HAT-3 is the HAT category for Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology and Law. It has 100 MCQs: 40 verbal, 35 analytical and 25 quantitative. English is your biggest section, and the good news is that most HAT-3 students are already strong in it.
Who should choose HAT-3
- MS or MPhil in English, Urdu, History, Islamic Studies and other humanities
- Social Sciences: Sociology, Political Science, International Relations, Economics in some universities
- Psychology (Clinical and Applied)
- Law
HEC says you cannot change your category after submitting. For Law, also check if your university wants HAT-3 or another test like LAW-GAT.
HAT-3 paper pattern
| Section | MCQs |
|---|---|
| Verbal (English) | 40 |
| Analytical (reasoning) | 35 |
| Quantitative (maths) | 25 |
Where HAT-3 students lose marks
In my experience with our question bank, Arts students lose most marks in 2 places:
- Maths (25 MCQs): many have not done maths since Matric. But it is Matric level. A few weeks of daily practice on percentages, ratios and averages is enough. Start with our maths formulas and solved examples.
- Analytical (35 MCQs): this is the hardest section in our bank, with 52% hard questions. Learn the drawing method in our analytical reasoning guide.
English is where you win. 40 MCQs is the biggest section, so make it count. Go beyond the basics with our 55 harder vocabulary words.
A simple plan for HAT-3
- Do 1 full HAT-3 paper with a timer.
- Maths: 15 easy to medium questions a day. Build confidence first.
- Analytical: 10 puzzles a day, drawn on paper.
- English: 15 new words a day and 1 reading passage.
- Last 2 weeks: a full paper every 2 days.
What score to aim for
HEC policy asks for 50% for MS and MPhil and 60% for PhD. Read more in our HAT passing marks guide.
Common questions
Which subjects come under HAT-3?
Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology (Clinical and Applied) and Law.
What is the HAT-3 paper pattern?
100 MCQs: 40 verbal (English), 35 analytical (reasoning) and 25 quantitative (maths).
Is there maths in HAT-3?
Yes, 25 MCQs. It is Matric level, like percentages, ratios and averages, so Arts students can score well with practice.
Is HAT-3 for LLM?
Law is listed under HAT-3. Some law programs use HEC's separate LAW-GAT or their own test, so check your university's admission rules.