FAST Test vs SAT vs NTS NAT: Which Should You Use for FAST-NU?
FAST-NUCES accepts three tests for BS and BBA admission: its own NU test, the SAT and NTS NAT. You must pick one, and it fills the same test share of your merit. Here is which NAT each programme accepts, what FAST doesn't publish, and how to decide.
By ParhaiKrlo Team · Published 9 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
FAST-NUCES doesn't force you to sit its own entry test. For undergraduate admission it also accepts the SAT and NTS NAT. That sounds like a free choice, but there's a catch: you can use only one of the three, and FAST publishes little about how the SAT and NAT are compared with its own test.
The rules below are from FAST's Eligibility Criteria, How to Apply and FAQ pages and its 2025 prospectus, checked on 9 October 2026.
Quick answer
- Three routes: the FAST (NU) admission test, the SAT, or NTS NAT.
- Pick one. FAST's Fall 2026 pages say every applicant must select only one of the three.
- Same weight either way: the test you choose fills the test share of your merit, 50% for Computing and Business, 33% for Engineering.
- The NAT type depends on your programme: NAT-IE for Engineering; NAT-IE or NAT-ICS for Computing; NAT-IE, NAT-ICS, NAT-ICOM or NAT-IGS for Business.
- For most FSc students the FAST test is the natural choice. It's built around the FSc maths course and held at your local campus.
Which tests each programme accepts
| Programme group | FAST test | SAT | NTS NAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Computer) | Yes | Yes | NAT-IE |
| Computing (CS, SE, AI, Data Science, Cyber Security) | Yes | Yes | NAT-IE or NAT-ICS |
| Business (BBA, A&F, Business Analytics, FinTech) | Yes | Yes | NAT-IE, NAT-ICS, NAT-ICOM or NAT-IGS |
Two rules from FAST's pages to keep in mind:
- Only the national NAT counts. FAST says an "NTS test from specific universities will not be acceptable". A test NTS ran for another university's admissions doesn't qualify.
- The NAT has to be recent. FAST's 2025 prospectus says NTS NAT holders who took the test "in the previous six months" can apply.
For the SAT, FAST's institution code for receiving scores is 4575.
The one-test rule
FAST's Fall 2026 Eligibility Criteria and FAQ say each applicant must select only one out of the three admission test options. Its 2025 prospectus also says each type of admission test can be taken only once.
In practice:
- You can't sit the FAST test and then fall back on a SAT score, or the other way round, within one application.
- You get one go at the FAST test. Unlike NUST, there are no multiple series with your best score counting.
- Decide before you apply. The route is part of your application form.
Older FAST material mentions paying Rs. 500 to take an additional type of test. The current pages say to choose one, so go by the 2027 form when it opens, and ask FAST admissions if the form allows more than one.
What FAST doesn't publish
This is the part most guides skip. FAST's public pages don't say:
- How a SAT or NAT score is converted into the test share of your aggregate.
- A minimum SAT or NAT score. You'll see figures quoted online, but they aren't on FAST's pages.
- How the three routes compare in practice: whether a given SAT score ranks above or below a given FAST test score.
So if you're choosing the SAT or NAT for an advantage, you're choosing without the numbers to check it. Before you commit, email admissions@nu.edu.pk and ask how your test will be scaled for your programme.
How to choose
Choose the FAST test if...
- You're an FSc Pre-Engineering or ICS student. Half the BS CS/Engineering test is Advanced Mathematics from your FSc course, so your board preparation does double duty.
- You want your local campus. FAST runs its test at all six campuses.
- You want a test FAST designed for these programmes. Its sections and weights are published for the BS CS/Engineering test.
The FAST test does have negative marking and no calculator, so practise on full-length papers before you sit it.
Consider the SAT if...
- You're an A Level student who is already taking the SAT for universities abroad or for LUMS. One good score can serve several applications.
- Your SAT score is already in hand before FAST's application window closes.
Don't take the SAT just for FAST. It costs far more than FAST's Rs. 3,000 application fee, it doesn't test the FSc calculus that FAST's own test does, and FAST doesn't say how it will scale your score.
Consider NTS NAT if...
- You've already taken the right NAT type within the last six months for another university, and you're happy with your score.
Check that your NAT type matches your programme group in the table above. A NAT-IGS score, for example, only works for FAST's Business programmes.
FAST test vs NUST NET at a glance
Many students apply to both. The tests are built differently:
| FAST admission test (BS CS/Engineering) | NUST NET-Engineering | |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Advanced Math 50%, Basic Math 20%, IQ 20%, English 10% | Mathematics 100, Physics 60, English 40 MCQs |
| Physics | Not tested | 30% of the paper |
| Negative marking | Yes | No |
| Attempts | One | Up to four series, best score counts |
| Weight in merit | 50% (Computing), 33% (Engineering) | 75% |
Preparing for one helps with the other, since FSc maths is central to both. But FAST rewards IQ practice and careful skipping, while NET needs Physics and rewards attempting everything. More on NET: NUST NET 2027 pattern and syllabus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FAST accept the SAT?
Yes. FAST accepts the SAT for all its BS and BBA programmes. Its institution code for receiving SAT scores is 4575. FAST doesn't publish how SAT scores are converted or a minimum score.
Which NTS NAT does FAST accept?
NAT-IE for Engineering; NAT-IE or NAT-ICS for Computing; NAT-IE, NAT-ICS, NAT-ICOM or NAT-IGS for Business. NTS tests held for specific universities are not accepted.
Can I use both the FAST test and the SAT?
No. FAST's Fall 2026 pages say each applicant must select only one of the three options: the FAST admission test, the SAT or NTS NAT.
Should I take the FAST test or the SAT?
Most FSc Pre-Engineering and ICS students are better off with the FAST test, which is built on FSc maths and held at every campus. The SAT makes sense mainly for A Level students who already have a score for other applications.
How is the FAST test different from NUST NET?
FAST's BS CS/Engineering test has no Physics, has negative marking and allows one attempt. NUST NET-Engineering includes Physics, has no negative marking and runs four series, with your best score counting.
Next steps
- FAST entry test 2027 dates and registration: when to apply and the fees.
- FAST aggregate formula: how the test you choose becomes your merit.
- FAST aggregate calculator: try your own marks.
- FAST-NU past papers and mock tests: full-length practice on the BS CS/Engineering pattern, prepared by ParhaiKrlo. FAST doesn't release its own papers.
The rules here are from FAST's pages, checked on 9 October 2026. Confirm on the Eligibility Criteria page when the 2027 application form opens.