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Air University AU-CBT: test composition for each group, exemptions and merit
The sections and percentages of the Air University computer based test for each HSSC group, which tests give an exemption, and how merit is calculated.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
The short answer
Air University in Islamabad uses its own computer based test, the AU-CBT, for undergraduate admission. The test has four parts: English, Analytical, Quantitative and Subject Knowledge. The subjects in the last part depend on your HSSC group. Air University publishes the test as percentages. It does not state the number of questions or the time on that page.
Composition by group
These are the shares published on the Prepare for Admission Test page of Air University.
| HSSC group | English | Analytical | Quantitative | Subject knowledge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Engineering | 20% | 25% | 25% | Physics 10%, Chemistry 10%, Mathematics 10% |
| Pre-Medical | 20% | 25% | 15% | Physics 10%, Chemistry 10%, Biology 20% |
| Computer Science | 20% | 25% | 25% | Physics 10%, Computer 10%, Mathematics 10% |
| General Science | 20% | 25% | 25% | Mathematics 10%, Statistics 10%, Economics 10% |
| Commerce | 20% | 25% | 15% | Accounts 14%, Commerce 13%, Economics 13% |
| Arts | 20% | 25% | 15% | Islamiat 10%, Pakistan Studies 10%, General Knowledge and Current Affairs 20% |
What is inside each part
- English: sentence completion, analogy, antonym, comprehension and synonym.
- Analytical: scenario based questions and statement based questions.
- Quantitative: arithmetic, algebra and geometry.
The sample paper
Air University publishes a sample paper for each group on its admissions page. The sample for the Pre-Engineering group (a file from July 2025) has 38 questions with an answer key. It starts with English, with sentence completion, antonyms, analogies, synonyms and comprehension, and then has analytical reasoning, quantitative questions, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. It is a short sample for the style of the questions, not a full length paper. Download the one for your group and use it to check your speed.
Merit formula
Air University publishes these weights for the undergraduate programmes.
| Programmes | SSC | HSSC | Entrance test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering | 10% | 50% | 40% |
| Non-engineering | 15% | 35% | 50% |
Exemptions
You may be exempt from the AU-CBT if you already have a qualifying test result. For engineering programmes the pre-qualifying tests include NAT-IE, NAT-ICS, USAT-E and USAT-CS, and the entrance tests of UET Lahore, NED, MUET, NUST and ETEA. For business and management programmes Air University asks for at least 1100 in the SAT I, or all six types of NAT or USAT. The test must relate to your HSSC group, you need a score of at least 50, and the test must be passed within one year of the closing date of admission. Read the exemption table of Air University for the other programmes.
How to prepare
- Find your group in the table, and put your time where the percentages are largest. Analytical and Quantitative together carry 40 to 50 percent of the marks.
- Practise the question types in each part. They are the same types as the NTS NAT, so the COMSATS questions and the NAT checklist on this site are useful.
- Take the Air University practice paper on this site. It follows the percentages for the Pre-Engineering group.
- Download the sample papers for your group from the Air University admissions page.
Common questions
- Which parts are in every group? English 20 percent and Analytical 25 percent. Quantitative is 25 percent for Pre-Engineering, Computer Science and General Science, and 15 percent for the other groups.
- Does the test have the same parts as the NTS NAT? The English, Analytical and Quantitative parts have the same kinds of questions as the NAT.
- What is the minimum score for an exemption? Air University asks for a score of at least 50 in the qualifying test, and the test must be passed within one year of the closing date of admission.
- Where do I find sample papers? On the Admissions menu of the Air University website, with one sample paper for each group.
Practise on this site
Where this comes from
- Air University, Prepare for Admission Test page (au.edu.pk): the AU-CBT composition, the exemption criteria and the merit formula.
- Air University, admissions menu: sample papers for each group.
- Air University does not state the number of questions or the time on that page. Check the notice for your year.