Cadet College Admission Challenge: Choosing Between Hasan Abdal, Kohat, Garrison Kohat and Petaro
Synopsis
Four cadet colleges test Class 8 candidates within weeks of each other: Cadet College Kohat on 25 October 2026, Garrison Cadet College Kohat on 8 November, Hasan Abdal on 27 December, and Petaro expected to announce in November or December. Last checked 16 October 2026.
The Challenge
Four cadet colleges, four calendars
Last checked: 16 October 2026, against each college’s own admissions page where I could open it. Dates and fees can change, so confirm with the admission office before you pay. If a college’s main website and its admissions portal show different dates, follow the portal and phone the office to confirm.
Side by side
| College | Test date | Apply by | Key rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadet College Kohat (63rd entry, session 2027) | 25 October 2026 | 20 October 2026 (challan upload up to 11:59 am) | Rs 5,000 non-refundable, paid with the portal challan at Askari Bank in your own name. Students in 7th or 8th, aged 12 to 14 on 31 March 2027. Subjects: Urdu cum Islamiat, English cum General Awareness, Maths. No hard copies. |
| Garrison Cadet College Kohat | Sunday, 8 November 2026 | Check the college’s online application | Class 8 entry test for session 2027, held at the respective exam centres. Affiliated with FBISE and BISEK. Criteria page for Class 8 on its website. |
| Cadet College Hasanabdal | 27 December 2026 | 4 December 2026 | Rs 7,000 plus Rs 58, online only. Aged 12 to 14 on 1 August of the year of entry. 3-hour test: Maths, English plus Islamiat, Urdu plus General Science. Interview and medical follow. |
| Cadet College Petaro | Not announced | Not announced | The prospectus says admissions are normally announced in November or December. When checked in mid-October the portal showed admission closed. Confirm directly. |
Note the different age rules: Kohat counts age on 31 March 2027 and Hasan Abdal on 1 August of the entry year. A child who qualifies for one college may not qualify for another.
How to choose
- Check the age rule first against each college’s cut-off date.
- Check the calendar. The Kohat test is nine days away. A realistic family plan may skip it and aim at the November and December tests.
- Check the location and the board. Garrison Cadet College Kohat is affiliated with FBISE and BISEK, so the board and the home city matter.
- Check the fees and aid. Hasan Abdal says financial help is limited and not guaranteed, and awards are treated as Qarz-e-Hasna. Ask each college about its own policy.
Why it is hard
Four calendars, four sets of rules, and tests that fall weeks apart. A child cannot prepare equally for all of them, and a missed challan deadline ends the application.
Common mistakes
Assuming one test covers every college. Paying a challan in someone else’s name. Missing the portal deadline by a day. Choosing by reputation without reading the age rule.
Related guides
- Cadet college admission solution: a multi-test plan
- Cadet College Hasan Abdal entry test in detail
- Free chapter: Growth Mindset
Official sources
- Cadet College Kohat admissions portal
- Garrison Cadet College Kohat
- Cadet College Hasanabdal: admission to Class 8
- Cadet College Petaro admissions portal
Frequently asked questions about cadet college admission
Which cadet college tests come first?
Cadet College Kohat on 25 October 2026, Garrison Cadet College Kohat on 8 November, then Hasan Abdal on 27 December. Petaro has not announced.
Can my child sit more than one?
Yes, if the dates and eligibility rules allow, but each needs its own application, fee and preparation.
Who can apply to Cadet College Kohat?
Students currently in 7th or 8th, aged 12 to 14 on 31 March 2027, with registration closing on 20 October 2026.
What is the Hasan Abdal age rule?
Not under 12 and not over 14 on 1 August of the year of entry, with no relaxation.
Is there a paper application?
Kohat and Hasan Abdal both say no hard copies or manual forms are accepted. Apply through each college’s online portal.
When will Petaro announce?
Its prospectus says November or December is normal, but nothing was announced when I checked.
Four cadet colleges, four calendars
Last checked: 16 October 2026, against each college’s own admissions page where I could open it. Dates and fees can change, so confirm with the admission office before you pay. If a college’s main website and its admissions portal show different dates, follow the portal and phone the office to confirm.
Side by side
| College | Test date | Apply by | Key rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadet College Kohat (63rd entry, session 2027) | 25 October 2026 | 20 October 2026 (challan upload up to 11:59 am) | Rs 5,000 non-refundable, paid with the portal challan at Askari Bank in your own name. Students in 7th or 8th, aged 12 to 14 on 31 March 2027. Subjects: Urdu cum Islamiat, English cum General Awareness, Maths. No hard copies. |
| Garrison Cadet College Kohat | Sunday, 8 November 2026 | Check the college’s online application | Class 8 entry test for session 2027, held at the respective exam centres. Affiliated with FBISE and BISEK. Criteria page for Class 8 on its website. |
| Cadet College Hasanabdal | 27 December 2026 | 4 December 2026 | Rs 7,000 plus Rs 58, online only. Aged 12 to 14 on 1 August of the year of entry. 3-hour test: Maths, English plus Islamiat, Urdu plus General Science. Interview and medical follow. |
| Cadet College Petaro | Not announced | Not announced | The prospectus says admissions are normally announced in November or December. When checked in mid-October the portal showed admission closed. Confirm directly. |
Note the different age rules: Kohat counts age on 31 March 2027 and Hasan Abdal on 1 August of the entry year. A child who qualifies for one college may not qualify for another.
How to choose
- Check the age rule first against each college’s cut-off date.
- Check the calendar. The Kohat test is nine days away. A realistic family plan may skip it and aim at the November and December tests.
- Check the location and the board. Garrison Cadet College Kohat is affiliated with FBISE and BISEK, so the board and the home city matter.
- Check the fees and aid. Hasan Abdal says financial help is limited and not guaranteed, and awards are treated as Qarz-e-Hasna. Ask each college about its own policy.
Why it is hard
Four calendars, four sets of rules, and tests that fall weeks apart. A child cannot prepare equally for all of them, and a missed challan deadline ends the application.
Common mistakes
Assuming one test covers every college. Paying a challan in someone else’s name. Missing the portal deadline by a day. Choosing by reputation without reading the age rule.
Related guides
- Cadet college admission solution: a multi-test plan
- Cadet College Hasan Abdal entry test in detail
- Free chapter: Growth Mindset
Official sources
- Cadet College Kohat admissions portal
- Garrison Cadet College Kohat
- Cadet College Hasanabdal: admission to Class 8
- Cadet College Petaro admissions portal
Frequently asked questions about cadet college admission
Which cadet college tests come first?
Cadet College Kohat on 25 October 2026, Garrison Cadet College Kohat on 8 November, then Hasan Abdal on 27 December. Petaro has not announced.
Can my child sit more than one?
Yes, if the dates and eligibility rules allow, but each needs its own application, fee and preparation.
Who can apply to Cadet College Kohat?
Students currently in 7th or 8th, aged 12 to 14 on 31 March 2027, with registration closing on 20 October 2026.
What is the Hasan Abdal age rule?
Not under 12 and not over 14 on 1 August of the year of entry, with no relaxation.
Is there a paper application?
Kohat and Hasan Abdal both say no hard copies or manual forms are accepted. Apply through each college’s online portal.
When will Petaro announce?
Its prospectus says November or December is normal, but nothing was announced when I checked.