On this page 8 sections
What happens in the army initial test? You register online, take a computerised test at your nearest Army Selection and Recruitment Centre, then a physical test, a medical checkup, and an interview. Only then are you called for the ISSB. The whole initial stage is a filter: fail one part and you do not take the next.
This guide walks through the PMA Long Course initial test step by step, from registration to the medical. It is a process guide only: it explains what each stage is and what it asks of you, not the questions themselves.
The Initial Test at a Glance#
| Stage | Where | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Registration | joinpakarmy.gov.pk | Online form, free |
| 2. Intelligence test | AS&RC | Verbal + non-verbal, about 30 min each |
| 3. Academic test | AS&RC | About 50 MCQs, 30-40 min |
| 4. Physical test | AS&RC | 1.6 km run in 8 min + 4 events |
| 5. Medical | AS&RC | Basic checkup |
| 6. Interview | AS&RC | Essays + interview |
Step 1: Register Online in Pakistan#
Registration is online only, at joinpakarmy.gov.pk, and it is free. The PMA Long Course is announced twice a year. For the 159 PMA Long Course, registration ran from 14 September to 23 October 2026. Our join Pak Army guide explains the course itself: two years of training at the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, after the initial test, the physical test, the medical test and the ISSB.
You pick your nearest Army Selection and Recruitment Centre as your test centre. Candidates from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan register the same way and choose the AS&RC nearest to them.
The form asks for your personal details, your academic record, and your previous ISSB attempts. You enter your name, CNIC or B-Form number, date of birth, gender, marital status and religion; your Matric and Intermediate marks; your mobile number, email and permanent address; and you declare any previous ISSB attempts with the Army, Navy or Air Force. You also upload a fresh passport-sized photograph.
Within 24 to 72 hours, download your registration slip. It carries your test date, time and AS&RC venue. You can also register in person at your nearest AS&RC, by submitting your documents there.
Step 2: The Intelligence Test#
The initial test is computerised, and it starts with intelligence. There are two parts: verbal intelligence and non-verbal intelligence. You take both at the same sitting, at your AS&RC.
Verbal intelligence is about 84 to 96 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes. It tests word analogies, vocabulary, comprehension, synonyms, antonyms and logical sequences. The exact count changes between courses, so treat the figure as a range.
Non-verbal intelligence is about 64 to 96 questions in 30 to 40 minutes. It tests pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, logical sequences and shapes. Again, the exact count changes between courses.
Fail the intelligence tests and you are screened out. You do not take the academic test. Scoring the minimum is not enough: you need to score high enough to be called for the next stage.
Step 3: The Academic Test#
The academic test is about 50 to 55 multiple-choice questions in 30 to 40 minutes. It covers English, Mathematics, Pakistan Studies, Islamiat and General Knowledge. For science-group candidates it adds Physics, and for FSc candidates Chemistry. The subjects follow your qualification: the test is based on what you studied.
Fail the academic test and you are screened out. You do not take the physical test. There is no published pass mark that everyone agrees on: guides list 50% and 60%, so this guide does not state one. Prepare to score as high as you can, not to scrape the minimum.
Step 4: The Physical Test#
The physical test has five events, worth 10 marks in total.
- 1.6 km run in 8 minutes: 3 marks.
- Push-ups, 15 repetitions in 2 minutes: 2 marks.
- Sit-ups, 20 repetitions in 2 minutes: 2 marks.
- Chin-ups, 3 repetitions in 2 minutes: 2 marks.
- Ditch crossing: over a ditch 7 feet 4 inches square and 4 feet deep, 1 mark.
Fail any event and you are disqualified. The physical test is mandatory for all entries, and failure in one event ends your application even if your written test was strong.
Two listings conflict with the Army advertisements. One guide lists a 1 km run in 8 minutes, and another lists a 2.2 km run in 8 minutes 30 seconds. The Army advertisements say 1.6 km, and the source that lists 2.2 km notes the conflict itself. Sit-ups are listed as 20 in the 159-course guide and as 15 in three older guides: this guide uses 20, the current figure. Our height and chest guide lists the measurement standards you must also meet: 5 feet 4 inches minimum height, and a chest of 79 cm expanding to 84 cm.
Step 5: The Initial Medical#
The initial medical is a basic checkup at the AS&RC. It covers eyesight, hearing, height, weight and general fitness, including dental health. Your weight must be as per the Body Mass Index, and your height is measured barefoot.
The medical screens for disqualifying conditions. Chronic disease, flat feet, colour blindness and severe eyesight problems are among the conditions that disqualify a candidate. If you wear glasses, check the eyesight standard for your course before you apply: a GD Pilot needs 6/6 without glasses, but most Army courses accept correction.
Step 6: The Initial Interview in Pakistan#
Before the interview, you write two essays of 10 lines each: one in English, one in Urdu. Plain paper is issued to you for both. The essays are written before the interview, and they are part of the assessment.
The interview is conducted by the Selection and Recruitment Officer. It tests your expression and confidence in English and Urdu, and your general bearing. No official pass mark is published for the interview.
Candidates who clear the interview are called by letter for the ISSB test. Our ISSB guide explains what happens next: four days of testing at an ISSB centre in Kohat, Gujranwala, Malir or Quetta, with a maximum of two lifetime attempts. After the ISSB comes the final medical at a Combined Military Hospital, final selection at GHQ, and two years of training at PMA Kakul before commissioning as a Second Lieutenant.
Register only at joinpakarmy.gov.pk.
Frequently Asked Questions#
What happens in the army initial test?
Six stages at your nearest AS&RC: online registration, a computerised intelligence test (verbal and non-verbal), an academic test, a physical test, an initial medical, and an interview. Fail one stage and you do not take the next. Candidates who clear all six are called for the ISSB.
What subjects are in the army initial test?
Verbal intelligence (analogies, vocabulary, comprehension), non-verbal intelligence (patterns, spatial reasoning), and an academic test covering English, Mathematics, Pakistan Studies, Islamiat and General Knowledge, with Physics and Chemistry for science-group candidates.
What is the physical test for PMA Long Course?
Five events: a 1.6 km run in 8 minutes, 15 push-ups in 2 minutes, 20 sit-ups in 2 minutes, 3 chin-ups in 2 minutes, and ditch crossing over a 7 feet 4 inch ditch. Fail any event and you are disqualified.
How do I register for the army initial test?
Register online at joinpakarmy.gov.pk, free, and select your nearest AS&RC as the test centre. Within 24 to 72 hours, download your registration slip with the test date, time and venue. You can also register in person at the AS&RC.
What happens after the initial test?
Candidates who clear the interview are called by letter for the ISSB test: four days of testing at an ISSB centre, with a maximum of two lifetime attempts. After the ISSB comes the final medical at a Combined Military Hospital, final selection at GHQ, and two years of training at PMA Kakul.
