What Is the NTS Test? Pattern, Passing Marks and How to Prepare

Ask anyone in Pakistan who has applied for a university seat, a scholarship or a government job, and there's a good chance their story includes three letters: NTS. You see it in job ads ("selection through NTS test"), on admission notices ("NAT/GAT score required") and all over student WhatsApp groups the week before a test.

Yet many candidates walk into the hall without really knowing what the test looks like, how it is marked or what score they need. This guide clears that up in plain words. We explain what the NTS test is, the NAT and GAT pattern, how NTS recruitment tests for jobs usually work, the truth about NTS passing marks and negative marking, and a practical preparation plan you can start today. You can also practise free MCQs on our online test preparation page while you read.

What is NTS?

NTS stands for the National Testing Service. It was set up in 2002 as a not-for-profit testing organisation, with COMSATS as its promoting institution. Its job is to run fair, standardised tests for three kinds of clients:

• Universities and colleges: admission tests such as NAT (for bachelor's) and GAT (for MS/MPhil and PhD)

• Government departments and companies: written tests for recruitment, where NTS shortlists candidates for interviews

• Scholarship programmes: screening tests for need-based and merit scholarships

The official website is nts.org.pk. As with any testing body, only trust registration links, roll number slips and results from the official website, not forwarded messages.

Types of NTS tests at a glance

NAT test pattern

The NAT is an aptitude test. It checks how well you read, reason and work with numbers, plus your knowledge of your own subject group. Every question is a multiple-choice question (MCQ) answered on an OMR sheet.

NAT-I pattern (after intermediate)

NAT-I comes in six versions that match your intermediate group: NAT-IE (pre-engineering), NAT-IM (pre-medical), NAT-ICS (computer science), NAT-ICOM (commerce), NAT-IGS (general science) and NAT-IA (arts). All six have the same structure:

That gives you about 80 seconds per question. In practice, the analytical and maths questions take longer, so speed on the English and subject sections buys you time.

NAT-II pattern (after 14 years of education)

NAT-II has 100 MCQs in 120 minutes, with a heavier subject part. In NAT-IIB, IIM and IIP, for example, 70 of the 100 questions are from your subject area, with 10 each for English, analytical and quantitative. NAT-IIA and NAT-IIO keep a bigger general part.

How long is a NAT score valid?

A NAT result is generally valid for one year, so you can use one score for admissions in the same cycle. Always check the admission notice of the university you are applying to.

GAT test pattern (MS/MPhil and PhD)

GAT-General is a 100-MCQ, 120-minute test of verbal, quantitative and analytical reasoning. It comes in several categories that match broad fields of study, and the balance between the three parts changes with the category. GAT-Subject mixes a smaller general section (about 30%) with a large subject section (about 70%) in your field. A GAT result is generally valid for two years.

Important 2026 update for MPhil and PhD applicants

In May 2026, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) announced that MS/MPhil and PhD admissions would be based only on GRE or HEC's HAT (General and subject tests run by HEC's Education Testing Council), and that universities would stop holding their own entry tests. A few days later, HEC deferred this policy by one year, to 2027, because universities were not ready. For the 2026 sessions, universities can continue their own admission tests and their existing test requirements.

So before you register for any GAT, check your university's admission notice for the session you are applying to, and keep an eye on HEC's announcements for 2027.

NTS recruitment tests for jobs

For jobs, NTS works as a hired examiner. A department or company sends NTS its requirements, NTS publishes the "project" on its website, candidates apply, take the written test, and NTS sends the results to the department. The department then calls the top scorers for interviews and makes the final selection.

There is no single fixed pattern for recruitment tests, because every project is designed for its posts. Most tests mix:

• English: vocabulary, synonyms and antonyms, sentence correction, comprehension

• General knowledge and current affairs: Pakistan and the world, recent events

• Pakistan Studies and Islamic Studies: often a fixed part of government tests (non-Muslim candidates usually get Ethics instead)

• Basic maths and analytical reasoning: percentages, ratios, series, word problems

• Computer basics: MS Office, internet, common terms

• A professional section: questions from your own field (accounting, nursing, education, engineering and so on), which is often the biggest part for senior posts

The exact split, if published, appears with the job advertisement or on the project page on nts.org.pk. Read it carefully and plan your preparation around it.

NTS passing marks: what score do you need?

This is the most searched NTS question, and the honest answer surprises many people: NTS does not set one fixed passing percentage for all its tests. NTS reports your score, and the university, scholarship body or employer decides the minimum it will accept.

• University admissions: each university sets its own minimum NAT or GAT score and how much weight the test carries in its merit formula. Read the admission notice.

• MPhil/PhD: under HEC's Graduate Education Policy 2023, the common requirement was 50% for MS/MPhil and 60% for PhD in GRE-type tests. This framework is being replaced by the new GRE/HAT system from 2027, as explained above.

• Jobs: the department decides the qualifying marks and how many candidates per seat go to interview. A "pass" is often not enough. You need to rank high enough to be shortlisted.

The practical lesson: aim for the highest score you can, not just a "passing" one.

