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.
Syllabus weightage - soldier entries vs officer courses
The initial test is not one paper for everyone. Soldier entries lean hardest on intelligence and Matric-level academics, while officer courses weight Mathematics and English higher - Technical Cadet Course candidates famously face the toughest maths section of all. Knowing which paper you are facing changes how you revise: a Soldier GD applicant should drill speed and basics, while an officer applicant should revise FSc formulas and comprehension. Use the table below to focus your 7-day plan on the right mix.
| Entry | Intelligence share | Academic focus | Difficulty feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier GD / trades | ~50% | Matric English, Maths, GK | Speed game |
| Soldier Clerk | ~40% | Higher English weighting | Moderate |
| PMA Long Course | ~35% | Intermediate English & Maths | Balanced |
| Technical Cadet Course | ~30% | FSc Maths & Physics | Hardest paper |
| AFNS BSc Nursing | ~35% | Biology-flavoured MCQs | Moderate |
Same-day result: centres announce the written result within hours. Successful candidates are kept back for the physical test the same or next morning - pack your joggers on written-test day itself.
Initial test - frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking? Recent intakes have not applied negative marking, so attempt every question - but candidates who blindly bubble half the paper still fail. Accuracy first, attempts second, exactly as the golden rule above says.
Can I reappear if I fail? Yes. There is no lifetime ban at this stage - wait for the next advertisement you are age-eligible for and register again. Current intakes are always listed on the jobs board, and quota candidates can check relaxed standards on their province page first.
Is it on paper or computer? Most Selection Centres now run e-testing on computers; the question pattern stays identical. Practising on paper is still fine - speed lives in your head, not on the screen.
Where is my centre? You are tested at the Selection Centre written on your roll slip - the centre guides cover reporting times, documents and city-wise details. The full pipeline order is mapped in the complete joining roadmap.
Relevant jobs for this stage: Soldier GD Punjab · Soldier Technical Trade · Soldier Clerk · AFNS BSc Nursing · PMA Long Course - browse every open intake on the jobs board.