Entry Test

GAT General Test, Results, Admissions & Roll Number Slip Updates

Graduate Assessment Test General (GAT General)

GAT General is the Graduate Assessment Test General conducted by National Testing Service Pakistan. It is mainly used by candidates applying for MS and MPhil programs in Pakistan. NTS states that candidates with at least 16 years of education can appear in GAT General, while individual universities may have additional admission requirements.

A GAT General result remains valid for two years for admission purposes. Candidates who already have a score can also take the test again if they want to improve it.

GAT General at a Glance

DetailInformation
TestGraduate Assessment Test General
Conducting organizationNational Testing Service Pakistan
Common nameNTS GAT General
Main purposeMS/MPhil admissions
Minimum education16 years
Result validity2 years
Test categoriesGAT A, B, C and D
Total questions100
Test duration120 minutes
Main sectionsVerbal, Quantitative and Analytical Reasoning

Who Can Take GAT General?

According to NTS, candidates with a minimum of 16 years of education are eligible to appear in GAT General.

This normally makes the test relevant to candidates who have completed the level of education required to seek admission to an MS or MPhil program. Passing or taking GAT General does not by itself guarantee university admission. Candidates must also meet the eligibility, merit and other requirements set by the university or program where they apply.

A candidate who has previously taken GAT General may also appear again to improve the earlier score.

Which GAT General Category Should You Choose?

NTS divides GAT General into four categories. Your category depends mainly on your previous academic field.

GAT A

GAT A is designed for Business and Engineering students.

Its paper distribution is:

SectionWeight
Verbal Reasoning35%
Quantitative Reasoning35%
Analytical Reasoning30%

NTS lists business, commerce, finance, engineering and related technology disciplines among the fields covered by this category.

GAT B

GAT B is for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences students.

SectionWeight
Verbal Reasoning50%
Quantitative Reasoning30%
Analytical Reasoning20%

Relevant areas listed by NTS include humanities, languages, journalism, economics, political science, international relations, psychology, sociology, education, law and several other social-science disciplines.

GAT C

GAT C covers Agriculture, Veterinary, Biological and related sciences, along with various physical-science and related disciplines listed by NTS.

SectionWeight
Verbal Reasoning45%
Quantitative Reasoning35%
Analytical Reasoning20%

Students should check the current NTS paper-distribution page if they are uncertain whether a particular degree falls under GAT C.

GAT D

GAT D is specifically identified by NTS for candidates from a Madrassa education background, such as Shahadat-ul-Aalmiya or an equivalent qualification with the relevant HEC equivalence, who seek admission to applicable MPhil, MS or LLM disciplines.

SectionWeight
Verbal Reasoning50%
Quantitative Reasoning30%
Analytical Reasoning20%

Choosing the correct category matters because the proportion of verbal, quantitative and analytical questions changes between categories.

GAT General Paper Pattern

The NTS GAT General paper contains 100 questions and candidates receive 120 minutes to complete it.

The test assesses three broad areas:

Verbal Reasoning

This section can include vocabulary, grammar and reading-comprehension skills. Its weight is highest in GAT B and GAT D.

Quantitative Reasoning

The quantitative portion includes mathematical reasoning from areas such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data-related questions, according to the detailed NTS curriculum.

Analytical Reasoning

Analytical questions assess reasoning, logic and the ability to work through relationships and structured problems.

The exact percentage allocated to each section depends on whether the candidate takes GAT A, B, C or D.

GAT General 2026 Schedule

NTS publishes multiple GAT General sittings during the year.

As checked on 20 September 2026, the NTS schedule currently lists the upcoming GAT-G-VII as follows:

EventDate currently listed by NTS
GAT-G-VII test11 October 2026
Registration deadline21 September 2026
Late-fee closing date27 September 2026
E-roll number slip date29 September 2026
Result date listed19 October 2026

Candidates should check the current NTS announcement before submitting an application or fee. Test schedules can be revised, and an individual project notice is more useful for final confirmation when NTS publishes one.

Another GAT General sitting, GAT-G-VIII, is also shown on the current NTS schedule for December 2026.

How to Register for NTS GAT General

The current NTS process is online.

A candidate generally follows these steps:

  1. Open the NTS online registration system.
  2. Create an account if you are a new user.
  3. Complete your personal and academic information.
  4. Upload the required recent photograph.
  5. Select the current GAT General project.
  6. Choose the available test-city preferences.
  7. Generate the payment information or deposit slip provided by the system.
  8. Pay the applicable test fee through an accepted payment channel.
  9. Keep checking NTS for your application status, test information and roll number slip.

Use the fee and payment details shown in the current NTS project or registration system before paying. Fees can change over time, so an old Pakword article or an old NTS notice should not be used as the basis for a new payment.

GAT General Roll Number Slip

NTS states that roll number slips are made available through its website and that candidates should follow the instructions provided for the particular test.

On test day, the roll number slip is important. NTS test-day instructions state that candidates must produce their roll number slip at the test centre.

Candidates should follow the reporting time printed on their slip. Arriving after the specified reporting time can prevent entry to the test centre.

What Should You Take to the Test Centre?

Follow the instructions on your current NTS roll number slip and test notice.

NTS specifically states that mobile phones are not allowed in test-centre premises. Its test-day instructions also prohibit calculators and calculator wrist watches.

Do not rely on an old test notice for your current sitting. Requirements shown on your latest roll number slip should take priority.

How Long Is a GAT General Result Valid?

The GAT General result is valid for two years for admissions, according to NTS.

This does not mean every university must admit a candidate solely on the basis of a valid GAT score. Universities may set their own minimum score, merit formula, academic requirements, interviews or other conditions.

Always check the admission rules of the university where you intend to apply.

GAT General vs GAT Subject

GAT General and GAT Subject are different NTS tests.

TestMain NTS purposeMinimum education stated by NTS
GAT GeneralMS/MPhil admissions16 years
GAT SubjectPhD programs18 years

Candidates applying for an MS or MPhil program should therefore not automatically register for GAT Subject simply because its name sounds similar.

Likewise, candidates applying for a PhD program should check the university’s current requirements instead of assuming GAT General is the required test.

Does Every University Require the Same GAT Score?

No single statement about a required score should be applied to every Pakistani university without checking that institution’s current admission policy.

NTS conducts the assessment, while universities and degree-awarding institutions can set additional criteria for their programs. A candidate should therefore check both:

  1. the current NTS requirements for taking GAT General, and
  2. the current admission requirements of the university and program.

This is particularly important when a university has its own admission test or publishes program-specific conditions.

Where to Verify Current GAT General Information

For registration deadlines, current fees, test dates, roll number slips and results, verify the information through the National Testing Service Pakistan website and the current GAT General announcement.

Pakword is an independent information website and does not conduct GAT General or issue NTS test results.

Because testing schedules can change, always recheck NTS before paying a fee or travelling to a test centre.

About GAT General

Standard / Formal NameGraduate Assessment Test General (GAT General)
Also Known AsGAT General Test, NTS GAT General, Graduate Assessment General
Education LevelEntry Test