Mathematics 1 (compulsory)
- Duration
- 40 min
- Format
- Multiple choice
Preparation Guide
Engineering and Science Admissions Test Preparation Guide
Find which papers in the ESAT your course requires, see the score distribution, and follow our 5-step preparation journey with question-bank support.
The ESAT at a glance
0
Possible modules
Mathematics 1, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics 2
0
Modules sat by most candidates
Mathematics 1 plus two further modules
0
Questions per module
All modules are multiple choice
0 minutes
Duration per module
Modules are sat back-to-back
0 minutes
Total duration
For most candidates
Not allowed
Calculator
No calculator or dictionary
Universities that require the ESAT
The universities that gate on the ESAT — with the score band successful applicants actually hit.
Cambridge
Target 7.0+
Imperial
Target 7.0+
UCL
Target 6.5+
Key Dates & Deadlines
1 June 2026
Registration Opens
UAT-UK account creation opens; access-arrangement and bursary applications also open.
20 July 2026
Booking Opens
Book your test centre and slot.
14 September 2026
Access Arrangements Deadline
Deadline to apply for access arrangements (e.g. extra time) via UAT-UK.
21 September 2026
Bursary Deadline
Deadline to apply for a UAT-UK fee bursary.
28 September 2026
Booking Closes
Hard deadline.
12–16 October 2026
Testing Window
Main UAT-UK window for Oxford and Cambridge.
15 October 2026
UCAS Deadline
Applies to all Oxford and Cambridge applications.
16 November 2026
Results Released
Verify on UAT-UK; result methods vary.
1 June 2026
Registration Opens
UAT-UK account creation opens; access-arrangement and bursary applications also open.
20 July 2026
Booking Opens
Book your test centre and slot.
14 September 2026
Access Arrangements Deadline
Deadline to apply for access arrangements (e.g. extra time) via UAT-UK.
21 September 2026
Bursary Deadline
Deadline to apply for a UAT-UK fee bursary.
28 September 2026
Booking Closes
Hard deadline.
12–16 October 2026
Testing Window
Main UAT-UK window for Oxford and Cambridge.
15 October 2026
UCAS Deadline
Applies to all Oxford and Cambridge applications.
16 November 2026
Results Released
Verify on UAT-UK; result methods vary.
01Section 01
Overview — official link, courses, and the papers you sit
01
Section 01
Overview — official link, courses, and the papers you sit
The ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) is the UAT-UK admissions test for Cambridge Engineering, Natural Sciences, Chemical Engineering, and Veterinary Medicine, and for Oxford Biomedical Sciences, Engineering Science, Physics, and Physics and Philosophy. It uses Mathematics 1 plus two chosen science papers (each 40 minutes, multiple choice).
The ESAT is part of the UAT-UK admissions-test framework, administered alongside the TMUA and TARA. It is the central pre-interview admissions test for Cambridge Engineering, Natural Sciences, Chemical Engineering, and Veterinary Medicine.
Oxford has also moved its Physics-family courses to the ESAT — Biomedical Sciences, Engineering Science, Physics, and Physics and Philosophy applicants now sit the ESAT, replacing the PAT.
Each candidate sits Mathematics 1 (compulsory) plus two chosen papers from Mathematics 2, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology — depending on their course. Each paper is 40 minutes of multiple-choice questions.
Official test site: esat-tmua.ac.uk — registration, specimen papers, and the latest results report.
Oxbridge Mentors also produces an in-house ESAT question bank focused on the hardest questions students get stuck on and the time-management drills that close the last 10–15% of the score. Contact us for access or 1-to-1 support.
Which papers in the ESAT do I sit?
The ESAT has compulsory and optional papers. Which combination you sit depends on the exact course you're applying for — check your university and course below.
