LUMS Entry Test (LCAT) 2027 Preparation Guide: A Short Plan That Works
The LCAT is two Verbal and two Math sections, 40 minutes each, with no calculator and one sitting a year. Here's a short plan: diagnose now, build grammar and algebra by hand, then sit timed mocks from January.
By ParhaiKrlo Team · Published 17 Oct 2026 · 3 min read
Updated: 17 October 2026
Prepare for the LUMS LCAT by sitting a sample paper now, building grammar and algebra by hand through the winter, and switching to full timed mocks in January. You get one LCAT sitting a year, so treat it like a final.
Quick answer
- Four sections: two Verbal, two Math, 40 minutes each (about 3 hours in all).
- Paper-based and no calculator in any section.
- One sitting a year. Your backup is the SAT or ACT, not a second LCAT.
- 2027 date not announced. Last cycle's LCAT was on 15 February 2026, so expect mid-February 2027.
Dates are tracked in our LCAT 2027 dates post, and the question types in our LCAT sections post.
Your plan, month by month
October: find your level
Sit one LCAT sample paper untimed. Mark which questions you got wrong and why. That list is your plan.
November to December: build the base
- Verbal: grammar rules (punctuation, sentence boundaries, agreement) and transition words.
- Math: algebra, percentages, quadratics and area/volume, all by hand.
Do 30 to 40 MCQs a day, split between the two.
January: timed sections
Move from topic drills to full 40-minute sections. Submit your LUMS application early in the month so the deadline doesn't eat your study time.
February: test month
Sit two full mocks a week with all four sections back to back. Stop learning new topics in the final week and revise your mistakes instead.
Practise maths without a calculator
LCAT maths is short and quick if you know the method. Most questions test a property, such as a discriminant or a percentage change, rather than long working.
Learn the shortcuts: percentage changes multiply, and a discriminant tells you how many roots a quadratic has without solving it.
Read for logic in Verbal
The Verbal sections test reading and writing together. Name the relationship before you read the options: is the next sentence a contrast, a cause or an example?
Expect tables and figures in the passages too. Answer from the passage, not from what you already know.
Take full timed mocks
Three hours of focused reading is tiring. Stamina only comes from sitting all four sections in one go.
Keep each section to 40 minutes. If a question takes more than two minutes, move on and come back.
Mistakes to avoid
- Practising with a calculator. You won't have one.
- Only doing maths. Half the test is Verbal.
- Trusting sites that list an "analytical" section or a question count. LUMS publishes neither.
- Submitting the application on the last day. The portal closes on time.
- Counting on a second LCAT. Plan the SAT as your backup instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is on the LUMS LCAT?
Four sections: two Verbal and two Math, 40 minutes each. It is paper-based multiple choice, and calculators are not allowed.
When is the LCAT 2027?
LUMS hasn't announced it yet. The Fall 2026 LCAT was on 15 February 2026, so expect mid-February 2027. Check the LUMS admissions calendar for the official date.
Can I take the LCAT twice?
LUMS holds the LCAT once a year for first-year admission. If you want a second chance, plan to take the SAT or ACT, which LUMS accepts as alternatives.
How long should I prepare for the LCAT?
Three to four months is enough for most students: build grammar and algebra by hand through the winter, then sit full timed mocks from January.
Next steps
- Practise LCAT MCQs by topic: Verbal and Math drills.
- LCAT sample papers: every answer explained.
- LCAT mock tests: full, timed practice.
- LUMS SAT vs LCAT: which test to take.
The format, timing and calculator rule are from the LCAT Guidelines on LUMS's programme pages and its official sample guide. LUMS hasn't published Fall 2027 dates yet, so check its admissions calendar.