How to prepare for student competitions
How to prepare for student competitions in Pakistan? Every challenge on Qalam and Kitab has a free Solution: a preparation guide written to be used, not just read. Each one breaks the work into steps, with month by month plans, subject priorities, practice habits and the mistakes to avoid, for tests such as MDCAT, NUMS MDCAT, ECAT, NUST NET, FAST-NU, GIKI, AKU MBBS, the IBA aptitude test, LUMS admission, the SAT and IELTS, for scholarship applications such as Türkiye Bursları, the HEC Need-Based Scholarship and Honhaar, for Class 9, Matric, Grade 8 and Intermediate supplementary exams, for the CSS exam and cadet college entry tests, and for contests in debate, Model UN, writing, photography and design. Open a card to read the guide, and use the link on it to see the challenge it belongs to. Students can share their own approach through Post Solution, and we review every submission before it goes live.
Cadet College Admission Solution: A Plan for Families Facing Several Tests
A plan for families facing several cadet college tests: decide on Cadet College Kohat before its 20 October registration deadline, then build…
Honhaar Scholarship Solution: A Document and Application Checklist
A checklist-led plan for the Honhaar scholarship: confirm the current round on the official portal, prepare your domicile, results, enrolment proof and…
AKU MBBS Admission Solution: A Plan Built Around the Sample Paper
A plan for AKU MBBS admission: read the Admission Information booklet, take the sample test paper cold, fix your weakest areas with…
GIKI Admission Test Solution: A 16-Week Plan for Physics and Mathematics
A 16-week GIKI test plan built on an MCQ test of intermediate Physics and Mathematics: concepts first, topic drills next, timed mocks…
Cambridge O Level Private Candidate Solution: A Registration Checklist and Study Plan
A checklist and study plan for registering as a private Cambridge, Pearson or OxfordAQA candidate through the British Council: register, pay before…
Private Matric 2027 Solution: Registration Steps and a 20-Week Self-Study Plan
A step-by-step plan for private Matric 2027: enrol with your board, keep your enrolment number, submit the admission form when dates are…
PECTAA Grade 8 Exam Solution: A 20-Week Study Plan
A 20-week plan for Punjab's Grade 8 exam across Urdu, English, Mathematics and Social Studies, built on school textbooks and timed practice,…
HSSC Second Annual Exam Solution: An 18-Day Plan to Pass or Improve
An 18-day plan from 16 October to the 3 November 2026 start of HSSC second annual papers in Punjab: confirm your form,…
Cadet College Hasan Abdal Solution: A 10-Week Plan for the Entry Test
A 10-week plan from 16 October to the 27 December 2026 Hasan Abdal entry test: map the syllabus, drill Maths daily, practise…
CSS 2027 Solution: A 14-Week Plan for the Written Exam
A 14-week plan from 16 October 2026 to the first written paper on 27 January 2027: apply early inside the 10 to…
HEC Need-Based Scholarship Solution: A Step-by-Step Plan From Admission to Award
A step-by-step plan for the HEC Need-Based Scholarship: get merit admission, ask the financial aid office for the form and deadline, file…
NUMS MDCAT Solution: A 6-Month Plan for the Armed Forces Medical Colleges Test
A 6-month NUMS MDCAT plan built on the 2026 pattern: Biology 55, Chemistry 40, Physics 40, English 15, plus a 15-minute psychological…
Every preparation guide and the challenge behind it
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.
- Student Challenges: Pakistan’s exams, tests and competitions explained.
- 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.