ETEA (Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency) was established by the Government of KPK to conduct transparent, merit-based entry tests for engineering, medical, and other professional institutions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — replacing external testing agencies. For FSC Pre-Engineering students in KPK, the ETEA Engineering test is the gateway to a BE degree at UET Peshawar and all other affiliated engineering universities.

This guide is based on official information from ETEA and covers everything: the correct test pattern (100 MCQs delivered via Computer-Based Test (CBT) — Physics 40, Maths 35, English 15, Chemistry/CS 10), the complete subject-wise syllabus, step-by-step registration, affiliated universities, merit calculation, best books, and a structured month-by-month prep plan.

1. What is ETEA Engineering?

ETEA (Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency) was established by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to administer entrance tests for admission to engineering and medical institutions in KPK, replacing external testing agencies. It conducts transparent, merit-based entry tests for engineering, medical, and other professional programs, as well as screening tests for public sector recruitment.

The ETEA Engineering test is specifically for students seeking admission to engineering universities in KPK — primarily for BE degrees at institutions like UET Peshawar. ETEA conducts the test and publishes scores; merit lists are then compiled at the institute level — each affiliated university sets its own eligibility criteria and merit formula independently.

The test is typically conducted twice per yearPhase-I and Phase-II — usually announced in June–July and held July–August before the academic year begins. Test centres are located across KPK including Peshawar, Abbottabad, Mardan, Swat, D.I. Khan, Kohat, and Bannu.

Who Can Apply for ETEA Engineering?

FSC Pre-Engineering students are the primary applicants — Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry are their main subjects, and the ETEA paper is built directly around those three.

FSC Pre-Medical students can also appear for ETEA Engineering. However, because Biology replaces Mathematics in the Pre-Medical group, students without Additional Mathematics in their FSC will find both the Physics (40 MCQs) and Maths (35 MCQs) sections harder to prepare for. Pre-Medical applicants at most institutes face a higher closing merit, meaning a better aggregate is needed to secure the same program. Taking Additional Mathematics as an FSC elective is strongly recommended for any Pre-Medical student considering an engineering career.

DAE (Diploma of Associate Engineering) holders (3-year post-Matric diploma) are also eligible for lateral entry into the 2nd year of BE programs via a separate DAE merit list.

2. Registration Process (Step by Step)

ETEA registration is entirely online. The process is straightforward — follow these six steps:

  1. Visit the ETEA official website
    Go to etea.edu.pk/applicants and open the Engineering registration portal.
  2. Fill the online registration form
    Enter your personal details, FSC board, and subject group. Double-check every field before submitting.
  3. Pay the registration fee (via bank)
    A bank challan is generated after form submission. Deposit the fee at any designated bank branch and upload the payment proof online.
  4. Download your Roll Number Slip
    After fee verification, your roll number slip becomes available on the portal. Print it and carry it to the test centre.
  5. Appear in the test
    Bring your roll number slip and original CNIC/B-Form on test day. Test centres are assigned based on the city you select during registration.
  6. Check your result online
    Results are announced on the ETEA website. You then apply directly to your preferred affiliated university using your ETEA score.
Official ETEA Website

All registration, roll number slips, results, and affiliated university lists are available at the official ETEA portal: etea.edu.pk

3. Paper Pattern at a Glance

Feature Detail
Total MCQs 100
Format Computer-Based Test (CBT), MCQ Updated 2026
Negative Marking None — attempt every question
Physics 40 MCQs — 40% (highest weight)
Mathematics 35 MCQs — 35%
English 15 MCQs — 15%
Chemistry / CS 10 MCQs — 10%
Test Frequency Twice per year — Phase-I & Phase-II
No Negative Marking — Attempt Everything

ETEA Engineering has zero negative marking. A wrong answer costs nothing. Fill in an answer for every single MCQ — even on questions you are unsure about. A random guess gives you a 25% chance of a free mark. A blank gives you zero.

