For the NUST admission process 2026, I have seen how often they depend on the NUST Aggregate Calculator to determine their merit position. This easy to use calculator gives you the clarity you need to understand your chances of admission by calculating your aggregate using your SSC, FSc, and NET scores.
What makes the process so accurate is that you can rely on figures derived from the official breakdown rather than making assumptions.
Contents:
- Official NUST Merit Formula 2026
- Official FSc/Inter Based Calculator
- Official O-Levels Based Calculator
- ACT/SAT Based Formula
- What is a Good Merit to get admission into NUST?
Official NUST Merit Percentage Formula for FSC and O-levels 2026:
For admission to NUST 2026, candidates are required to appear in the NUST Entry Test (NET) and secure a strong merit score. The NUST merit score is calculated using the official aggregate formula, which is based on your matric and inter results along with your NET score to calculate your merit percentage.
Aggregate/Merit Percentage Formula for FSc:
For those coming from intermediate, your merit is based on three main components: SSC Marks, FSc Marks, and your NET Score. Each element is converted into percentage before applying the calculation.
Once you have these values, you simply multiply them by their respective percentages assigned by NUST also known as weightage percentage, sum all of them together into a single merit score.
Weightage is based on following:
- Matric Percentage - 10%
- FSc Percentage -15%
- NET Score - 75%
Merit Formula: [SSC Marks/1100] x 0.10 + [FSC Marks/1100] x 0.15 + [NET Score/200] x 0.75 = Aggregate
Aggregate/Merit Percentage Formula for O-levels
For O/A Levels candidates, the process is slightly different because of equivalence. The equivalence process comes into play, where your grades are converted into a percentage that can be fitted into the same calculation model.
Without this equivalence, the system cannot fairly apply the formula.
Weightage applies as following:
- O-Level Percentage - 25%
- NET Score - 75%
Merit Formula: [Percentage O-levels] x 0.25 + [NET Score/200] x 0.75 = Aggregate
NUST NET 2026 Admission Merit Calculator
- O/A Level candidates who are in A Level (final year) will be assigned 25% weightage to their O Level equivalence marks as per equivalence certificate issued by IBCC, Pakistan.
Once the O/A Levels marks are standardized, the rest of the steps remain the same as the FSc route, dividing by the given denominators, then going through the calculation method of assigning percentage weights and then the adding to determine the merit.
Aggregate On Basis of ACT/SAT:
Another group of students often ask me how the formula changes when they opt to apply with ACT/SAT scores instead of the NET Score. Here, NUST considers international testing as a replacement for the test component.
While the weighting percentages remain the same, the calculation uses your standardized test result directly in place of NET score.
From there, you still rely on SSC Marks and FSC Marks or the O/A Levels equivalence scores, followed by the same multiply then added to achieve the final merit score.
NUST only accepts SAT-I for Business, Social Sciences and LLB programs. The minimum score to apply is 550.The minimum score to apply on the basis of ACT is 25.
What Is a Good Merit Percentage?
The most hated question by all mentors is: “What is a good merit score? Is my merit score good enough to get into the xyz program?”
I’ve met many applicants who were confused about whether their NET score was good enough or if they needed to retake the test.
Just follow the step and end your brainstorming:
- Calculate your aggregate from the given formula according to your NET score and see where you are standing.
- Compare your aggregate with last year's closing merit for a rough estimate.
- Put your marks with higher NET numbers to compare what score will make your aggregate percentage good enough to get into that program.
- Make an aim of NET score according to your marks and current score. eg 150 for CS, AI, DS.
The percentage varies from campus-to-campus and between programs as well:
To give you a rough idea, let's set a standard percentage to qualify:
- For H12 Campus: You will need 78% or higher for Computing programs (CS, AI, DS, SE). For engineering programs 70-72% or higher is recommended. For Business it is near 70% and higher is a safe place to be.
- For EME Campus: EME has typically engineering programs (CE, EE, ME, Mechatronics etc) the merit is low compared to H12 programs. It may be safe as low as 65% or higher.
- For MCS Campus: MCS merit is low for all programs (EE, IS) but is higher for SE. Upto 70% would be good enough for SE.
- NBC Quetta: You can easily get into all computing programs including CS, AI as low as 55% due to very less demand and preferences for Quetta Campus.
- MCE Risalpur: Again merit is low for some engineering programs.
Keeping in mind merit positions and merit percentage varies every year, sometimes the merit goes up, or it falls for certain programs as well depending upon the number of applicants, net scores, preferences etc.
- There is no guarantee of getting admission wrt to last year's merit.
- The main purpose is to have an idea of where the merit lies and how much effort is actually needed to get that score for your desired program.
- Always score higher than the last year merit to get higher chances of getting your desired field.
Engineering students also prefer UET Lahore in comparison to NUST's engineering standards. UET Lahore has its own legacy of producing finest engineers in major fields. Also FAST NUCES, Islamabad also one of most demanded university of Pakistan for computing fields.
From my own experience, I’ve seen students who thought they had no chance but still secured a seat because they understood the aggregate process early.
Others who ignored the details missed opportunities. That’s why I always emphasize: knowing your formula, understanding your scores, and tracking your merit in time is the smartest way to plan your future at one of the most competitive universities in the country.
FAQs:
Q1. What is the merit of NUST University?
Ans: Merit is the required percentage to fall in the merit lists for your desired program. You have to score maximum, by attempting multiple NETs in order to increase your chances for admission.
Q2. How is FSc based aggregate calculated?
Ans: Aggregate for FSc and Matric is calculated as
e.g [SSC Marks/1100]x0.10 + [FSC Marks/1100]x0.15 + [NET Score/200]x0.75 = Aggregate
Q3. How to find a NUST merit position?
Ans: After NET-4 2026 (usually in July) NUST announces merit positions which is your current standing according to your aggregate wrt to all applicants.
Q4. Is the NUST entry test difficult?
Ans: NUST NET is considered to be one of the most competitive entry tests in Pakistan. The test is generally based on conceptual mcqs from FSC/Inter syllabus. It may be hard for some while and an average student with good concepts can easily get a good score.
Q5. Is net 4 difficult?
Ans: No! The difficulty level of all NETs are the same, though you may find some NETs harder as they may comprise a major part of a specific topic. Overall there is no such major difference.
Q6. What are the passing marks for the NUST entry test?
Ans: There are no passing marks for NET as you just have to score as high as you can to get a good aggregate and thus admission into the university.