The academic exams top universities ask for, delivered locally
GRE, PTE, GMAT, and TOEFL iBT are among the many Pearson VUE and Prometric exams held at iTAS, under the same secure, proctored standards used by testing bodies worldwide — so your application timeline stays on track.
Not sure which exam you need?
Graduate admissions typically ask for GRE or GMAT. Language proficiency for study or immigration usually means PTE or TOEFL iBT.
GRE
The GRE® General Test is a standardized aptitude test measuring abstract thinking in reading comprehension, writing, and mathematics — available online and at iTAS testing centers in Pakistan. GRE® Subject Tests are achievement tests that measure the knowledge base of doctoral candidates in Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology.
GRE® General Test
The GRE General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills developed over time rather than tied to a specific field of study — closely aligned with what's needed for demanding graduate programs, including business and law. It's administered year-round on computer at Prometric® test centers, and may also be offered on specific dates at additional locations.
Visit www.gre.org for full content details of the GRE General Test.
GRE® Subject Tests
Subject Tests measure achievement in specific subject areas and assume an undergraduate major or extensive background in the discipline. Available in:
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology
Computer-delivered, offered worldwide three times a year within Pakistan. Testing time is 2 hours 50 minutes for Mathematics and 2 hours for Physics and Psychology. Check available dates and locations at ets.org/gre subject tests.
Registering & test day essentials
Registration checklist
- Check test fees at ets.org/gre fees — the GRE general exam fee for Pakistan is US$220.
- Read the reschedule and cancellation policies below.
- Understand ID requirements — your ID must match the first and last name on your account and registration.
- Decide your test date: offered year-round, Monday–Thursday except local and religious holidays, on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Allow enough time for score reporting to meet admissions deadlines.
- Create an ETS account for up-to-date test center information.
- Decide which institutions or fellowship sponsors should receive your scores — up to four are included in your test fee.
Registering by phone
Call Prometric Malaysia at 0060-3-7628-3333.
Name guidelines
The first and last name you register with — and its spelling — must exactly match (excluding accents) the name on the ID you present on test day. A mismatch may mean you're barred from testing or your scores are cancelled after the fact. Use your full given and family name; don't register under a nickname or with only an initial. If your ETS account already exists, confirm your ID still matches it.
All test takers in Pakistan must use a valid passport or a valid state-issued SMART National Identity Card. Without one of these, you will not be admitted on test day. If the passport is unsigned, provide a supplemental ID — CNIC, driver's license, student ID, or a school letter of identification. All IDs must be original, non-expired, and without any cancellation stamp.
Forms of payment
Register online at www.ets.org/mygre and pay US$220 by credit card.
Test takers with disabilities or health-related needs
Accommodations are available for test takers who meet ETS requirements and must be approved before testing. See the GRE Bulletin Supplement for Test Takers with Disabilities for contact information, forms, and procedures.
Fees, refunds & retakes
| Test | Fee |
|---|---|
| The GRE® revised General Test | US$220 |
| The GRE® Subject Test | US$150 |
| Rescheduling fee | US$55 |
| Partial refund amount | US$110 |
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Additional Score Reports (ASR) — per recipient | US$40 |
| Score review for Analytical Writing measure | US$60 |
| Score reinstatement fee | US$50 |
For more on Additional Score Reports, see General Test related services on the ETS site.
Cancel your registration no later than four days before your test date to automatically receive half the test fee back.
- Cash refunds are not available.
- No refunds for test preparation materials, additional services, or service fees.
- Refunds are processed in the original currency to the original payment method; paper check or money order refunds can take up to eight weeks.
- No refund if registration procedures aren't followed or required ID isn't presented on test day.
Retaking a GRE test
You may take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any rolling 12-month (365-day) period — even if you cancelled scores from a previous attempt. GRE Subject Tests may be taken as often as they're offered. This policy is enforced even if a violation (e.g., inconsistent registration information) is identified after scores have already been reported; invalid scores are cancelled, recipients notified, and test fees forfeited.