4. Subject-Wise Syllabus

The ETEA Engineering syllabus covers FSC Pre-Engineering Parts 1 and 2, based on the KPK Textbook Board (KPKTBB) curriculum. Federal Board books cover the same topics with minor differences in chapter ordering.

Physics — 40 MCQs (40%) Highest Weight

Physics carries the most marks in ETEA Engineering — 40 MCQs out of 100. It tests both conceptual understanding and numerical problem-solving. Formula recall is essential — many MCQs give you numbers and ask for a calculated quantity directly.

Part Chapters & Key Topics
FSC I Measurements (SI units, errors, significant figures, dimensions) · Scalars & Vectors (addition, resolution, unit vectors) · Motion & Force (velocity, acceleration, Newton's laws, friction) · Work, Energy & Power (conservation, KE, PE, power) · Circular Motion (angular velocity, centripetal force, artificial gravity) · Fluid Dynamics (pressure, Bernoulli's equation, Stokes' law, viscosity) · Oscillations (SHM, spring-mass, pendulum, resonance) · Waves (transverse/longitudinal, speed, superposition, standing waves, Doppler effect)
FSC II Thermodynamics (temperature scales, specific heat, first & second law, entropy) · Electrostatics (Coulomb's law, electric field, Gauss's law, capacitance, dielectrics) · Current Electricity (Ohm's law, resistivity, Kirchhoff's laws, Wheatstone bridge) · Electromagnetism (Biot-Savart, Ampere's law, magnetic force, Hall effect) · Electromagnetic Induction (Faraday's law, Lenz's law, mutual inductance, transformers) · Alternating Current (RLC circuits, resonance, power factor) · Physics of Solids (band theory, semiconductors, p-n junction) · Electronics (diodes, transistors, logic gates, op-amps basics) · Dawn of Modern Physics (photoelectric effect, Compton effect, de Broglie) · Atomic Spectra (Bohr model, energy levels, hydrogen spectrum) · Nuclear Physics (radioactive decay, half-life, fission, fusion, radiation safety)
Highest-Yield Physics Topics

Based on past ETEA Engineering papers: Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Electromagnetism, Newton's Laws & Motion, and Oscillations/Waves appear most frequently. Prioritise numerical MCQs — know your formulas cold for every FSC II chapter.

Mathematics — 35 MCQs (35%)

Mathematics is the second-largest section and the one where marks are most easily dropped if concepts are weak. Every chapter from both FSC I and II is in scope — there are no optional topics.

Part Chapters & Key Topics
FSC I Number Systems (real, complex, rational) · Sets, Functions & Groups · Matrices & Determinants (operations, inverse, Cramer's rule) · Quadratic Equations (roots, nature of roots, relations) · Partial Fractions · Sequences & Series (AP, GP, HP) · Permutations, Combinations & Probability · Mathematical Induction & Binomial Theorem · Fundamentals of Trigonometry (units, identities, values) · Trigonometric Identities (product-to-sum, double/half angle) · Trigonometric Functions & Graphs · Inverse Trigonometric Functions · Solutions of Triangles (sine rule, cosine rule, area)
FSC II Functions & Limits (types, L'Hôpital's rule, continuity) · Differentiation (rules, higher derivatives, implicit) · Applications of Differentiation (maxima/minima, rate of change, tangent/normal) · Integration (standard integrals, substitution, by parts) · Definite Integrals & Area under Curve · Introduction to Analytic Geometry (distance, section formula, slope) · Linear Inequalities & Linear Programming · Conic Sections (circle, parabola, ellipse, hyperbola — equations & properties) · Vectors (dot product, cross product, triple products, 3D vectors)
Highest-Yield Maths Topics

Based on past ETEA Engineering papers: Quadratic Equations, Trigonometric Identities, Differentiation, Integration, Conic Sections, and Matrices appear most frequently. Prioritise these in your revision — expect 3–5 MCQs from each of the heavy topics.

