How Merit Calculation Works

The Basic Formula

Every Pakistani university uses a weighted average formula for merit calculation:

Merit Score = (Matric% × W₁) + (Inter% × W₂) + (Test% × W₃)

Where W₁, W₂, and W₃ are the weightages assigned by each university (always adding up to 100%). Some universities like NED and IBA do not include Matric marks at all, so W₁ = 0 for those.

How Scores Are Calculated

  1. Convert marks to percentages — Divide your obtained marks by the total marks and multiply by 100.
  2. Apply the weightage — Multiply each percentage by its weight (e.g., 85% × 0.75 for NUST NET at 75% weight).
  3. Sum the results — Add all weighted components together to get your final merit score.

University Formulas at a Glance

UniversityMatricInterTestTest Name
NED University—40%60%NED Entry Test
FAST NUCES10%40%50%NU Test / NAT / SAT
NUST10%15%75%NET (NUST Entry Test)
IBA Karachi—40%60%IBA Aptitude Test / SAT
UET Lahore17%50%33%ECAT (Engineering College Admission Test)
University of Karachi—60%40%UoK Entrance Test
Aga Khan University—30%70%AKU Test
Dow Medical College (DUHS)10%40%50%Sindh MDCAT
COMSATS University10%40%50%NTS NAT
GIKI—15%85%GIKI Entry Test
PIEAS15%25%60%PIEAS Entry Test

Example Calculation

Let's calculate NUST merit for a student with:

  • Matric: 950/1100 (86.36%)
  • FSc: 1000/1100 (90.91%)
  • NET: 160/200 (80%)

Matric contribution: 86.36% × 0.10 = 8.64

FSc contribution: 90.91% × 0.15 = 13.64

NET contribution: 80% × 0.75 = 60.00

Total Merit: 8.64 + 13.64 + 60.00 = 82.27%

Important Notes

  • Merit formulas can change yearly. Always verify with the official university admission policy.
  • Some universities (like FAST) use different formulas for different programs (Computing vs. Engineering).
  • Medical colleges follow PMDC standard formula: Matric 10% + FSc 40% + MDCAT 50%.
  • Minimum eligibility requirements (e.g., 60% in FSc) must also be met regardless of merit score.