Cadet College Preparation: every stage, honestly explained

The written test is the first filter: five subjects, mostly MCQ, testing Class 6–7 level knowledge under time pressure.

Mathematics carries the most weight at almost every college, with English close behind. Science/General Knowledge, Urdu and Islamiat follow — and several colleges add an Intelligence/IQ section you cannot cram for, only practise. The failure mode is not ignorance; it is unpractised timing. Students who drill against a clock consistently outperform students who know the material but have never answered 50 questions in 40 minutes.

The interview board tests confidence, clarity and motivation more than facts — and it rewards practice.

Boards recur on themes: why this college, general knowledge about your region and Pakistan, family and school questions, and simple situational judgement. The students who stall are the ones hearing these questions for the first time in the room. Rehearsing the recurring questions out loud — not memorising answers, but practising the shape of a clear answer — is the highest-return hour a candidate can spend.

Eyesight, height/weight for age, hearing, and general fitness — checked to documented standards.

Most rejections at this stage are avoidable: uncorrected eyesight, untreated ear infections, weight outside the age band. The standards are general and publicly documented; the exact numbers live in each college's admission notice and change year to year, so we do not guess them here — we point you at the notice and at honest preparation. Mild daily running, stretching and a regular sleep schedule are the whole programme for most students.

Admission is competitive, not pass/fail: your written score, interview and medical combine into a ranked merit list.

This is why 'what is the pass marks?' has no honest answer — the cut-off moves with the applicant pool every year. The controllable inputs are your accuracy and your speed, both of which are measurable in practice long before test day. Track both: if timed accuracy sits above 80% across all subjects in the weeks before the test, you are in the competitive range by any historical standard.