Scores and score reports
You may designate up to four graduate institutions or fellowship sponsors to receive scores as part of your test fee; for the computer-based General Test, you designate recipients at the end of the test. If an institution isn't listed, ask the test center administrator for the unlisted-institution form and submit it before leaving — it won't be accepted afterward. Unofficial Verbal and Quantitative scores are shown at the test center; the Analytical Writing score is not, due to its scoring process. Official scores for all three measures are sent to you and your designated recipients within 4–6 weeks.
Test preparation materials
Free and paid prep materials for the GRE General Test are available at ets.org/gre prepare. The following widely used prep books are also easily available at bookstores across Pakistan.
PTE — Pearson Test of English
PTE is an English language proficiency exam measuring speaking, listening, reading, and writing in a single, short computer test. It focuses on everyday English rather than high-level academic English, scoring candidates on the Global Scale of English (GSE), a multi-level grading system.
Types of PTE exams
Where scores are accepted
PTE Academic scores open doors to 3,000+ universities, colleges, and professional bodies globally, including Oxford University, Harvard Business School, Columbia University, and Macquarie University — as well as all UK, Australian, and New Zealand visa and immigration categories.
When and where to test
PTE Academic is taken on a computer in a secure, friendly test center environment. USEFP Islamabad began administering PTE Academic from June 6, 2022; it's also offered at other test centers in Pakistan, and USEFP plans to offer it in Lahore soon.
Registering, rescheduling & cancelling
Book online 24 hours in advance, year-round, through a myPTE account created via the "Sign in" button on the PTE website. Payment is by credit or debit card only. The fee for PTE Academic is US$215.
14+ days before test day: full refund. Between 8–13 days before: 50% refund of the original fee. 7 days or fewer before: no refund — the full exam fee is forfeited.
Eligibility
Pearson VUE has no specific eligibility criteria, but test takers must be 18 years of age. Students under 18 need a parental consent form to book and take the exam.
Exam pattern
Four skills are assessed — reading, listening, writing, and speaking — across twenty question types, from multiple choice to essay writing.
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Speaking & Writing | 54–67 minutes, seven question types — the longest section. Includes personal introduction, read aloud, repeat sentence, describe image, re-tell lecture, answer short question, summarize written text, and an essay. Individual items run 10–40 seconds; summarizing written text gets 10 minutes and the essay gets 20 minutes. |
| Reading | 29–30 minutes, five question types. As an integrated-skills test, the reading-and-writing fill-in-the-blanks item also assesses writing. Types include fill in the blanks, multiple choice (single and multiple answer), re-order paragraphs. |
| Listening | 30–43 minutes, eight question types based on audio or video clips played once (note-taking allowed). Types include summarize spoken text, multiple choice, fill in the blanks, highlight correct summary, select missing word, highlight incorrect words, and write from dictation. |
Scoring
Test takers receive a Score Report and a Skills Profile to understand their score, language skill level, and areas for improvement.
- An Overall Score between 10 and 90, graded against the Global Scale of English
- Individual scores for speaking, listening, reading, and writing
- Guidance across eight language skill categories, with recommendations to strengthen English skills
Typical score requirements
Each institution sets its own minimum, so confirm requirements directly with the program you're applying to.
PTE Academic: an original, valid passport is the only acceptable ID in Pakistan — candidates without one won't be admitted.
PTE UKVI Academic: an original valid passport and a Smart National Identity Card (SNIC) are both required.
See how PTE scores compare with IELTS and TOEFL iBT at pearsonpte.com/scoring.
GMAT
GMAT is a computer-adaptive test owned by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), assessing analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in written English for admission to graduate management programs such as an MBA. It's one of the most widely recognized management tests, accepted at more than 2,000 business schools worldwide.
All test takers in Pakistan must present a valid passport — without one, you will not be admitted at the test center. Your passport must be valid, original, and legible; bear your name in the Roman alphabet exactly as provided at booking (including order and placement); show your date of birth exactly as provided at booking; and include a recent, recognizable photograph, signature, and date of birth.
Test availability
GMAT tests are available two days a month, mostly on alternate Fridays, between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm at ITAS Islamabad.
