LAT Test Pattern: Structure, Marks and Timing
The LAT is a 100-mark paper in two parts: 75 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes, then an essay and a personal statement in 40 minutes. You need 50 marks to pass.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 20 | 20 |
| General Knowledge | 20 | 20 |
| Pakistan Studies | 10 | 10 |
| Islamiat | 10 | 10 |
| Mathematics | 5 | 5 |
| Urdu | 10 | 10 |
| Essay (Part II) | 1 | 15 |
| Personal Statement (Part II) | 1 | 10 |
| Total | 75 MCQs + 2 written tasks | 100 |
Part I: 75 MCQs in 100 minutes
Each MCQ carries 1 mark and has one correct option. That gives you about 80 seconds per question. In practice, English, Pakistan Studies and Islamiat questions take less than that, which leaves extra time for Mathematics and for checking marked questions.
- English and General Knowledge make up 40 of the 75 questions. Strong preparation here covers more than half of Part I.
- Pakistan Studies and Islamiat (20 questions) are fact-based and the quickest marks to gain with revision.
- Urdu (10) tests qawaid, vocabulary and basic literature; Mathematics (5) is basic arithmetic and algebra.
Part II: essay and personal statement in 40 minutes
You write one essay (15 marks) and one personal statement (10 marks). HEC's announcements say both can be written in English or Urdu. Together they are worth 25 marks — as much as 25 MCQs — so they deserve regular timed practice. See the LAT writing section guide.
What the pattern means for your target
To reach 50 you do not need a perfect paper. For example, 41 correct MCQs plus 9 marks from the two written tasks is a pass. But universities rank candidates on merit, so aim well above the pass line. A timed full mock test shows how many MCQ marks you are getting today.
Try the pattern under real timing
75 questions, 100 minutes, instant result.