USAT Complete Guide 2024

The abbreviation of the USAT is the Undergraduate Studies Admission Test. USAT is an entrance test for admission to higher education in various undergraduate degree programs organized by the HEC. ETC conducts the USAT in Pakistan. USAT is accepted by all the public and private universities in Pakistan. The Higher Education Undergraduate Studies Admission Test (USAT) is acceptable for admission in engineering, allied health sciences, information technology (IT), social sciences, and many other disciplines. All the candidates that qualify for USAT are eligible for admission to undergraduate degree programs across all of Pakistan at their respective institutes.

The candidates often ask, What is the USAT? And why is USAT necessary? The answer is that the candidates need to pass an entry test for admission to any undergraduate degree in Pakistan. Many universities require USAT for admission, and the candidates must pass it. Candidates who fail to pass the USAT are not eligible for admission to BS degree programs. The USAT is necessary to check the eligibility of the candidates for admission to higher education. Thousands of students appear in the USAT conducted by the ETC every year.

Schedule:

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) declares the schedule for the registration of the USAT every year. The tentative date for the HEC USAT is January 28, 2024. The exact date for the USAT 2024 has not yet been confirmed by the HEC.

  • USAT exam application deadline is January 17, 2024.
  • USAT exam tentative date 2024: January 28, 2024

USAT Categories

There are six categories or subject combinations of the USAT for students according to their previous education. The six categories of the USAT are listed here:

  • USAT-E  Pre-Engineering
  • USAT - GS General Science
  • USAT-COM  Commerce
  • USAT-M  Pre-Medical
  • USAT: A History of Art and Humanities
  • USAT-CS: Computer Science

Eligibility:

The eligibility criteria for USAT are given below:

  • The candidate must have passed intermediate, HSSC, or equivalent in any discipline before appearing in the HEC USAT.
  • Candidates who appeared in annual exams and are waiting for results can apply for the USAT.

USAT paper pattern and mark distribution:

The paper pattern of the USAT is made by the HEC. The total marks for the USAT exam are 100. The passing marks for the USAT are a minimum of 50%, and each candidate needs to score a minimum of 50 marks out of 100 to qualify for or pass the test. The USAT exam consists of MCQs and essay writing. The mark distribution of the USAT is given below:

PART 1

  • Time allowed: 100 minutes (about 1 and a half hours).
  • Number of MCQs (75 MCQs)
  • Verbal reasoning questions: 35
  • Quantitative reasoning questions: 40

PART 2

  • Time allowed (40 minutes)
  • Essay writing skills (400–500 words for an essay, either in English or Urdu): 25 marks

The candidates must score above and equal to 50 to qualify for the USAT. Students can apply for admission to universities based on their USAT results. Each university uses a USAT weightage-based merit-determining formula or calculator for admission to the USAT exam.

Application process:

  • The candidates who want to register for the USAT can go to the website of the HEC by using this link: http://etc.hec.gov.pk.
  • The applicants can get help with registration through this website: onlinehelp.hec.gov.pk.
  • The application process consists of two steps: profile completion and application submission.
  • The applicants need to make their profit online by visiting their online portal and completing their application process.
  • The application fee for the USAT exam is Rs. 1750 per application. (The application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.)
  • Candidates can pay the application fee via banks, internet banking, mobile apps, or Easypaisa.
  • After completing the application form, the applicant needs to select the mode of payment.
  • The candidates need to take a copy of the paid challan to the test center.
  • After successful submission of the application form, the candidates can check their application status on the admission portal.
  • In case of any error or omission, the applicants can contact the HEC.
  • Only online applications are accepted. Candidates don’t need to send the application form to the HEC by post or any other means.

USAT Exam Centers:

HEC conducts the USAT exam in the major cities of Pakistan on different dates. The USAT 2024 test is usually conducted in the following cities in Pakistan:

  • Lahore
  • Peshawar
  • Gujranwala
  • Islamabad
  • Karachi
  • Hyderabad
  • Sargodha
  • Faisalabad

The rules and regulations for the test center are mentioned on the roll number slips. All the candidates need to read all the instructions before going for the test.

