Student competitions in Pakistan
Student competitions in Pakistan range from entrance and admission tests such as MDCAT, NUMS MDCAT, ECAT, NUST NET, FAST-NU, GIKI, AKU MBBS, the IBA aptitude test, LUMS admission, the SAT and IELTS, to scholarships such as Türkiye Bursları, the HEC Need-Based Scholarship and Honhaar, school exams including Punjab’s Grade 8 exam, Matric and Intermediate supplementary exams, cadet college entry tests, the CSS exam, Model UN, debate, and art, writing and design contests. Here they are explained in plain language. Each card opens a full page with the format, the timeline and an honest picture of the competition, and every challenge links to a free Solution, a step by step preparation guide. Use the category buttons to filter, then tap a challenge to read it. Know a contest other students should hear about? Add it through Create Challenge. Always confirm dates on the organiser’s official website before you apply.
Cadet College Admission Challenge: Choosing Between Hasan Abdal, Kohat, Garrison Kohat and Petaro
Four cadet colleges test Class 8 candidates within weeks of each other: Cadet College Kohat on 25 October 2026, Garrison Cadet College…
Honhaar Scholarship Challenge: How Punjab’s Undergraduate Tuition Scholarship Works
The Chief Minister's Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship pays 100% of tuition for eligible undergraduates, on merit and need, through one official portal. Income…
AKU MBBS Admission Challenge: How the Aga Khan University Medical College Admission Works
AKU's five-year MBBS programme admits on merit, with no quotas, reserved seats or admissions against donations. Applications for 2026-27 closed on 13…
GIKI Admission Test Challenge: How GIK Institute Selects Undergraduates
GIKI admits undergraduates on earlier results plus a multiple-choice test based on Pakistani intermediate Physics and Mathematics, with no quotas or reserved…
Cambridge O Level Private Candidate Challenge: How to Register Through the British Council in Pakistan
Private candidates in Pakistan register for Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA exams through the British Council's online system and must pay before…
Matric 2027 Private Candidate Challenge: How to Register With a Punjab Board or FBISE
Private Matric candidates register in two steps: enrol with the board, then submit the exam admission form months later. BISE Lahore enrolment…
PECTAA Grade 8 Exam Challenge: How Punjab’s Class 8 Board Exam Works
PECTAA runs Punjab's Grade 8 board exam for government-school students. As reported in January 2026 it covers Urdu, English, Mathematics and Social…
HSSC Second Annual Exam 2026 Challenge: How Inter Supplementary and Improvement Papers Work
The HSSC second annual exam lets Intermediate students reappear in subjects or improve their marks. Punjab boards start papers on 3 November…
Cadet College Hasan Abdal Challenge: How the Class 8 Entry Test Works
Cadet College Hasanabdal admits boys to Class 8 (O Level) once a year. Apply online by 4 December 2026; the 3-hour written…
CSS 2027 Written Exam Challenge: How the Stage After the MPT Works
CSS 2027 has two stages you must clear in order: the MCQ-based MPT screening test, scheduled for 10 October 2026, and then…
HEC Need-Based Scholarship Challenge: How to Study at a Public University on Aid
The HEC Need-Based Scholarship gives undergraduates at public universities tuition support and a Rs 6,000 monthly stipend if they are admitted on…
NUMS MDCAT Challenge: The Entry Test for Armed Forces Medical Colleges
NUMS MDCAT is the entry test for armed forces and NUMS-affiliated medical colleges: 150 MCQs in 2 hours 45 minutes plus a…
Every challenge and its preparation guide
Entrance and admission tests
- MDCAT, the medical and dental college entry test: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- NUMS MDCAT, the entry test for armed forces and NUMS-affiliated medical colleges: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- ECAT, the engineering entry test run by UET Lahore: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- NUST NET, NUST’s own entry test: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- FAST-NU Admission Test, for computing, engineering and business at FAST-NU: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- IBA Aptitude Test, admission to IBA Karachi: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- LUMS Admission, with the SAT, ACT or LCAT and financial aid: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- SAT, the digital SAT for Pakistani students: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- IELTS, the English test for study and work abroad: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- GIKI Admission Test, how GIK Institute selects undergraduates: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- AKU MBBS Admission, the Aga Khan University Medical College: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- CSS 2027 Written Exam, the stage after the MPT: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- Cadet College Hasan Abdal entry test, Class 8: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- Cadet College Admission, comparing Hasan Abdal, Kohat, Garrison Kohat and Petaro: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
Scholarships and financial aid
- Türkiye Bursları, the Turkish government scholarship for study in Türkiye: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- HEC Need-Based Scholarship, tuition support at public universities: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- Honhaar Scholarship, Punjab’s undergraduate tuition scholarship: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
School exams
- Class 9 Exam, the foundation year that shapes your stream: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- Matric Exam, the gateway to Medical, Engineering and Commerce: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- PECTAA Grade 8 Exam, Punjab’s Class 8 board exam: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- HSSC Second Annual Exam 2026, Intermediate supplementary and improvement papers: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- Matric 2027 Private Registration, with a Punjab board or FBISE: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- Cambridge O Level as a private candidate, through the British Council: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
Model UN and debate
- LUMUN, Pakistan’s largest Model UN: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- MUNIK, IBA Karachi’s international Model UN: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- Debate Championship, the national university debating title: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- Allama Iqbal Shield, the prestigious Urdu debate: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
Art, writing and design
- Pakola Design Challenge, packaging design for real products: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- Photography Challenge, documenting climate change in Pakistan: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- AKS Art Challenge, photography, artwork or creative writing: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- INO-NEXUS Essay Challenge, writing about how brains work: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
- Creative Writing Challenge, stories, poetry and personal essays: read the challenge or open the free preparation guide.
Free reads that help with any preparation
Good preparation is also about how you study and how you cope. These free books pair well with every guide on this site:
- The Sleeping Brain (Chapter 1 free): memory, sleep and active recall.
- The Weekly Reset (Chapter 1 free): planning a study week.
- Turn Stress to Positivity (Chapter 1 free): handling exam stress.
- Career Planning (Chapter 1 free): choosing a path after Matric or FSc.
More free books are on the Online Reads page, and younger siblings can start with Playgroup.
Keep exploring Qalam and Kitab
Every page below is free to open. Pick the next step that fits you.
- Online Reads: free books on study skills, money, careers and technology.
- Short Stories: stories you can finish in one sitting.
- Interactive Books: read-along books for ages 3 to 8.
- Explore: short science books for young children.
- Playgroup: everything for the youngest readers in one place.
- Solutions Hub: free preparation guides, one per challenge.
- Free Chapters: read Chapter 1 of any book with no account.
- All books and free account: every book type in one place.
- Print and Copy: get pages printed and delivered in Lahore.
- FAQ: answers about accounts, books and delivery.
- Site Guide: a plain fact sheet about what the site offers.
- Site Map: every public page in one list.