Free LCAT preparation for LUMS admission
Based on LUMS’s official LCAT sample questions. Last checked .
The LUMS Common Admission Test (LCAT) is a multiple-choice test of verbal and math skills, lasting about three hours, with no calculator. LUMS describes it as similar to the SAT, and its content domains match the digital SAT’s, plus a few extra topics such as logarithms, sequences and longer reading passages. Tayarri’s free practice covers all of them.
What is on the LCAT
| Section | Content domains (as listed by LUMS) |
|---|---|
| Verbal | Craft and Structure; Information and Ideas (including tables and graphs); Standard English Conventions; Expression of Ideas. Includes sentence completion, transitions, notes questions, grammar, and longer comprehension passages with several questions. |
| Math | Algebra; Advanced Math (quadratic, exponential, polynomial, rational, radical and absolute value equations; logarithms); Problem-Solving and Data Analysis; Geometry and Trigonometry. |
LCAT vs SAT
| LCAT | Digital SAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted by | LUMS | LUMS, NUST SAT seats, universities worldwide |
| Calculator | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Format | Multiple choice on an answer sheet, about 3 hours | On a computer, adaptive, 2 hours 14 minutes |
| Reading | Short texts plus longer passages with question sets | One short text per question |
| Extra math topics | Logarithms, sequences, absolute value, quadrant trigonometry | None of these as standard topics |
LUMS accepts either test for its business, humanities and social sciences, and law schools. If LUMS is your goal, the LCAT is the test to prepare for here.
A preparation plan
- Take the LCAT practice test to find your weakest skills.
- Practice those skills below. Each one retests you with new questions until a mistake stops repeating, with explanations in English and Urdu.
- Cover the topics that need extra care, highlighted in gold: logarithms, sequences, absolute value, quadrant trigonometry and reading passages.
- Practice without a calculator every time, and retake the practice test to compare your results.
Practice by skill
Topics that need extra care
Verbal
Math
Your progress across all LCAT skills and tests is on My progress.
Frequently asked questions
What is the LCAT?
The LUMS Common Admission Test is a multiple-choice admission test with verbal and math sections, lasting about three hours. LUMS describes it as similar to the SAT, though its timing and format can differ.
Can I use a calculator on the LCAT?
No. LUMS’s official guidelines say calculators are not allowed, so practice doing calculations by hand.
Should I take the LCAT or the SAT for LUMS?
LUMS accepts the SAT, ACT or LCAT for its business, humanities and social sciences, and law schools. The LCAT is LUMS’s own test, held in Pakistan; the SAT is offered on several dates a year and is also accepted by NUST and universities abroad.
What topics are on the LCAT?
According to LUMS, the verbal sections cover Craft and Structure, Information and Ideas, Standard English Conventions and Expression of Ideas, and the math sections cover Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, and Geometry and Trigonometry, including logarithms and sequences.
What should I bring to the LCAT?
LUMS requires a printed, signed copy of the test registration slip and a valid CNIC, government-issued juvenile card or passport. No other form of identity is accepted.
When is the LCAT held?
LUMS has usually held the LCAT in February for admission the following fall. Confirm the date on the LUMS admissions portal.