COMSATS NAT Syllabus & Structure
COMSATS does not run its own engineering paper — it admits on the National Aptitude Test (NAT), conducted by NTS. That matters more than it sounds: the NAT is mostly an aptitude test. Two-thirds of it is reasoning, and only a third is Maths, Physics and Chemistry/CS. If you prepare for it like the UET ECAT, you will be preparing for the wrong exam.
This is an aptitude test, not a subject test
- Verbal, analytical and quantitative reasoning together make up 60 of the 90 questions — about two-thirds of the paper.
- Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry/CS are only 10 questions each — a third between them.
- The NAT is run by NTS, not by COMSATS, and is offered at sittings through the admission season.
- You sit the NAT category that matches your background — NAT-IE for pre-engineering, NAT-ICS for computer science, NAT-IM for pre-medical, NAT-ICOM for commerce.
Structure
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total MCQs | 90 |
| Total marks | 100 |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Negative marking | None |
| Format | MCQs |
| Conducted by | NTS (National Testing Service) |
Section breakdown
| Section | MCQs | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 20 | 22.2% |
| Analytical Reasoning | 20 | 22.2% |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 20 | 22.2% |
| Mathematics | 10 | 11.1% |
| Physics | 10 | 11.1% |
| Chemistry / Computer Science | 10 | 11.1% |
| Total | 90 | 100% |
NAT categories
Sit the one that matches your intermediate qualification:
- NAT-IE — FSc Pre-Engineering, or A-Levels with Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
- NAT-IM — FSc Pre-Medical.
- NAT-ICS — Intermediate Computer Science.
- NAT-ICOM — Intermediate Commerce.
What this means for how you prepare
- Reasoning is where the marks are. Verbal, analytical and quantitative reasoning are learnable question types — they reward pattern practice far more than re-reading FSc notes.
- Do not over-invest in Physics and Chemistry. Ten questions each is barely a tenth of the paper.
- No negative marking: attempt every question.
- NTS holds multiple sittings through the season, so a poor first attempt is not the end of it — but check COMSATS' current campus-wise requirements before planning.
Frequently asked questions
Does COMSATS have its own entry test?+
No. It admits on the NTS National Aptitude Test (NAT) — you sit the NAT category matching your intermediate qualification.
How much of the NAT is reasoning?+
About two-thirds — 60 of the 90 questions are verbal, analytical or quantitative reasoning.
Which NAT should a pre-engineering student sit?+
NAT-IE. Computer science students sit NAT-ICS, pre-medical NAT-IM and commerce NAT-ICOM.
Is there negative marking in the NAT?+
No, so attempt every question.
More Engineering College Admission Test (ECAT) guidance
Know the rules. Now practise.
Understanding the exam is step one. Drill past-paper style MCQs with detailed explanations and track your accuracy by subject.
Practise reasoning & MCQsGuidance is provided for candidates' convenience and is not an official CPSP publication. Always confirm current rules and criteria at cpsp.edu.pk.