The HEC USAT Registration December 2026 is now open, and students who want admission to undergraduate degree programmes at Pakistani universities can register through the official Education Testing Council (ETC) portal. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) opened registration on 8 November 2026, and the last date to apply is 22 November 2026. The Undergraduate Studies Admission Test (USAT) will be held on 13 December 2026. This guide explains what USAT is, who should take it, the six test categories, the test pattern, and the step-by-step registration process.
HEC USAT December 2026: registration closes 22 November 2026, test on 13 December 2026, apply through the ETC portal.
What Is the HEC USAT?
The Undergraduate Studies Admission Test (USAT) is a standardised admission test conducted by HEC through the Education Testing Council (ETC) for students seeking admission to undergraduate degree programmes at Pakistani universities. The test is held several times a year, and the December 2026 sitting is the last USAT of this year.
USAT gives universities a common measure of a student’s readiness for undergraduate study. Universities that accept USAT use the score in their merit determination, and students must submit the ETC score card as part of their admission application. However, HEC does not make USAT universally compulsory — universities retain the independence to accept USAT or to conduct their own entry tests. Before registering and paying, students should check whether the universities they are applying to actually require USAT.
The USAT is a 100-mark test. The qualifying score is 50 out of 100, and the score remains valid for two years.
Registration closes at midnight on Sunday, 22 November 2026. Candidates should register early, because the portal faces heavy load near the deadline and late applications are not accepted.
Who Can Apply for HEC USAT?
USAT is for students who have passed, or are awaiting the result of, the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) or an equivalent qualification. The main conditions are:
Education: Students who have passed HSSC or equivalent, or who are awaiting their HSSC result, can apply.
University requirement: Students should first check whether their target universities require USAT. If a university conducts its own entry test and does not accept USAT, registering for USAT would be a wasted cost.
Test category: Candidates must choose the USAT category that matches their intended field of study. A wrong category can make the score useless for the chosen programme.
Documents: A valid CNIC is required for registration. Students under 18 also need a NADRA juvenile card on the test day, so they should arrange it before the test.
USAT is offered in six categories, and each category matches a different stream of undergraduate study. Choosing the right category is the most important decision in the registration, because a Pre-Medical student who registers for the Computer Science category, for example, will have a score that does not fit the medical programme.
Category
Stream
USAT-A
Arts and Humanities
USAT-COM
Commerce
USAT-CS
Computer Science
USAT-E
Pre-Engineering
USAT-GS
General Science
USAT-M
Pre-Medical
The decision protocol is simple: first check the university’s requirement, then choose the category that matches the intended degree, and then confirm the dates on the ETC portal. Students who are applying to more than one field should check whether they need more than one category, because each category is a separate test.
USAT Test Pattern and Qualifying Score
Total marks: 100 marks.
Qualifying score: 50 out of 100.
Score validity: Two years.
Sections: The paper covers verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and subject-related questions according to the chosen category.
Test day rules: Electronic devices are prohibited in the test centre. Candidates must bring their original CNIC and the printed roll number slip. Students under 18 must also carry a NADRA juvenile card.
Universities weight the USAT score in their merit determination, and the weight varies from university to university. A qualifying score does not guarantee admission — the university’s own merit list, interviews and other requirements still apply. But for universities that require USAT, a valid score is a compulsory part of the application.
October 2026 USAT and the December Chance
The previous USAT sitting was held on 25 October 2026, and its result is due on 16 November 2026 according to the ETC test calendar. Students who took the October test and did not reach the qualifying score, or who missed the October sitting, can register for the December test. The December sitting is the last USAT of 2026, so students planning undergraduate admissions in the coming session should not miss the 22 November registration deadline.
Students who already hold a valid USAT score from an earlier sitting do not need to take the December test unless their score has expired or their university requires a fresh score. The two-year validity means scores from late 2024 onwards may still be valid, depending on the exact date.
How to Register for HEC USAT December 2026
Visit the ETC portal: Open etc.hec.gov.pk and create an account or log in to your existing ETC account.
Select USAT December 2026: Choose the USAT test for the December 2026 cycle from the list of available tests.
Choose your category: Select the correct USAT category (A, COM, CS, E, GS or M) according to your intended field of study.
Fill in your details: Enter your personal, educational and CNIC details carefully. The details must match your CNIC and academic documents.
Pay the fee: Pay the test fee through 1Link or 1Bill using the payment channels given on the portal, and keep the payment receipt safe.
Submit before the deadline: Submit the application before 22 November 2026 (up to 24:00 hours). Late applications are not accepted.
Download the roll number slip: Download and print your roll number slip from the ETC portal when it is issued on 4 December 2026, and carry it with your original CNIC on the test day, 13 December 2026.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Registering without checking the university requirement: USAT is not compulsory everywhere. Check first whether your universities accept USAT, or you may pay for a test you do not need.
Wrong category: The most common mistake is choosing a USAT category that does not match the intended degree. Pre-Medical maps to USAT-M and Computer Science maps to USAT-CS — do not mix them up.
Waiting for the last day: The portal slows down near the deadline. Register at least a few days early.
Missing the juvenile card: Students under 18 need a NADRA juvenile card on the test day. Arrange it well before 13 December 2026.
Carrying a mobile phone: Electronic devices are prohibited in the test centre. Do not bring them.
The HEC USAT Registration December 2026 is open until 22 November 2026, and the test will be held on 13 December 2026. Students aiming for undergraduate admission should first check whether their universities require USAT, then register on etc.hec.gov.pk, choose the correct category for their field, pay the fee through 1Link or 1Bill, and download the roll number slip on 4 December 2026. With a qualifying score of 50 out of 100 valid for two years, the December USAT is the last chance this year to secure an undergraduate admission test score.
FAQs
What is the last date for HEC USAT Registration December 2026? The last date to register online is 22 November 2026, up to 24:00 hours, through the ETC portal at etc.hec.gov.pk.
When is the HEC USAT December 2026 test? The test will be held on Sunday, 13 December 2026. Roll number slips are due on 4 December 2026 and the result on 31 December 2026, as per the ETC calendar.
What is the qualifying score for USAT? The qualifying score is 50 out of 100, and the score is valid for two years.
What are the USAT categories? There are six categories: USAT-A (Arts and Humanities), USAT-COM (Commerce), USAT-CS (Computer Science), USAT-E (Pre-Engineering), USAT-GS (General Science) and USAT-M (Pre-Medical).
Is USAT compulsory for all universities? No. HEC does not make USAT universally compulsory. Universities decide whether to accept USAT or conduct their own entry test, so students should check their university’s requirement before registering.
Shahzad Sahil is the editor of lahorejobs24.com, covering government jobs, private jobs, bank jobs, results and education news for Lahore and Punjab, with information verified from official sources.