Is there negative marking in NTS?

You will find many confident claims online, but NTS's published rules do not set out a fixed negative-marking rule for all tests. Questions left blank, or with two circles filled, get no marks. Because rules can differ by project, read the instructions printed on your roll number slip and on the question paper. If no negative marking is mentioned, attempt every question. Note that other bodies have their own rules. PPSC, for example, deducts 0.25 marks for every wrong answer, as we explain in our PPSC application guide.

How to register for an NTS test

1. Go to nts.org.pk and create an account on the online registration portal (once is enough for all future tests).

2. Upload a recent, clear photograph showing your full face.

3. Choose the test or recruitment project you want and fill in your personal and academic details.

4. Pay the test fee using the method shown in the portal, and keep the receipt.

5. Select your preferred test city.

6. Download your roll number slip from the website. NTS usually uploads it about a week before the test, and also sends SMS updates.

Fees change from time to time and differ between NAT, GAT and recruitment projects, so always check the current fee on the official registration page or in the advertisement.

How to prepare for the NTS test: a 4-week plan

You don't need expensive academies to do well. You need a plan, steady practice and timed mock tests. Here is a plan that works for most candidates, whether for NAT, GAT or a recruitment test:

Week 1: Know the pattern and find your weak spots

• Read your test's pattern (from this guide or the advertisement) and write down how many questions each section has.

• Take one full timed practice test on day one, without preparing. It will be uncomfortable, but it shows exactly where you lose marks.

• Collect your material: your textbooks for the subject part, one good English grammar and vocabulary book, and past MCQs.

Week 2: Build the basics

• English: learn 15 to 20 new words a day with their synonyms and antonyms, and practise one reading comprehension passage daily.

• Maths: revise percentages, ratios, averages, speed-distance-time and basic algebra. These come up again and again.

• Analytical: practise number series, letter series, seating arrangements and logical puzzles. They feel hard at first and get much easier with practice.

Week 3: Subject and general knowledge

• Revise the key concepts of your subject section, not the whole book. Focus on definitions, formulas and frequently tested topics.

• For recruitment tests, spend 30 minutes a day on current affairs (a newspaper or a reliable news site) and Pakistan Studies basics.

• Do 50 to 100 MCQs a day on our free online tests, and note every mistake in a notebook.

Week 4: Mock tests and time management

• Take at least three full-length timed mock tests in the same time limit as the real test.

• Practise the two-round method: answer everything you know quickly in the first round, mark the hard ones, and return to them in the second round.

• Revise your mistakes notebook in the final two days instead of learning new topics.

Test-day checklist

• Original CNIC (or B-Form, for students who don't have a CNIC yet, if allowed by the instructions) and your printed roll number slip

• Blue or black ballpoint pens as instructed (bring two)

• Reach the centre at least 45 minutes early, and find your room the day before if possible

• No mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators or bags in the hall unless the instructions allow them

• Fill the OMR circles fully and neatly, and match each question number before filling it in

After the test: results and what comes next

NTS publishes results on its website, where you can check by CNIC or roll number. For admissions, use your score in university applications before it expires. For jobs, the department receives the merit list and calls shortlisted candidates for interviews, so keep your phone on and your documents ready. A clean, professional CV makes a strong first impression at that stage. You can build one quickly with our free CV maker, and our Career Guide has more tips for interviews.

Looking for jobs that recruit through NTS and other testing services? Browse the latest verified jobs in Pakistan and set up free job alerts so new advertisements reach you on time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the full form of NTS?

National Testing Service, a Pakistani not-for-profit organisation that has run admission, scholarship and recruitment tests since 2002.

How many MCQs are in the NAT test?

NAT-I has 90 MCQs in 120 minutes: 20 English, 20 analytical, 20 quantitative and 30 subject questions. NAT-II has 100 MCQs in 120 minutes.

What are the passing marks of the NTS test?

NTS has no single passing percentage. Universities and employers set their own minimum scores and merit criteria, so check the admission notice or job advertisement, and aim as high as you can.

Is there negative marking in NTS tests?

NTS does not publish one fixed negative-marking rule for all tests. Follow the instructions on your roll number slip and question paper. If no negative marking is mentioned, attempt every question.

How long is an NTS result valid?

Generally one year for NAT and two years for GAT, but always check the requirements of the institution you're applying to.

Is NTS GAT still accepted for MPhil and PhD?

For 2026 admissions, universities set their own test requirements, and many accept GAT. HEC plans to require GRE or HAT for MS/MPhil and PhD admissions from 2027, so check your university's notice for your session.

References

• NTS NAT paper pattern and question distribution: NAT Paper Pattern (PDF)

• Express Tribune: HEC pulls the plug on university entry tests for MPhil and PhD (May 2026)

• The News: HEC defers new MPhil, PhD admission test policy by one year (May 2026)

• Aggregate Calculator: What Is NTS in Pakistan? NAT, GAT pattern and fee

This guide is for general information. Test patterns, fees and policies can change, and the official NTS website and your university's or employer's notice are the final authority. If you notice a change, tell us through our contact page and we'll update this guide.