What is the initial test?
Every candidate - soldier or officer - begins here. The initial test is a multiple-choice exam held at your Selection Centre on paper or computer (e-testing). It measures two things: how quickly you think (intelligence) and what you learned in school (academics).
Test format at a glance
| Section | What it checks | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal intelligence | Series, analogies, coding-decoding, directions, blood relations, odd-one-out | ~30-40 MCQs |
| Non-verbal intelligence | Figure patterns, mirror images, embedded figures, matrices | ~25-35 MCQs |
| English | Grammar, synonyms/antonyms, prepositions, sentence completion | ~20-25 MCQs |
| Mathematics | Arithmetic, percentages, ratios, algebra basics, geometry basics | ~20-25 MCQs |
| Pak Studies, Islamiyat & GK | History, geography, constitution, current affairs, religion, sports | ~20-30 MCQs |
Exact question counts and time vary by entry and advertisement - the pattern above reflects the standard recent format. Officer courses may add subject-specific questions (e.g. maths-weighted for TCC).
Sample questions - try these now
| Verbal | Book is to Reading as Fork is to: (a) drawing (b) writing (c) eating (d) stirring | (c) eating |
| Series | 3, 6, 12, 24, ? (a) 30 (b) 36 (c) 48 (d) 40 | (c) 48 |
| Non-verbal | Which figure completes the pattern? (a rotated square with one quadrant missing - choose the matching piece) | Mirror the given quadrant |
| Maths | A man buys a watch for Rs. 800 and sells it for Rs. 920. Profit %? (a) 12% (b) 15% (c) 18% (d) 20% | (b) 15% |
| GK | The Pakistan Military Academy is located at: (a) Kakul (b) Quetta (c) Kohat (d) Malir | (a) Kakul |
How to prepare - a 7-day plan
- Days 1-2: solve verbal intelligence - series, analogies, coding. 50 questions a day, timed.
- Days 3-4: non-verbal practice with figure-based question banks; train your eye for rotation and mirroring.
- Day 5: revise English grammar rules and 100 common synonyms/antonyms.
- Day 6: maths speed drills - percentages, ratios, averages without a calculator.
- Day 7: Pak Studies, Islamiyat and GK - provinces, wars, medals, national symbols, current office-holders.
Golden rule: accuracy beats attempts. Negative marking is rare, but speed with mistakes is how good candidates fail. Practise with a timer until 30 MCQs take under 15 minutes.