC: HAT advertisement
- HEC ETC: Approved content weightages for HEC HAT regular streams (PDF)
- HEC ETC: Test calendar for 2026, revised August 25, 2026 (PDF)
- HEC: Graduate Education Policy 2023 (PDF)
- HEC: Notifications (May 13 and May 25, 2026 GRE/HAT notices)
- HEC ETC: Instructions for candidates (PDF)
- HEC ETC: SOP for rechecking of answer books (PDF)
- HEC: Commonwealth Scholarships FAQs
- HEC ETC: HAT sample papers
OpenExamHub is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan or its Education Testing Council. All practice questions are original, not from a real HAT paper. Test patterns, dates, and requirements can change; confirm them on HEC and ETC pages before you register.