Syllabus:

The syllabus or course outline of the USAT is made and provided by the Higher Education Commission. The syllabus and the mark breakdown for each subject are mentioned on the official website of the HEC. Candidates can download the syllabus from the HEC website. The USAT exam consists of two portions, including MCQs and essay writing. The USAT exam includes certain subjects, i.e., verbal reasoning, qualitative reasoning, English, mathematics, chemistry, and physics. The candidates should have command of all the subjects for a better score in the USAT exam.

Validity:

The validity of the USAT exam is one year only. The result of the USAT is valid for one year. The candidates can apply for admission to an undergraduate degree program on the basis of the USAT for one year only. after the year of conduct. The results of previous years of USAT are not valid for admission in the current year.

Formula:

As many universities in Pakistan accept USAT for admission to undergraduate degree programs, The weight of the USAT in the merit calculator varies in certain institutions. The merit formula of the PU for admission to undergraduate degree programs is mentioned here:

  • 85% academic and 15% USAT marks

The candidates need to score maximum marks in the USAT for a good aggregate.

Past papers and sample papers:

All the past papers and sample papers of the USAT are given on the website of the HEC. The candidates can download and practice these past papers from the USAT for better preparation for the exam. The candidates can get an idea of the USAT exam by practicing these past and sample papers.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

The eligibility criteria are the minimum requirements for admission to any degree program. Basically, the eligibility criterion is a standard for checking the eligibility of any candidate. Each institute sets some eligibility criteria for admission to undergraduate degree programs. Candidates who are eligible according to the eligibility criteria of the USAT can apply for admission. The eligibility criteria for USAT are made by the higher authorities. Normally, the HEC sets and mentions the eligibility criteria for the USAT.

The candidates can check the eligibility criteria on the website of the Higher Education Commission. The candidates should check whether they are eligible for the application or not before applying for the test. Candidates who want to appear in the Undergraduate Studies Admission Test can check the eligibility criteria that are given on the website of the HEC. A lot of candidates want to appear in the test, but some of them are rejected as they don't fit according to the eligibility criteria of the USAT.

The eligibility criteria for the USAT given by the HEC are mentioned here:

  • Passed Intermediate, HSSC, A-levels, or equivalent is required for appearing in the HEC USAT.
  • Students who appeared in the final exams and are waiting for their results can apply for the USAT.

Candidates who have done the examinations and whose results have not been announced yet can also apply to appear in the USAT. The minimum qualification required for appearing in the USAT is passing intermediate. As many public and private universities require passing the USAT, thousands of candidates apply for the HEC USAT every year. For admission to the undergraduate degree program, candidates need to appear in the USAT exam and pass it.

The advertisement for the USAT exam is given by the HEC, in which all the important details are mentioned. Information regarding the application process, eligibility criteria, and admission deadlines is provided on the advertisement page. The USAT eligibility criteria for 2024 are given on the official page of the HEC, and the candidates can check them. Candidates who fail to meet the eligibility criteria cannot appear in the USAT.

Get all the latest and authentic details regarding admission tests from this page. Candidates who have passed their intermediate exams can apply for the USAT exam if they want to get admission to an undergraduate degree program. USAT is necessary for admission to any undergraduate degree program in Pakistan. The USAT was introduced by the HEC and controlled by the ETC. The applicants can apply online on the website of the HEC for the USAT exam.

Candidates who pass the USAT exam are eligible to apply to undergraduate degree programs at various universities in Pakistan. In most institutions, a specific percentage of the USAT marks is included in the aggregate calculator. There is no age limit for appearing in the USAT exam. For further details regarding the HEC USAT, visit their official website. HEC has mentioned the eligibility criteria for USAT 2024 on its website.