PMA Long Course Preparation Guide 2026
The complete route to a Pakistan Army commission through PMA Long Course: who can apply, how the initial test is structured, what happens at ISSB, and how to prepare for each stage without wasting an attempt.
Target selection
PMA Long Course
Age limits, minimum marks and physical standards are re-stated in every PMA Long Course advertisement. Always verify your own figures against the current official ad before applying.
Who can apply for PMA Long Course?
Check yourself against each requirement before you register — one wrong entry can cost you the attempt.
Education
FSc, FA, ICS or A-Level with the minimum marks stated in the current advertisement. Candidates awaiting results can usually register provisionally.
Age
A narrow age band is specified in each advertisement, with slightly different limits for serving personnel and graduates. Confirm your date of birth falls inside it.
Physical standards
Minimum height, weight-for-height and chest measurement apply, along with the running, push-ups, sit-ups and chin-ups physical test.
Nationality & gender
Pakistani citizens are eligible; PMA Long Course is a male entry. Female candidates apply through Lady Cadet Course and other entries.
The PMA Long Course selection process
Five gates. Each one eliminates candidates, so treat every stage as final.
Online registration
Register on the Pakistan Army recruitment portal during the advertised window, fill your academic and personal details carefully, then print your registration slip.
Initial test at AS&RC
Report to your Army Selection & Recruitment Centre for the computer-based initial test: intelligence tests followed by an academic test covering English, Mathematics and general knowledge.
Physical and preliminary interview
Candidates who clear the written stage face the physical fitness test and a preliminary interview at the AS&RC.
Medical examination
A detailed military medical follows — height, weight, vision, hearing, dental and general fitness. Unfit candidates may appeal for a review medical.
ISSB and final selection
Recommended candidates attend a multi-day ISSB covering psychological tests, group tasks, obstacle series, planning exercises and interviews, followed by final medical and GHQ selection board approval.
PMA initial test pattern
The initial test is where most candidates are filtered out — and it is the most trainable stage of the whole process.
Analogies, odd-one-out, coding-decoding, series, relationships and logical statements.
Figure series, matrices, mirror images, embedded and rotated shapes.
Grammar, vocabulary, sentence correction, prepositions and short comprehension.
Matric to intermediate level arithmetic, algebra, percentages, ratios and quick mental maths.
Current affairs, Pakistan's geography and history, basic Islamiat and defence awareness.
How to prepare for PMA Long Course
A stage-aware plan: train the test first, then the ISSB.
Intelligence tests daily
Verbal and non-verbal reasoning improves fastest with repetition. Twenty to thirty timed questions a day builds the pattern recognition the test rewards.
Fix English fundamentals
Grammar rules, prepositions and 500–800 high-frequency words cover most of what the academic test asks.
Speed maths
Practise mental arithmetic, percentages and ratios without a calculator so the maths block costs you seconds, not minutes.
Current affairs habit
Ten minutes of daily news plus a running notes file on Pakistan's defence, geography and politics is enough for the GK block.
Start physical training now
Build up running, push-ups, sit-ups and chin-ups weeks before the test. Physical fitness cannot be crammed in the last few days.
Prepare for ISSB early
Work on your personal narrative, group communication and planning-exercise writing. ISSB assesses consistency, not memorised answers.
Prepare for the PMA initial test with Tabir Academy
Intelligence test drills, academic subject coverage, past-paper style practice and full-length mock tests built specifically for PMA Long Course candidates.
Have a voucher? Redeem it on the course page.
Initial test pattern
ISSB call letter & schedule
PMA courses
ISSB preparation
Intelligence test prep
Frequently asked questions
What is PMA Long Course?
PMA Long Course is the Pakistan Army's main regular commission entry for young men after intermediate. Selected candidates train at Pakistan Military Academy Kakul and are commissioned as officers.
What is the PMA Long Course initial test?
It is the first written stage, taken at an Army Selection & Recruitment Centre. It combines verbal and non-verbal intelligence tests with an academic test covering English, Mathematics and general knowledge.
How do I register for PMA Long Course?
Register online on the Pakistan Army recruitment portal during the advertised window, then report to your allotted AS&RC with the required documents on your test date.
What happens at ISSB?
ISSB is a multi-day assessment covering psychological written tests, group discussions and tasks, an individual obstacle course, command and planning exercises, and a formal interview.
Can I reappear if I am not recommended at ISSB?
A limited number of ISSB chances are allowed across a candidate's eligibility period. Because attempts are limited, most candidates prepare fully before their first appearance.
How long should I prepare for the PMA initial test?
Two to three focused months is enough for most candidates: daily intelligence practice, English and maths revision, a current affairs habit, and consistent physical training.
Can girls apply for PMA Long Course?
No. PMA Long Course is a male entry. Female candidates can join the Pakistan Army through Lady Cadet Course and other specialist entries.