LUMS Entry Test (LCAT) — Syllabus, Dates & Eligibility
Last updated:The LUMS Common Admission Test (LCAT) — commonly called the LUMS entry test — is a paper-based, multiple-choice alternative to the SAT/ACT, accepted for admission to every LUMS undergraduate school — SDSB, MGSHSS, SBASSE and SAHSOL. The test has 4 sections — two Verbal and two Mathematics, 40 minutes each — for a total of 2 hours 40 minutes, with no calculators allowed. Maqsad's IBA/LUMS preparation product is built around this format, alongside LUMS and IBA trained teachers.
LCAT Test Format & Paper Pattern
The LCAT is a paper-based, multiple-choice test — “like the SAT, though duration and format may vary,” per LUMS's own guidance — and its syllabus is very similar to the SAT's. It has 4 sections — 2 Verbal and 2 Mathematics — 40 minutes each, with no calculators allowed on any section. LUMS has not published an official question count or marking scheme — the figures below are what past test-takers have reported, not official numbers.
4
Total sections
2h 40m
Total duration
No
Calculator allowed
No
Negative marking
Section breakdown
Verbal Sections
40 min each- Reading comprehension
- Evidence-based reasoning
- Vocabulary in context
- Grammar & Standard English conventions
- 24 questions × 2 sections
48 MCQs
Mathematics Sections
40 min each- Algebra
- Advanced math — quadratics, exponents, logarithms
- Geometry & trigonometry
- Data analysis
- 15 questions × 2 sections
30 MCQs
MCQ counts and marking scheme are self-reported by past test-takers, not officially published by LUMS. Format source: LUMS's official LCAT sample questions document and admission.lums.edu.pk. Always verify current format on the official site before your test.
LUMS Undergraduate Eligibility Criteria
Minimum academic requirements vary by qualification. Meeting these minimums makes you eligible to apply — it does not guarantee admission.
- ✓FSc (Part 1): minimum 70%
- ✓FA / ICS / ICOM (Part 1): minimum 65%
- ✓Average of at least 2 Bs and 1 C across best 3 principal subjects
- ✓No grade below E
- ✓Average grade of at least B across subjects attempted
- ✓70% or above, or GPA of B or above
- ✓Minimum 28 out of 45 points
LCAT, SAT or ACT — pick one
LCAT is an alternative to the SAT/ACT, not an additional requirement. Every LUMS undergraduate school accepts any one of the three — there is no minimum SAT/ACT score.
Applying to Law (BA-LL.B)?
SAHSOL requires the LCAT/SAT/ACT plus the Law Admission Test (LAT) — budget prep time for both.
LCAT — Key Dates (2026 & 2027)
LUMS conducts the LCAT once a year. The 2026 cycle is complete; the 2027 cycle is next, but LUMS hasn't announced its dates yet — here's the 2026 cycle for reference, plus where to check for 2027 updates.
2026 Cycle
Application Deadline
27 Jan 2026
Online UG application closes 5:00 PM PKT
Documents & Fee
28 Jan 2026
Upload supporting documents, pay application fee
LCAT Test Day
15 Feb 2026
LUMS Common Admission Test administered nationwide
Financial Aid Deadline
28 Feb 2026
Financial aid application & documents due
Admission Decisions
15 Apr – 31 Jul 2026
Decisions released on a rolling basis
2027 Cycle — Dates TBA
Not yet announced by LUMS. Start prepping now so you're ready the moment 2027 dates drop.
Check official dates* Dates are from LUMS's official admissions calendar. Always confirm on admission.lums.edu.pk before applying.
LCAT Syllabus — Verbal & Mathematics
Content domains drawn from LUMS's official LCAT sample questions document — the syllabus and difficulty are very similar to the SAT's, with FSc/A-Level topics layered on top.
Verbal
2 sections · 40 min each
| # | Content Domain | What to study |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Information & Ideas | Central ideas & details, inference and drawing conclusions, evidence-based reasoning, synthesizing information across passages |
| 02 | Craft & Structure | Vocabulary in context, author's purpose and rhetorical technique, cross-text connections |
| 03 | Standard English Conventions | Sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, punctuation, grammar and usage |
| 04 | Expression of Ideas | Transitions, rhetorical synthesis, combining and revising sentences for clarity and precision |
Central ideas & details, inference and drawing conclusions, evidence-based reasoning, synthesizing information across passages
Vocabulary in context, author's purpose and rhetorical technique, cross-text connections
Sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, punctuation, grammar and usage
Transitions, rhetorical synthesis, combining and revising sentences for clarity and precision
Mathematics
2 sections · 40 min each
| # | Content Domain | What to study |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Algebra | Linear equations & inequalities, systems of equations, word problems, sets & Venn diagrams, number system — no calculator allowed |
| 02 | Advanced Math | Quadratic and exponential functions, logarithms, arithmetic sequences |
| 03 | Geometry & Trigonometry | Area, perimeter, volume, circles and arcs, angles & triangles, right-triangle trigonometry |
| 04 | Problem-Solving & Data Analysis | Ratios, percentages, rates, averages, probability, combinations & permutations, reading and reasoning from data |
Linear equations & inequalities, systems of equations, word problems, sets & Venn diagrams, number system — no calculator allowed
Quadratic and exponential functions, logarithms, arithmetic sequences
Area, perimeter, volume, circles and arcs, angles & triangles, right-triangle trigonometry
Ratios, percentages, rates, averages, probability, combinations & permutations, reading and reasoning from data
What Happens After the Test?
LUMS evaluates applicants holistically — the LCAT is one part of a multi-step review.
Academic Background Review
Your Matric/FSc, A-Level, O-Level, American HS or IB record is checked against the minimum eligibility criteria.
Admission Test
Your LCAT, SAT or ACT score is reviewed — no minimum score is published, but a stronger score strengthens your file.
Application & Document Review
Full application, supporting documents, and (if applicable) Teacher Evaluations/Letters of Recommendation are reviewed together.
Interview — if called
Shortlisted candidates may be called for an interview, depending on the programme.
Final Decision
Admission decisions are released on a rolling basis through the decisions window.
Prepare for the LCAT — Study Plan, Practice & Video Lectures
The LCAT is SAT-level and calculator-free — accuracy and speed both matter. Targeted practice is the only way to be ready.
Personalized Study Plan
A guided plan built around the syllabus and your own pace
Get your study planChapter-wise MCQs & Practice Papers
Full-length tests in real test format — Verbal & Math
Start practicingRecorded Video Lectures
Every class recorded — revisit any topic, anytime
Watch lecturesQuickest-Way-to-Solve Notes
Tips & tricks on the best and quickest way to solve a question
View notesAlso taking the IBA test?
View the IBA syllabus, dates and eligibility on Maqsad.
