The USAT paper has 2 parts. Part I is 75 MCQs in 100 minutes. Part II is 2 short essays in 40 minutes. The first 45 MCQs (English and maths reasoning) are the same for everyone. The last 30 MCQs depend on your group, like Pre-Medical or Computer Science.
Below I explain the full USAT paper pattern for 2026, group by group, plus what our own question bank of 3,476 questions shows about which parts are the hardest.
USAT Part I: the MCQs
Every USAT group starts with the same 2 sections:
- Verbal reasoning (English): 20 MCQs. Synonyms, antonyms, analogies, sentence completion and a short reading passage.
- Quantitative reasoning (maths): 25 MCQs. Percentages, ratios, averages, simple algebra, geometry and word problems.
Then come 30 subject MCQs from your own group. This is where the groups are different.
USAT subjects for all 6 groups
| Group | Code | Subject MCQs (30 in total) |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Engineering | USAT-E | Physics 10, Chemistry 10, Maths 10 |
| Pre-Medical | USAT-M | Physics 8, Chemistry 8, Biology 14 |
| Arts and Humanities | USAT-A | Islamiat or Ethics 10, Pakistan Studies 10, General Knowledge 10 |
| Computer Science | USAT-CS | Physics 8, Computer Science 14, Maths 8 |
| General Science | USAT-GS | Maths 10, Statistics 10, Economics 10 |
| Commerce | USAT-COM | Accounting 10, Commerce 10, Economics 10 |
HEC says you cannot change your USAT category after you submit the form. Pick the group that matches your FSc, ICS, ICom or FA subjects and the degree you want.
USAT Part II: the essays
In 40 minutes you write 2 essays. You can write them in English or Urdu.
- Argument essay (15 marks): pick 1 topic out of 3 and give your opinion with reasons.
- Narrative essay (10 marks): pick 1 topic out of 3 and tell a story from your life.
Many students practice only MCQs and lose easy marks here. Read our USAT essay guide with real topics to see how to write both.
How much time you get per question
100 minutes for 75 MCQs means about 80 seconds per question. That sounds like a lot, but the reading passage and the long maths questions eat time. My advice is to do the easy ones first in every section and come back to the hard ones.
Which USAT section is the hardest?
We wrote and checked 3,476 questions for HAT and USAT, and we marked each one as easy, medium or hard by how many steps it takes. Here is what we found for the USAT subjects:
| Section | Questions in our bank | Marked hard |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | 188 | 24% |
| Economics | 192 | 18% |
| Chemistry | 193 | 17% |
| Quantitative reasoning | 556 | 15% |
| Computer Science | 186 | 13% |
| Mathematics | 194 | 12% |
| Verbal reasoning | 486 | 9% |
| Physics | 194 | 6% |
| Biology | 186 | 3% |
| General Knowledge | 178 | 3% |
So if you are in General Science, Commerce or Pre-Engineering, give extra time to statistics, economics and chemistry. Biology and General Knowledge questions are mostly about remembering facts. They are not hard, but you must have revised them.
Read the guide for your group
- USAT-M Pre-Medical guide
- USAT-E Pre-Engineering guide
- USAT-CS Computer Science guide
- USAT-A, USAT-COM and USAT-GS guide
Also see the USAT passing marks and validity and how to prepare for USAT in 30 days. To practice, try our USAT mock papers with HEC sample questions, and if you are still choosing a test, read USAT vs MDCAT vs ECAT.
Common questions
How many MCQs are in the USAT?
The USAT Part I has 75 MCQs and you get 100 minutes for them. Part II has 2 essays and you get 40 minutes.
What are the 6 USAT categories?
USAT-E (Pre-Engineering), USAT-M (Pre-Medical), USAT-A (Arts and Humanities), USAT-CS (Computer Science), USAT-GS (General Science) and USAT-COM (Commerce).
Which part of the USAT is the same for everyone?
Verbal reasoning (20 MCQs) and quantitative reasoning (25 MCQs) are the same in every group. Only the last 30 subject MCQs change.
Can I write the USAT essay in Urdu?
Yes. HEC allows both USAT essays to be written in English or Urdu.
Can I change my USAT category after registering?
No. HEC says the category cannot be changed after you submit the form, so choose carefully.