Chemistry / CS — 10 MCQs (10%)

Chemistry carries only 10 MCQs — the smallest section in ETEA Engineering. Despite covering the full FSC Pre-Engineering Chemistry syllabus, you should target quick revision over deep coverage here. Organic Chemistry reactions (Part 2) typically appear most in this section.

Part Chapters & Key Topics
FSC I Basic Concepts (stoichiometry, mole, Avogadro's number, limiting reagent) · Atomic Structure (quantum numbers, orbitals, electronic configuration) · Gases (gas laws, kinetic molecular theory, ideal gas equation, real gases) · Liquids & Solids (intermolecular forces, hydrogen bonding, crystal lattice) · Chemical Bonding (ionic, covalent, metallic, VSEPR, hybridisation, polarity) · Thermochemistry (enthalpy, Hess's law, bond energies, Gibbs free energy) · Electrochemistry (oxidation states, electrolysis, electrode potential, SHE) · Chemical Equilibrium (Kc, Kp, Le Chatelier's principle, solubility product) · Reaction Kinetics (rate law, order, activation energy, catalysis)
FSC II s & p Block Elements (Group I–VII periodic trends, reactions) · Transition Elements (d-block, general properties, colour, complexes) · Fundamental Organic Chemistry (classification, isomerism, functional groups) · Hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, benzene — reactions & mechanisms) · Alkyl Halides (SN1, SN2, E1, E2 reactions) · Alcohols & Phenols (reactions, acidity, esterification) · Aldehydes & Ketones (nucleophilic addition, oxidation/reduction) · Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives (amides, esters, acid chlorides) · Macromolecules (amino acids, proteins, polymers — addition & condensation)

English — 15 MCQs (15%)

English carries more weight than Chemistry in ETEA Engineering (15% vs 10%). It is the easiest section to secure near-perfect marks in with minimal targeted preparation. 2–3 focused practice sessions are enough to cover the entire scope.

Area What Appears
VocabularySynonyms, antonyms, one-word substitutions, contextual meaning
GrammarTenses, subject-verb agreement, articles, prepositions, active/passive voice
Sentence StructureIdentify correct or incorrect sentences; spot errors in word order and usage
ComprehensionShort passage with 3–4 direct questions; text-explicit answers only

5. Universities Affiliated with ETEA

ETEA publishes the full list of affiliated institutions at etea.edu.pk. Students apply directly to their chosen universities after ETEA results are announced — merit lists are compiled by each institute, not by ETEA.

Core Engineering Universities — ETEA Mandatory

These universities require ETEA for engineering admissions. Most use the portal at enggentrancetest.pk.

Institution City
University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Peshawar Peshawar
UET Mardan Mardan
UET Abbottabad Campus Abbottabad
UET Bannu Campus Bannu
UET Kohat Campus Kohat
CECOS University of IT & Emerging Sciences Peshawar
Bannu University of Science and Technology Bannu

Private Engineering Universities — ETEA Accepted (KPK)

Institution City
Sarhad University of Science & Information Technology Peshawar
Abasyn University Peshawar
City University of Science & Information Technology Peshawar
Iqra National University Peshawar

Universities Using ETEA for BS Programs (Non-Engineering)

Institution City
University of Peshawar Peshawar
University of Malakand Chakdara
University of Swat Swat
Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST) Kohat

Note: The affiliated institutions list is updated by ETEA each year. Always verify at etea.edu.pk before applying.

6. Merit Formula & Aggregate Calculation

ETEA only conducts the test and publishes scores. Merit lists are compiled at the institute level — each affiliated university sets its own eligibility criteria, weightings, and formula independently. Always read the specific prospectus of the university you are applying to.

