AKU Paper Pattern 2026
Aga Khan University Admission Test is a paper of 180 MCQs to be attempted in 180 minutes, set by Aga Khan University, with no negative marking. It covers 5 subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English and Analytical and Logical Reasoning.
180
MCQs
on the paper
180
Minutes
total time
60
Seconds per MCQ
if paced evenly
No
Negative marking
guessing is free
AKU subject weightage 2026
How many MCQs each subject contributes to the AKU paper. This is the order to revise in. Biology is worth 81 MCQs against English's 9, so an hour spent fixing a weak chapter in Biology is worth more marks than the same hour anywhere else on the paper.
- AKU Biology81 MCQs · 45%
- AKU Chemistry45 MCQs · 25%
- AKU Physics36 MCQs · 20%
- AKU English9 MCQs · 5%
- AKU Analytical and Logical Reasoning9 MCQs · 5%
| Subject | MCQs | Share | Free MCQs here |
|---|---|---|---|
| AKU Biology MCQs | 81 | 45% | 19,844 |
| AKU Chemistry MCQs | 45 | 25% | 13,720 |
| AKU Physics MCQs | 36 | 20% | 12,422 |
| AKU English MCQs | 9 | 5% | 10,318 |
| AKU Analytical and Logical Reasoning MCQs | 9 | 5% | 2,435 |
| Total | 180 | 100% | 58,739 |
AKU marking scheme 2026
Every AKU MCQ carries one mark, for a total of 180 marks, one per question. Nothing is deducted for a wrong answer, so an unanswered question and a wrong answer score exactly the same: zero. That makes leaving anything blank a pure loss. Attempt all 180 MCQs, and in the last few minutes fill in every remaining bubble even if you are guessing outright.
AKU time per subject
180 minutes across 180 MCQs is about 60 seconds a question. Split by weightage, that is the time each subject is worth. Going over on one subject is borrowed from another, not from spare time, because there is none.
| Subject | MCQs | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | 81 | 81 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 45 |
| Physics | 36 | 36 |
| English | 9 | 9 |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning | 9 | 9 |
How to prepare for the AKU 2026 pattern
The pattern tells you where the marks are, not where you are losing them. Start with Biology, because it carries 45 percent of the paper and a weak chapter there is the most expensive weak chapter you can have. Inside each subject, work chapter by chapter and stay on a chapter until you are consistently above 80 percent before moving on.
Then practise at the real pace. Untimed revision hides the problem that actually costs marks in the hall, which is spending three minutes on a question worth 60 seconds and running out of paper before you run out of time. Sit full papers under the clock, and mark them honestly.
AKU paper pattern: common questions
What is the AKU paper pattern 2026?
Aga Khan University Admission Test is a 180 MCQ paper of 180 minutes set by Aga Khan University, with no negative marking. It is split across 5 subjects: Biology 81, Chemistry 45, Physics 36, English 9, Analytical and Logical Reasoning 9.
How many MCQs are there in AKU?
180 MCQs in total, to be attempted in 180 minutes. The heaviest subject is Biology at 81 MCQs, which is 45 percent of the paper.
Is there negative marking in AKU?
No. AKU has no negative marking, so a wrong answer costs you nothing more than an unanswered one. Never leave a question blank: attempt every one of the 180 MCQs, even the ones you are guessing on.
How much time do you get per MCQ in AKU?
180 minutes for 180 MCQs works out at about 60 seconds per question. That is the pace to practise at, and it is why timed practice matters more than untimed revision in the last month.
Which subject has the most weightage in AKU?
Biology, at 81 of the 180 MCQs, which is 45 percent of the paper. A weak topic in the heaviest subject costs you more marks than a weak topic anywhere else, so the weightage order on this page is the order worth revising in.