ISLAMABAD: The Education Testing Council (ETC) of the Higher Education Commission, Islamabad has announced the comprehensive test schedule for 2026, covering the Law Admission Test, Law Graduation Assessment Test, Undergraduate Studies Admission Test and the Higher Education Aptitude Test for MPhil and PhD aspirants.
The ETC, operating under the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, administers standardised assessments designed to ensure academic quality and merit-based entry across higher education disciplines. The 2026 test calendar maps out registration deadlines, roll number slip issuance dates, examination dates and result announcement timelines for all four major tests.
Law Admission Test (LAT)
The LAT is a mandatory standardised assessment required for admission to undergraduate LLB programmes across Pakistan. Introduced by the HEC to enforce a uniform quality benchmark, the test evaluates candidates’ analytical reasoning and academic aptitude before entry into formal legal education. Five rounds have been scheduled for 2026:
- Round 1 — Registration closes December 29, 2025 | Test date: January 25, 2026 | Results: March 5, 2026
- Round 2 — Registration closes March 22, 2026 | Test date: April 12, 2026 | Results: May 22, 2026
- Round 3 — Registration closes May 25, 2026 | Test date: June 21, 2026 | Results: August 3, 2026
- Round 4 — Registration closes August 10, 2026 | Test date: September 6, 2026 | Results: October 16, 2026
- Round 5 — Registration closes October 20, 2026 | Test date: November 15, 2026 | Results: December 24, 2026
Law Graduation Assessment Test (LAW-GAT)
The LAW-GAT is designed for graduating law students and serves as an assessment of legal knowledge and competence upon completion of an LLB degree. Four rounds are scheduled for 2026:
- Round 1 — Registration closes March 3, 2026 | Test date: April 5, 2026 | Results: April 23, 2026
- Round 2 — Registration closes July 19, 2026 | Test date: August 9, 2026 | Results: August 28, 2026
- Round 3 — Registration closes September 27, 2026 | Test date: October 18, 2026 | Results: November 6, 2026
- Round 4 — Registration closes November 29, 2026 | Test date: December 20, 2026 | Results: December 31, 2026
Undergraduate Studies Admission Test (USAT)
The USAT facilitates merit-based admissions to undergraduate programmes across disciplines at HEC-recognised institutions. Five rounds are scheduled for 2026:
- Round 1 — Registration closes January 15, 2026 | Test date: February 1, 2026 | Results: February 20, 2026
- Round 2 — Registration closes March 30, 2026 | Test date: April 19, 2026 | Results: May 19, 2026
- Round 3 — Registration closes June 7, 2026 | Test date: July 5, 2026 | Results: August 5, 2026
- Round 4 — Registration closes September 20, 2026 | Test date: October 11, 2026 | Results: November 6, 2026
- Round 5 — Registration closes November 22, 2026 | Test date: December 13, 2026 | Results: December 31, 2026
Higher Education Aptitude Test — HAT (MS, MPhil/PhD)
The HAT is a prerequisite for admission to postgraduate programmes at the MPhil and PhD level, assessing candidates’ higher-order reasoning and subject aptitude. Five rounds are scheduled for 2026:
- Round 1 — Registration closes January 15, 2026 | Test date: February 1, 2026 | Results: February 20, 2026
- Round 2 — Registration closes March 30, 2026 | Test date: April 19, 2026 | Results: May 8, 2026
- Round 3 — Registration closes June 7, 2026 | Test date: July 5, 2026 | Results: July 31, 2026
- Round 4 — Registration closes September 20, 2026 | Test date: October 11, 2026 | Results: November 6, 2026
- Round 5 — Registration closes November 22, 2026 | Test date: December 13, 2026 | Results: December 31, 2026
Roll number slips for all tests are issued approximately two to three weeks prior to each examination date. Candidates are advised to regularly visit the official ETC and HEC portals for announcement notifications and to complete online registration before stipulated closing dates, as late applications are not considered under any circumstances.