A commonly used formula by many KPK engineering universities is:

Aggregate = ETEA 50% + FSC 40% + Matric 10%
Formula varies by institute — verify in the official prospectus

How to calculate each component (using this common formula):

  • ETEA: (Your score ÷ 100) × 50
  • FSC: (Your FSC % ÷ 100) × 40
  • Matric: (Your Matric % ÷ 100) × 10

Example: ETEA 78/100, FSC 85%, Matric 88%:

  • ETEA: (78/100) × 50 = 39.0
  • FSC: (85/100) × 40 = 34.0
  • Matric: (88/100) × 10 = 8.8
  • Aggregate = 81.8 / 100
Why ETEA Score is Your Biggest Lever

Under the common 50/40/10 formula, ETEA contributes half your aggregate. Every 5 marks you gain in ETEA (e.g., from 70 to 75 out of 100) adds 2.5 points to your aggregate. To gain the same 2.5 points through FSC alone you would need to increase your FSC percentage by 6.25%. ETEA preparation should be your primary focus.

Pre-Medical Students: Higher Merit, Harder Competition

If you come from FSC Pre-Medical (Biology group), you can sit for ETEA Engineering — but you should be aware of two important realities:

  1. Your closing merit will be higher. Pre-engineering students have studied Physics and Maths as core subjects for 2 years — they naturally score higher on 75% of the ETEA paper (Physics 40 + Maths 35). This pushes the pre-medical closing merit up at most institutes — you need a stronger overall aggregate to compete for the same seats.
  2. Additional Mathematics (elective) changes everything. If you took Additional Mathematics as an elective subject in FSC Pre-Medical, your merit is calculated closer to the pre-engineering group. Additional Math marks strengthen your FSC component and demonstrate mathematical preparation. If you are currently in FSC Pre-Medical and considering engineering, add Mathematics as an elective now — it can be the difference between securing a seat and falling short.

Pre-Medical students without Additional Math who still wish to attempt ETEA Engineering should allocate significant extra preparation time to the Physics and Maths syllabus (FSC I + II for both subjects). Consider tutoring or a crash course alongside regular Biology preparation.

Approximate Score Benchmarks for UET Peshawar (Past Years)

Program Typical ETEA Score Needed (/100) FSC % to Pair With
CS / Software Engineering (most competitive)85+88%+
Electrical Engineering80–8585%+
Mechanical Engineering75–8283%+
Civil Engineering70–7880%+

Indicative only — actual cutoffs shift each year based on seat count and applicant scores. Always check the official university merit lists from the previous year as your real benchmark.

Actual UET Peshawar Merit Lists — Reference Data

Below are real merit list snapshots from UET Peshawar. Use these as your concrete benchmark — not estimates.

UET Peshawar 2025 Engineering 1st Open Merit List — Pre-Engineering vs Pre-Medical last scores by discipline
UET Peshawar — Engineering 1st Open Merit 2025. Pre-Engineering last scores (left column) vs Pre-Medical last scores (right column). Notice Pre-Medical scores are consistently higher — confirming the higher-merit disadvantage for Biology-group students.
UET Peshawar 2024 1st Merit Non-Subsidized Self-Finance — first and last aggregate scores by discipline
UET Peshawar — Non-Subsidized (Self-Finance) 1st Merit 2024. Self-finance closing merits are lower than open merit — a viable path if your aggregate falls just short of the open merit cutoff.
How to Read These Merit Lists
  • Aggregate scale: UET Peshawar merit scores are out of 1000 — not out of 100. The university combines Matric + FSC + ETEA and scales to 1000. Compare your expected aggregate against the "Last Score" column for your target discipline.
  • Pre-Medical vs Pre-Engineering gap: In every single discipline, the Pre-Medical closing merit is higher than Pre-Engineering. The gap ranges roughly 30–80 points depending on the program. This directly confirms why Pre-Medical students without Additional Mathematics face a harder path.
  • Self-Finance seats: Non-subsidized seats close at lower merits than open merit. If your aggregate is just under the open merit cutoff, apply for self-finance — it is a genuine second chance at the same program and university.

