You can prepare for NET, ECAT, FAST and GIKI with one plan, because all four test FSc Mathematics and English, and three of them test Physics. The hard part is the calendar. In 2026, NET Series-4, the second ECAT, FAST, GIKI and PIEAS all fell between 13 June and 12 July. The fix is to finish NET early and use spring for the extras.
Below: what each test covers, where the 2026 dates collided, and a month-by-month plan for the NET-2027 cycle.
Key facts
- NUST's tentative NET-2027 Series-1: registration 4 October to 14 November 2026, CBNET from 17 November 2026
- 2026 clash window: NET Series-4 from 13 June, second ECAT 16 to 21 June, FAST 29 June to 10 July, GIKI 6 to 10 July, PIEAS 12 July
- Mathematics and English appear in every one of these tests
- Chemistry appears in ECAT and PIEAS, not in NET-Engineering, FAST or GIKI
- FAST states negative marking. NET, ECAT and PIEAS state none
Source: NUST weightings and dates pages; ecat.uet.edu.pk and UET admissions FAQ; FAST-NUCES test pattern and schedule; GIKI undergraduate admissions pages; PIEAS admission schedule and BS leaflet; checked October 2026
What each test covers
| NET-Engineering | ECAT (Pre-Engg) | FAST (BS CS/Engg) | GIKI | PIEAS (Pre-Engg) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 50% | 30 of 100 | 70% | Yes | 30 of 100 |
| Physics | 30% | 30 of 100 | none | Yes | 30 of 100 |
| Chemistry | none | 30 of 100 | none | none | 30 of 100 |
| English | 20% | 10 of 100 | 10% | Yes | 10 of 100 |
| Analytical and IQ | none | none | 20% | none | none |
| Negative marking | No | No | Yes | 2013 sample: yes | No |
| Length | 200 MCQs, 180 min | 100 MCQs, 100 min | Not published | Not published | 100 MCQs, 180 min |
GIKI's current pages say its test covers intermediate Physics, Mathematics and English, but they don't give weights. Its 2013 sample paper, still linked from its syllabus page, put 60 Physics and Mathematics MCQs in Part A, marked +3 right and -1 wrong. Part B had 20 English questions with no penalty.
Read the table by rows. Mathematics is in every column, so it pays first. Physics is in four of five. English is in all five, but in three forms: NET's vocabulary and grammar, ECAT's comprehension and FAST's mixed section. Chemistry is in two. FAST's analytical section is in one.
That gives you a priority order: Mathematics, then Physics, then English, then Chemistry if ECAT or PIEAS is on your list, then FAST's analytical section if FAST is.
Where the 2026 dates collided
| Test | 2026 test dates |
|---|---|
| NET Series-1 | 22 Nov to 10 Dec 2025 |
| NET Series-2 | 31 Jan to 15 Feb 2026 (Islamabad) |
| NET Series-3 | 4 Apr to 2 May 2026 |
| PIEAS test 1 | 12 Apr 2026 |
| NET Series-4 | 13 Jun 2026 onwards (Islamabad) |
| ECAT 2026 (Second) | 16 to 21 Jun 2026 |
| FAST | 29 Jun to 10 Jul 2026 |
| GIKI | 6 to 10 Jul 2026 |
| PIEAS test 2 | 12 Jul 2026 |
Look at the last five rows. From 13 June to 12 July, a student chasing every test had NET Series-4, an ECAT, a FAST sitting, a GIKI sitting and a PIEAS paper, all in one month. That's five papers in four weeks, each with its own length and marking rules.
The earlier rows are almost empty. NET has three series before June. PIEAS has an April sitting. That's the room you use.
The plan for the NET-2027 cycle
The NET-2027 dates below come from NUST's tentative schedule, checked October 2026. Dates for the other tests are based on their 2026 pattern and may move.
October to December 2026: the shared core. Build FSc Mathematics and Physics, the two subjects that count almost everywhere. Start with the chapters that carry the most marks, such as differentiation, integration and electrostatics. Do 20 minutes of English vocabulary a day from the start, because it builds slowly. Register for NET Series-1 between 4 October and 14 November if a mock shows you're close.
January to February 2027: first NET score. Series-2 tests run in January and February 2027 in Islamabad. Sit Series-1 or Series-2. A score in hand by February takes the pressure off everything after it.
March to April 2027: add the extras. Bring back Chemistry if ECAT or PIEAS is on your list, since it is 30% of both. Start FAST's analytical and IQ section if FAST is on your list. Series-3 runs in April 2027 if you want to improve your NET score. Check whether PIEAS keeps an April sitting.
May 2027: register and switch formats. Practise 100-minute ECAT-length papers and at least one paper with negative marking for FAST. Watch the registration deadlines. In 2026 they were 13 June for the second ECAT, 15 June for GIKI applications and 30 June for FAST applications.
June to July 2027: test month. No new topics. Keep at least two days between papers where the dates allow. Before each one, reread that test's marking rule. NET's Series-4 also falls here, but you should only need it as a last retake.
Switching between marking rules
This is the mistake that costs marks in July. Months of NET practice teach you to answer every question, since NET has no negative marking. ECAT and PIEAS reward the same habit. FAST doesn't. It states negative marking, though its page doesn't give the penalty.
Before a FAST sitting, do one full practice paper where you skip the blind guesses and answer only what you can narrow to two options. If GIKI's admit card shows negative marking, use the same rule there. Then switch back for anything with no penalty. The negative marking post explains the NET side.
What it costs to sit everything
| Test | Fee |
|---|---|
| NET | Rs 5,000 per series |
| ECAT | Rs 3,000 |
| GIKI | Rs 3,500 for one test, Rs 5,000 for both GIKI tests |
| PIEAS | Rs 3,500 per test, Rs 4,000 in the late week |
Two NET series, one ECAT, GIKI and one PIEAS test come to Rs 20,000 before FAST. FAST's processing fee wasn't on the pages we checked. NUST, UET and PIEAS all say their fees are non-refundable.
You don't have to sit everything. Pick tests by the programmes and formulas that suit you. The NET vs ECAT, NUST vs FAST and NUST vs GIKI posts compare the formulas one by one.
FAQ
Can I prepare for NET and ECAT at the same time?
Yes. Mathematics and Physics are 80% of NET-Engineering and 60% of ECAT. Add Chemistry for ECAT and NET's vocabulary and grammar as separate blocks.
Which entry test should I take first?
NET, in Series-1 or Series-2. It has the most sittings before June, and an early score frees the summer for the tests that run only once.
Is there physics in the FAST test?
Not in FAST's BS CS and Engineering pattern. It is Advanced Maths 50%, Basic Maths 20%, Analytical Skills and IQ 20% and English 10%.
Do the NET, ECAT, FAST and GIKI tests clash?
In 2026, NET Series-4, the second ECAT, FAST and GIKI all ran between 13 June and 10 July. Taking NET in an earlier series avoids most of the clash.
