HAT-4 is for Agriculture and Veterinary, Biological and Medical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Education, and Media and Mass Communication. HAT General is for Religious Studies, mainly Madrassa graduates. Both have the same split: 40 verbal, 30 analytical and 30 quantitative MCQs.
Who should choose HAT-4
- Agriculture, Food Science, Veterinary Sciences
- Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Zoology, Botany, Medical Sciences
- Physical Sciences (for example Chemistry)
- Education
- Media and Mass Communication
Who should choose HAT General
HAT General is for Religious Studies, mainly for Madrassa graduates going for MS or MPhil. The paper split is the same as HAT-4.
HEC says you cannot change your category after you submit the form. Check with your university before you register.
Paper pattern for HAT-4 and HAT General
| Section | MCQs |
|---|---|
| Verbal (English) | 40 |
| Analytical (reasoning) | 30 |
| Quantitative (maths) | 30 |
Where students lose marks
- Maths (30 MCQs): biology, media and religious studies students often have not done maths in years. It is Matric level, so daily practice fixes it fast. See our maths guide.
- Analytical (30 MCQs): the hardest section in our bank. Use the drawing method in our analytical reasoning guide.
- English (40 MCQs): the biggest section. Madrassa graduates who studied mostly in Urdu or Arabic should start vocabulary on day 1. Our 55 vocabulary words list helps.
A simple plan
- Do 1 full paper with a timer to see your level.
- English: 20 words a day and 1 reading passage.
- Maths: 15 questions a day, easy first.
- Analytical: 10 puzzles a day.
- Last 2 weeks: a full paper every 2 days.
Practice: HAT-4 papers or HAT General papers. Aim for at least 50% for MS and MPhil and 60% for PhD, as HEC policy says. More in our HAT passing marks guide.
Common questions
Which subjects come under HAT-4?
Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Biological and Medical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Education, and Media and Mass Communication.
Who should take HAT General?
HAT General is for Religious Studies, mainly for Madrassa graduates.
What is the HAT-4 paper pattern?
100 MCQs: 40 verbal (English), 30 analytical (reasoning) and 30 quantitative (maths). HAT General has the same split.
Is HAT-4 for MPhil Pharmacy or Nursing?
Biological and Medical Sciences come under HAT-4, but always check with your university, because some programs ask for a different test.