7. Best Books & Resources for ETEA Engineering 2026

Primary Textbooks (Non-Negotiable)

  • KPK Textbook Board FSC Maths, Physics, Chemistry Parts 1 & 2 — The ETEA syllabus is written directly from these. Study from these books first, not from guide books.
  • Federal Board FSC books — Excellent alternative for non-KPK students; covers the same content with very minor differences.

MCQ Practice Books

  • Dogar Brothers ETEA Engineering Guide — Widely available, has topic-wise MCQs and previous year papers aligned to the ETEA pattern.
  • Kips ETEA Engineering Practice Book — Good for timed mock tests and identifying weak chapters.
  • ETEA Official Past Papers (5–7 years) — The most important practice resource. ETEA questions repeat in style, difficulty, and concept every year. Solving past papers is the single best investment of your final preparation weeks.

Subject-Specific Tips

  • Maths: Pure practice — solve 40–50 MCQs per chapter. You cannot read your way to Maths marks; you have to solve problems repeatedly until you recognise question types instantly.
  • Physics: Make a formula sheet. Every chapter has 5–10 key formulas. If you know these cold, numerical MCQs become easy marks.
  • Chemistry: Focus on Organic Chemistry reactions — they appear disproportionately in ETEA Engineering. Know all the name reactions and their mechanisms.

8. Month-by-Month Preparation Plan

This is a 4-month plan assuming ETEA in August 2026. If you have more time, extend Month 1–2 with deeper chapter coverage.

Month 1: Concept Pass — All Three Science Subjects

  • Cover all FSC I and II chapters for Maths, Physics, and Chemistry once through your textbooks
  • After each Maths chapter: solve 20 exercise MCQs and understand every wrong answer before moving on
  • After each Physics chapter: write the formula list for that chapter from memory, then check
  • After each Chemistry chapter: write a reaction summary (especially Organic)
  • Do not start MCQ banks yet — build concepts first

Month 2: Topic-Wise MCQ Practice

  • Target 80 MCQs per day — 32 Physics, 28 Maths, 12 English, 8 Chemistry
  • Track which chapter-topics you score below 60% on — these are your weak areas
  • Revisit weak-area chapters from the textbook, then re-test
  • Attempt your first ETEA past paper under timed conditions (150 minutes, no breaks)

Month 3: Past Papers & Weak Area Elimination

  • Solve one full ETEA past paper every 3 days
  • After each paper: categorise every wrong answer — was it a concept gap or a calculation slip?
  • Concept gaps → back to the textbook chapter
  • Calculation slips → practice 20 more similar numerical MCQs on that formula
  • Build and carry a formula card for Physics and a reaction summary card for Chemistry

Month 4 (Final): Consolidation & Mock Tests

  • One full 200-MCQ mock every 2 days — strict timing
  • Last 2 weeks: no new chapters; pure revision of your condensed notes and formula sheets
  • English: 3 focused sessions on vocabulary and grammar — aim for 18+/20
  • Final week: lighter study, full sleep (8 hours minimum), healthy meals
  • Day before exam: review only your formula sheet and reaction summary — do not attempt new MCQs

9. Exam-Day MCQ Strategy

  • Answer every question. No negative marking = no reason to ever leave a blank. Guess if necessary — you have nothing to lose.
  • Physics first — it's 40% of your score. Start with Physics, then Maths, then Chemistry, then English. Alternatively, do your strongest subject first to build confidence and momentum.
  • Show unit analysis for numericals. Even when doing mental maths, check that your answer has the right unit. Wrong units are the most common source of careless errors in Physics and Chemistry MCQs.
  • Eliminate before guessing. On any question you are unsure about, eliminate 1–2 clearly wrong options first. This raises your random-guess success rate from 25% to 33–50%.
  • Do not change answers without a reason. Your first instinct is statistically more likely to be correct. Only change an answer if you have a specific new reason — not just anxiety.

