IST runs no entry test of its own. Engineering applicants send a score from NAT, USAT, NET, ECAT, ETEA, the MUET or NED test, or the ACT, and it carries 40% of merit (60% for A level students). Computing and science programmes use no test at all: 40% Matric and 60% FSc Part I.
Pick your programme and qualification, then enter each mark with its own total. A level students are ranked on their IBCC Matric equivalent, which carries the whole 100% for computing and science.
IST merit formulas (Fall 2026)
From the Merit Determination Criteria on IST's undergraduate admission pages for the Fall 2026 intake.
| Programme or route | Formula | Usual totals |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering (FSc or DAE) | Matric / equivalent 20% + FSc Part I or DAE (3 years) 40% + Entry test (NAT, USAT, NET, ECAT and others) 40% | 1,100 / 550 / 100 |
| Engineering (A level) | Matric equivalent (O level, IBCC) 40% + Entry test (NAT, USAT, NET, ECAT and others) 60% | 1,100 / 100 |
| Computing or science (FSc) | Matric / equivalent 40% + FSc Part I 60% | 1,100 / 550 |
| Computing or science (A level) | Matric equivalent (O level, IBCC) 100% | 1,100 |
IST reserves the right to amend these criteria without notice, so check the admission page for your intake before you rely on the figure.
Worked examples
Matric 950 out of 1,100, FSc Part I 470 out of 550, NAT 70 out of 100.
Engineering (FSc)
- Matric: 950 ÷ 1,100 × 20 = 17.2727
- Part I: 470 ÷ 550 × 40 = 34.1818
- NAT: 70 ÷ 100 × 40 = 28.0000
- Merit: 79.4545%
With ECAT 260 out of 400 instead, the test part is 26.0000 and merit is 77.4545%. With NET 150 out of 200 it is 30.0000 and merit is 81.4545%. Each test is turned into a percentage of its own total, so the choice of test changes your figure.
Engineering (A level)
IBCC Matric equivalent 900 out of 1,100 and NAT 70: 32.7273 + 42.0000 = 74.7273%.
Computing or science (FSc)
950 ÷ 1,100 × 40 = 34.5455, plus 470 ÷ 550 × 60 = 51.2727, gives 85.8182%.
Computing or science (A level)
Merit is the Matric equivalent percentage: 900 ÷ 1,100 × 100 = 81.8182%.
Test score needed: engineering (FSc)
Matric 950 and Part I 470 give 51.4545 points before the test. Figures are out of 100, so read them as a percentage of your test's total.
| Target aggregate | Entry test (NAT, USAT, NET, ECAT and others) marks needed |
|---|---|
| 70% | 47 / 100 |
| 75% | 59 / 100 |
| 80% | 72 / 100 |
| 85% | 84 / 100 |
For ECAT (out of 400) or NET (out of 200), enter your test total in the calculator for an exact figure: with these marks a 75% merit needs 236 in ECAT. A level students with a Matric equivalent of 900 need 71% in the test for a 75% merit.
Accepted tests for Fall 2026
| Test | Body | Result window |
|---|---|---|
| NAT (NAT-1E or NAT-1CS) | NTS | 1 July 2025 to 31 July 2026 |
| USAT (USAT-E or USAT-CS) | HEC ETC | 1 July 2025 to 31 July 2026 |
| NET (Engineering or Computer Science) | NUST | December 2025 to 31 July 2026 |
| ECAT | UET Lahore | Fall 2026 |
| ETEA | UET Peshawar | Fall 2026 |
| Entry test | MUET Jamshoro | Fall 2026 |
| Entry test | NED Karachi | Fall 2026 |
| ACT (composite score) | ACT | 1 July 2025 to 31 July 2026 |
Any one of these is enough. To be eligible you need at least 60% in Matric (Science) and at least 60% overall in FSc Pre-Engineering, ICS, DAE or equivalent. The ECAT aggregate calculator and the NUST aggregate calculator show how the same score counts elsewhere.
DAE students. IST uses the aggregate of all three DAE years in place of FSc Part I for engineering. Enter your three-year marks and total in the second row. A level students need IBCC equivalence first; the O level equivalence calculator gives an estimate.
IST merit questions
How is IST merit calculated?
For engineering, FSc and DAE students get 20% Matric, 40% FSc Part I (or three-year DAE aggregate) and 40% entry test. Matric 950/1,100, Part I 470/550 and NAT 70/100 give 17.2727 + 34.1818 + 28.0000 = 79.4545%. Computing and science programmes use 40% Matric and 60% FSc Part I.
Does IST have its own entry test?
No. For the Fall 2026 intake IST accepts NAT, USAT, NUST NET, ECAT, ETEA, the MUET and NED entry tests, or the ACT composite score. The score is entered as marks out of that test's total, so 260 out of 400 in ECAT counts as 65%.
Is an entry test needed for IST computer science?
Not for merit. The computing and science formula for FSc students is 40% Matric and 60% FSc Part I, with no test weight. A level students in these programmes are ranked on their Matric equivalent alone. The listed tests are for engineering programmes.
How are A level students ranked at IST?
For engineering, 40% goes to the IBCC Matric equivalent and 60% to the entry test. For computing and science, the Matric equivalent carries 100%. With a Matric equivalent of 900 out of 1,100 and NAT 70, an engineering merit is 74.7273%.
What test score do I need for IST engineering?
With Matric 950 and FSc Part I 470, you need 59% in your test for a 75% merit and 72% for 80%. In ECAT terms that is 236 and 286 out of 400. Closing merits change every year, so compare with the merit list for your programme.
What are the eligibility marks for IST?
IST asks for at least 60% in Matric (Science) and at least 60% overall in FSc Pre-Engineering, ICS, DAE or equivalent. Meeting this only lets you apply; your place depends on the merit figure for your programme.
Last reviewed 1 October 2026. Results are estimates; official notices always take precedence.