Exam fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| The GMAT test fee | US$250 |
| Rescheduling fee | US$50 |
| Cancellation — more than 7 days before appointment | US$80 refund |
| Cancellation — within 7 days of appointment | No refund |
How to register
Register and schedule your GMAT test online at mba.com using a credit card.
Rescheduling & cancelling
You can reschedule your GMAT exam at any available test center worldwide. Rescheduling more than 7 calendar days before your scheduled date, time, or location costs US$50 each time; rescheduling within 7 calendar days adds an extra US$250. To reschedule in a country other than where you originally booked, contact GMAT by phone — appointments cannot be rescheduled by mail or fax.
Scores and score reports
Twenty days after your test date, once your scores become reportable, you'll receive a unique email link to access your Official Score Report at mba.com/mygmat.
Testing accommodations
Testing accommodations — also called "special arrangements" or "reasonable adjustments" — are provided to individuals with a documented or demonstrated disability. Details and the registration process are on the GMAT website.
Test preparation
Widely available prep resources for the GMAT include:
- Manhattan Prep Complete GMAT Strategy Guide Set
- GMAC GMAT 2024 Official Guide
- Princeton Review Cracking the GMAT
- Kaplan Premier 2024
The GMATPrep software, available on the GMAT website, includes two practice exams and a step-by-step guide to help test takers prepare.
TOEFL iBT®
TOEFL iBT® evaluates the English proficiency of students whose native language is not English, measuring your ability to use and understand English at university level by combining listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills to perform academic tasks.
All test takers in Pakistan must use either a valid passport or a valid state-issued SMART National Identity Card. Without one, you will not be admitted on test day. If the passport is unsigned, provide a supplemental ID — CNIC, driver's license, student ID, or a school letter of identification. All IDs must be original, non-expired, and free of any cancellation stamp.
The name you register with must exactly match the name on the ID you present. Any discrepancy means additional valid IDs will be requested — and if the presented IDs still don't match your registered name, you will be turned away.
Fees
| Item | Fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Test fee (USD) | US$230 |
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Late registration | US$40 |
| Rescheduling | US$69 |
| Reinstatement of cancelled scores | US$20 |
| Additional score reports (per institution or agency) | US$29 each |
| Speaking or Writing section score review | US$80 |
| Speaking and Writing section score review | US$160 |
Registration
Register and schedule TOEFL iBT® online with a credit card at least seven days before your first-choice test date. Late registration closes 3 days before your test date (not counting test day) and carries a US$40 late fee.
Reschedule / cancel exam
Request a reschedule or cancellation no later than 3 days before your test date (not counting the day of your request or the day of the test). The rescheduling fee is US$60, and your original registration fee must be paid first.
- Online: log in to your TOEFL® iBT account, click "View Order(s)" on your home page, then "Modify" or "Cancel" on the Order Summary page.
- By phone: provide your registration number and full name used at registration. From Pakistan, contact the Regional Registration Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at +60-3-7628-3333.
Scores & additional score reports
You can select up to 4 institutions or agencies as score recipients at registration, and change your selections online until 10 p.m. (local test center time) the day before the test — via "View Order(s)" in your TOEFL iBT® account. Scores post online approximately 7–10 business days after your test date; allow 4–6 weeks for official report delivery. View scores online via "View Scores" in your account.
Beyond your registration selections, you can send scores to additional institutions for US$29 per report.
Online orders are mailed 4–7 business days after your request; mail or fax orders are mailed 2 weeks after receipt. Allow 3–4 weeks for delivery.
Test preparation materials
Materials are available at ets.org/toefl/ibt/prepare — the only site with previously administered TOEFL iBT® questions and exclusive ETS scoring, giving instant feedback on Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking, plus a variety of practice tests to track progress. The following prep books are also easily available at bookstores across Pakistan.
Disability services
To apply for accommodations for test takers with disabilities or health-related needs, visit TOEFL® disabilities services.
GRE, TOEFL, and TOEFL iBT are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service (ETS) in the United States and other countries.