10. Five Mistakes That Cost Students Marks

  1. Treating Physics as less important than Maths. Physics is 40% of ETEA Engineering — the single largest section (40 MCQs). Many students focus on Maths (35 MCQs) and under-prepare Physics, not realising it costs more marks. Both subjects together are 75% of your score. You cannot afford to be weak in either.
  2. Skipping Organic Chemistry in FSC II. Organic Chemistry feels difficult and is often left for last. But it consistently generates a large share of ETEA Chemistry MCQs — particularly alkyl halides, alcohols, and reaction mechanisms. Avoiding it because it is hard is exactly the wrong strategy.
  3. Not using past papers until the last 2 weeks. ETEA question style, wording, and difficulty distribution are consistent year over year. Students who start solving past papers at Month 2 perform measurably better than those who start at Month 4. Past papers are not just practice — they are intelligence about exactly what will appear.
  4. Leaving English to chance. 15 marks with zero negative marking — and English is worth more than Chemistry in ETEA (15% vs 10%). If you answer all 15 English MCQs randomly you will statistically get about 4. With 2–3 hours of targeted grammar and vocabulary practice, you can reliably score 13–15. Those 9–11 extra marks from "minimal investment" English prep can move you up significantly on the merit list.
  5. Studying from a single guide book instead of the textbook. ETEA writes its questions from the KPK Textbook Board books — specific definitions, diagrams, and examples from those books appear verbatim as MCQ options. If you only study from guide books, you will miss questions that require knowing the exact textbook wording. Guide books are for practice; the textbook is the source.

11. Frequently Asked Questions

How many MCQs are in ETEA Engineering 2026?

100 MCQs — Physics 40 (40%), Mathematics 35 (35%), English 15 (15%), Chemistry/CS 10 (10%). No negative marking. As of 2026, ETEA has switched to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format. The test is conducted twice per year (Phase-I and Phase-II).

Is there negative marking in ETEA Engineering?

No. Attempt every question. A wrong answer costs nothing; a blank also costs nothing but wastes a 25% chance of a free mark.

What is the ETEA merit formula?

ETEA conducts the test and publishes scores — merit lists are compiled by each affiliated institute independently. A commonly used formula is: ETEA 50% + FSC 40% + Matric 10%. Always check the specific prospectus of the university you are applying to, as weightings vary.

Which books should I use for ETEA Engineering?

KPK Textbook Board FSC Maths, Physics, and Chemistry (Parts 1 & 2) are your primary source — ETEA questions are written from these. For MCQ practice, use Dogar Brothers ETEA Engineering Guide and official ETEA past papers (5–7 years minimum).

Can DAE holders appear in ETEA Engineering?

Yes. DAE (Diploma of Associate Engineering) holders can appear in ETEA Engineering and apply for lateral entry into the 2nd year of BE programs. They compete on a separate DAE merit list with different seat allocations from FSC applicants.

What score do I need to get into UET Peshawar CS?

CS/Software Engineering at UET Peshawar is the most competitive program. Historically, you need 85+/100 in ETEA and 88%+ in FSC to be competitive. The exact cutoff changes each year — check the official UET Peshawar merit list from the previous year for the most accurate benchmark.

Can Pre-Medical (Biology group) students apply for ETEA Engineering?

Yes — Pre-Medical students are eligible to appear in ETEA Engineering. However, two things work against them: (1) the Maths section is 40% of the paper, and Pre-Medical students haven't studied Maths as a core FSC subject, so dedicated extra preparation is essential; (2) the closing merit for Pre-Medical applicants is typically higher than for Pre-Engineering applicants, meaning you need a better aggregate to secure the same seat.

The strongest practical advice for Pre-Medical students considering engineering: take Additional Mathematics as an elective in FSC. This brings your merit calculation closer to the Pre-Engineering group and significantly improves your chances. If you have already completed FSC without Additional Math, plan to invest significant extra time preparing the full FSC I + II Maths syllabus before the test.