FIA Test Pattern & Past Papers 2026
FIA recruitment runs through FPSC and provincial testing bodies as a single one-paper MCQ test. This page gives you the subject-wise split, the topics that repeat across past papers, the marking and timing you should train for, and a four-week plan that fits around a job.
Test at a glance
FIA one-paper MCQ
Question counts, timing and the qualifying percentage are restated in each advertisement and can differ between ASI/Sub-Inspector, Constable and clerical posts. Verify against the current FPSC consolidated advertisement.
Which FIA posts use this paper?
The structure is shared; only the difficulty level and physical standards change.
ASI & Sub-Inspector (BS-11 / BS-14)
Graduate-level posts with the most competitive version of the paper: heavier English, current affairs and law-awareness content, plus physical standards and an interview.
Constable (BS-07)
Matric or Intermediate level. Simpler English and maths, more general knowledge and Islamiat, with a physical test that carries real weight.
Assistant, UDC & LDC
Clerical posts add a computer-literacy component and, for stenotypist roles, a typing or shorthand speed test after the written paper.
Technical & specialist posts
Cyber-crime, forensic and technical positions add a professional or subject-specific block on top of the general portion.
The FIA recruitment sequence
The written test is a filter, not the final decision.
Online application
Apply through the FPSC or provincial testing body portal within the advertised window, upload documents and pay the challan fee. Keep the deposit slip and confirmation.
Roll number slip
The roll number slip is issued on your portal account with your centre and reporting time. Print it and carry it with your original CNIC.
One-paper written test
100 MCQs covering English, general knowledge and current affairs, Pakistan Studies, Islamiat, mathematics, analytical reasoning, computer literacy and — for some posts — law and investigation basics.
Physical measurement & test
Height, chest and running/other physical events for uniformed posts. Standards differ by gender and post and are published in the advertisement.
Medical, verification & interview
A medical examination, character and antecedent verification, then an interview by the recruitment board. Final merit combines the written score with the interview.
Subject-wise pattern (100-mark paper)
Weights reflect recent FIA and FPSC one-paper tests; use them to prioritise revision.
Grammar, tenses, prepositions, active/passive, synonyms and antonyms, sentence correction, idioms and one short comprehension.
Pakistan and world current affairs of the last 6–12 months, international organisations, sports, capitals and currencies, defence and security.
Freedom movement, constitutional history, geography, rivers and mountains, provinces, population and national institutions.
Seerat-un-Nabi, Quranic basics, pillars of Islam, Khilafat-e-Rashida and important Islamic dates.
Percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, profit and loss, time and work, simple algebra, HCF/LCM.
Series, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, seating arrangements and simple statement-conclusion items.
MS Office basics, input/output devices, internet and email fundamentals, storage units and common shortcuts.
For ASI/SI and investigative posts: FIA's mandate, basic criminal law awareness, cyber-crime concepts and general science facts.
4-week FIA test preparation plan
One general-knowledge block plus one skill subject a day, then two weeks of timed papers.
Week 1 — English & Islamiat
Fix grammar rules, prepositions and voice, then add 20 vocabulary words a day. Cover Seerat, pillars and Khilafat topics in short daily sessions.
Week 2 — GK, current affairs & Pak Studies
Build a one-page notes sheet per topic: constitutional milestones, geography, national institutions, and a running list of appointments, summits and sports results.
Week 2–3 — maths & reasoning
Drill percentages, ratios, averages, time-and-work and profit/loss mentally. Add 20 reasoning questions a day covering series, coding and relations.
Week 3 — computer literacy
MS Word and Excel basics, hardware terms, storage units, internet and email. This block is the cheapest 10 marks in the paper.
Week 4 — timed past papers
Sit full 100-question papers in 100 minutes. Review every mistake the same day and rebuild notes only from your error log.
Throughout — physical training
For uniformed posts, run and train daily from week one. The physical test comes soon after the written result and cannot be crammed.
Practise the real FIA paper
Tabir Academy's FIA and government-jobs preparation covers the full one-paper syllabus with past-paper style MCQs, subject-wise drills, current affairs updates and full-length timed mocks with explanations.
Have a voucher? Redeem it on the course page.
FIA jobs guide
Police jobs guide
PPSC Assistant syllabus
Government jobs courses
Application checklist
Keep your challan deposit slip and portal confirmation until the recruitment cycle is complete.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FIA test pattern?
FIA recruitment uses a one-paper MCQ test of about 100 questions in roughly 100 minutes, covering English (~20), general knowledge and current affairs (~20), Pakistan Studies (~15), Islamiat (~10), mathematics (~10), analytical reasoning (~10), computer literacy (~10) and post-specific law or science items (~5). The qualifying mark is usually 50%.
Where can I find FIA past papers?
FIA papers are conducted by FPSC and provincial testing bodies, which publish sample papers and syllabi with each advertisement rather than releasing full past papers. In practice, FPSC one-paper MCQ past papers for ASI, Sub-Inspector and clerical posts repeat the same topic mix, so practising FPSC-style papers is the closest match — that is exactly what our mock papers are modelled on.
Is there negative marking in the FIA test?
Some FPSC one-paper tests apply negative marking. The current advertisement states the marking scheme; when a penalty applies, answer only where you can eliminate at least two options.
What is the passing marks requirement for FIA?
Most FIA posts require 50% in the written test to qualify for the next stage, with 40% used for some lower-scale posts. Qualifying does not guarantee selection — final merit is competitive.
What are the physical standards for FIA ASI and Constable?
Uniformed posts specify minimum height and chest measurements along with a running or physical efficiency event, with different standards for men and women. Exact figures are published in each advertisement and are measured before the interview stage.
How long does it take to prepare for the FIA test?
Four to six focused weeks is realistic for a graduate candidate: two weeks on English, Islamiat, Pakistan Studies and current affairs, one week on maths, reasoning and computer literacy, and the final week on full-length timed papers.
Which subjects carry the most marks in the FIA test?
English and general knowledge with current affairs are the two biggest blocks at roughly 20 marks each, followed by Pakistan Studies at about 15. Together they account for over half the paper, so they deserve most of your revision time.
Does the FIA test include computer questions?
Yes. Computer literacy — MS Office basics, hardware and input/output devices, storage units, internet and email — appears in most FIA and FPSC one-paper tests and is one of the easiest sections to score full marks in.