GAT test dates 2026
The paper GAT 2026 runs Thursday, 10 December 2026 to Monday, 14 December 2026. Registration is open now and closes on Friday, 11 December 2026. The digital (computer-based) GAT has no single nationwide date: you book a seat by city and venue in your Qiyas account.
Last updated: 19 October 2026 · Last verified against the official announcement: 7 September 2026
How long until the GAT?
Until the paper test period starts
Until registration closes
Official source: ETEC: announcement of General Aptitude Test (paper) dates، Education & Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) · Last verified:
GAT periods table
| Test | Registration opens | Registration closes | Test period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper GAT, male students | Monday, 14 September 2026 | Friday, 11 December 2026 | Thursday, 10 December 2026 to Monday, 14 December 2026 |
| Paper GAT, female students | Wednesday, 16 September 2026 | Friday, 11 December 2026 | Thursday, 10 December 2026 to Monday, 14 December 2026 |
| Digital (computer-based) GAT | Seat booking in your Qiyas account | Depends on available seats | No single nationwide date |
Dates are in Saudi time, by day (the announcement gives no hour). Your own seat and day are set in your Qiyas account.
Your personal countdown for a booked seat
Enter your exam date and time exactly as shown in your Qiyas account. The calculation runs in your browser and is stored locally on your device, the date is never sent to our servers and never appears in any report.
Your exam date
Stored on your device only, no sign-up, no account.
How to split your preparation weeks
The suggested split gives foundations the largest share, then practice, then review, and finally timed full mocks. The reasoning is simple: most GAT losses come from shaky fundamentals rather than from speed, and mocks taken too early measure a level that has not been built yet. Treat it as a suggestion, not a prescription, adjust it against your diagnostic result.
Start with a free GAT practice test → · Calculate your weighted score →
Paper and digital are not one date
The paper GAT runs in announced periods with explicit registration open and close dates, and is for final-year secondary students. For the digital (computer-based) test you book a seat by city, venue and what your Qiyas account offers. There is therefore no single "next digital test date" for Saudi Arabia: what you see in your account can differ from what a classmate in another city sees, and ETEC sometimes announces separate arrangements for male and female candidates.
Where to verify it yourself
The only authority on your own date is your account on the Qiyas e-services platform. The announced period is public; the seat is personal. Check your account before relying on any general schedule, including this one.
Official source: Qiyas e-services platform، Education & Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) · Last verified:
Frequently asked questions
When is the paper GAT 2026?
The paper GAT period runs Thursday, 10 December 2026 to Monday, 14 December 2026, per ETEC's announcement. Your own day within it is set by the seat you book in your Qiyas account.
When does GAT registration open and close?
Registration opened on Monday, 14 September 2026 for male students and on Wednesday, 16 September 2026 for female students, and closes on Friday, 11 December 2026. It closes after the test period starts because Qiyas keeps it open for the later days of the period, so do not leave booking to the last day.
How long until the GAT?
The countdown at the top of this page runs to the start of the paper test period in Saudi time. The period spans several days; for your exact date, use the personal countdown below.
When is the digital GAT 2026?
The digital (computer-based) test has no single nationwide date: you book a seat inside the available window by city and venue in your Qiyas account, so your date can differ from a classmate's. That is why the general countdown on this page is for the paper period only: for your digital seat, use the personal countdown.
Are dates different for male and female candidates?
In this period only the registration opening differs: male students Monday, 14 September 2026, female students Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The test period itself is shared, Thursday, 10 December 2026 to Monday, 14 December 2026.
How do I find my own test date?
Through your account on the Qiyas e-services platform. The date shown to you is personal and tied to the seat you booked; it cannot be inferred from any general schedule, including this page.
What is the difference between registration and the test period?
Registration is the window in which you sign up and book a seat. The test period is the set of days on which the exams are actually held. Confusing the two is a common reason candidates miss a cycle.
Can I register after the window closes?
Once registration for a period closes you cannot book inside it; the next period becomes the option. That is why following ETEC's announcement early matters more than relying on word of mouth.
How many weeks do I need to prepare for the GAT?
There is no single number; it depends on your current level and the gap to your target. The more useful move is a short diagnostic that tells you where you stand in quantitative and verbal separately, then distributing the remaining weeks across the phases.
Is the date I enter in the personal countdown sent to you?
No. It is stored in your browser on your device only, and the whole calculation runs locally. We never transmit it to our servers or attach it to an account.
Can I add the date to my calendar?
Yes. The personal countdown button generates a standard calendar file (ICS) with your date and reminders, built in your browser from the date you entered.
Why not show last year's date as an estimate?
Because periods do not necessarily repeat on the same dates, and presenting an old date as a countdown makes it look confirmed. A dates page that is wrong once loses all of its value.
How much does the GAT cost?
Qiyas fees are set by ETEC and can differ between the paper and digital formats and between a first and a repeat sitting. Current fees are published on the official test page.