The HAT test has 100 MCQs in 3 sections: verbal (English), analytical (reasoning) and quantitative (maths). The questions are the same type for everyone, but the number of questions in each section depends on your HAT category. There are 5 categories, and you choose one by the field of your MS, MPhil or PhD.
The 5 HAT categories and their marks
| Category | For these fields | Verbal | Analytical | Quantitative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAT-1 | Engineering and Technology, Computer Science, Maths, Statistics, Physics | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| HAT-2 | Management Sciences, Business Education | 30 | 40 | 30 |
| HAT-3 | Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology, Law | 40 | 35 | 25 |
| HAT-4 | Agriculture and Veterinary, Biological and Medical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Education, Media and Mass Communication | 40 | 30 | 30 |
| HAT General | Religious Studies (Madrassa graduates) | 40 | 30 | 30 |
HEC says you cannot change your HAT category after you submit the form. If your field is not clear, ask the admission office of your university which category they accept before you register.
What comes in each section
Verbal (English)
Synonyms, antonyms, analogies, sentence completion, finding the wrong word in a sentence and short reading passages. Vocabulary is the main thing here.
Analytical (reasoning)
Seating puzzles, ranking (who is taller), number and letter series, if/then logic and statements with conclusions. No formulas, just careful thinking.
Quantitative (maths)
Matric level maths: percentages, ratios, averages, profit and loss, speed and distance, simple algebra and geometry.
The section that surprises most students
In our question bank of 3,476 questions, we marked 52% of the analytical questions as hard. For verbal it was only 9% and for quantitative 15%. Analytical puzzles take many steps, and one wrong step means a wrong answer. HAT-2 has 40 analytical questions, so business students should practice puzzles the most.
I explain how to solve these step by step in our HAT analytical reasoning guide.
Which section should you practice most?
- HAT-1: maths has 40 marks. Do maths every day.
- HAT-2: analytical has 40 marks. Do puzzles every day.
- HAT-3, HAT-4 and HAT General: verbal has 40 marks. Learn 15 to 20 new words a day.
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Common questions
How many MCQs are in the HAT test?
The HAT has 100 MCQs in 3 sections: verbal (English), analytical (reasoning) and quantitative (maths).
Which HAT category is for computer science?
Computer Science comes in HAT-1, along with Engineering and Technology, Mathematics, Statistics and Physics.
Which HAT category is for MBA or business?
Management Sciences and Business Education come in HAT-2.
Can I change my HAT category later?
No. HEC says the category cannot be changed after you submit the form.
Is the HAT the same for MS and PhD?
The regular HAT is for MS, MPhil and PhD admissions. Some universities also ask PhD students for a separate subject test, so check your university's rules.