| Course | Maths 1 | Maths 2 | Physics | Chemistry | Biology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Biomedical Sciences Oxford · BC98 Oxford Biomedical Sciences sits Maths 1 plus any two from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics 2. Biology + Chemistry is the most common choice for this course. | Required | Optional — you may choose this paper | Optional — you may choose this paper | Optional — you may choose this paper | Optional — you may choose this paper |
Engineering Science Oxford · H100 | Required | Required | Required | Not sat for this course | Not sat for this course |
Physics Oxford · F303 | Required | Required | Required | Not sat for this course | Not sat for this course |
Physics and Philosophy Oxford · VF53 | Required | Required | Required | Not sat for this course | Not sat for this course |
 Natural Sciences Cambridge · BCF0 Cambridge Natural Sciences sits Maths 1 plus any two from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics 2 — pick the two that match the NatSci pathway you intend to follow. | Required | Optional — you may choose this paper | Optional — you may choose this paper | Optional — you may choose this paper | Optional — you may choose this paper |
Engineering Cambridge · H100 | Required | Required | Required | Not sat for this course | Not sat for this course |
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Cambridge · H810 Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology sits Maths 1 plus any two from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics 2. Chemistry + Physics (or Chemistry + Maths 2) are the most common choices. Note: Biology is only offered in the October sitting. | Required | Optional — you may choose this paper | Optional — you may choose this paper | Optional — you may choose this paper | Optional — you may choose this paper |
Veterinary Medicine Cambridge · D100 Cambridge Veterinary Medicine sits Maths 1 plus any two from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics 2. Cambridge recommends Biology and Chemistry given the course’s A-Level requirements. | Required | Optional — you may choose this paper | Optional — you may choose this paper | Optional — you may choose this paper | Optional — you may choose this paper |
 Chemical Engineering Imperial · H801 | Required | Required | Not sat for this course | Required | Not sat for this course |
Required — you sit this paper○Optional — you may choose this paperNot sat for this course
Where a course shows multiple ○, you choose the specified number from those papers — see the note under the course name.
02Section 02
Test format
02
Section 02
Test format
The ESAT is computer-based at authorised UAT-UK / Pearson VUE test centres. Candidates sit three 40-minute papers: Mathematics 1, plus two chosen subject papers from Mathematics 2, Physics, Chemistry, or Biology.
There is no negative marking. Question content draws from A-Level / IB Higher Level science and mathematics specifications, but problems test reasoning beyond rote recall.
Total time at the test centre is approximately 2 hours including admin. Verify the precise per-paper combination required by your course on the official UAT-UK ESAT page.
Two chosen papers from Mathematics 2 / Physics / Chemistry / Biology
- Duration
- 40 min each
- Format
- Multiple choice
Total duration: 2 hours of testing (3 × 40-minute papers)
03Section 03
Scoring & score distribution
03
Section 03
Scoring & score distribution
Each paper is reported as a scaled score on the UAT-UK 1.0–9.0 scale. Universities receive each paper score and use them according to their own published admissions process.
There is no universal pass mark. Cambridge and Imperial use the score in different ways for different courses; check the published policy for your specific course rather than chasing a single competitive figure.
Score distribution
Modal score: 4.0 · ~10% of candidates score above 7.0
All candidatesCambridge / Imperial competitive (≥ 7.0)
What each band means
| Band | What it means |
|---|---|
| 7.0+ | Top decile per paper~Top 10% |
| 6.0+ | Strong~Top 30% |
| 5.0+ | Average~Median |
| <5.0 | Below thresholdBelow avg |
04Section 04
Your preparation journey
04
Section 04
Your preparation journey
Most ESAT success follows the same arc: understand the specification, build fluency on old papers, sharpen on the hardest questions, simulate the latest exam, then sit it.
- 1
Master the specification
Read the official ESAT specification end-to-end, then check it against what you've covered at school. Any topic that's listed but not yet covered is the first thing to learn — every question on the test sits inside this list.
- 2
Build fluency on old papers
Work through past papers from the oldest first and move forwards through the cycle. Keep the most recent 5 papers untouched for the final week before your exam — they're the closest match to the real difficulty.
- 3
Sharpen on the hardest questions
Most past papers contain 2–3 questions that consistently trip students up. Our ESAT question bank is built around those — extra drills on the difficult question types plus the time-efficiency methods that turn a borderline score into a top one.
Access the question bank → - 4
Sit the specimen papers
Sit the latest specimen and most-recent real papers under exam conditions in the final week. These are the closest indicator of the real exam's difficulty — don't waste them early.
- 5
Sit the exam
Confirm logistics the day before — ID, allowed materials, travel — and sit the test. By this point the work is done; exam day is about delivery, not new learning.
- 1
Master the specification
Read the official ESAT specification end-to-end, then check it against what you've covered at school. Any topic that's listed but not yet covered is the first thing to learn — every question on the test sits inside this list.
- 2
Build fluency on old papers
Work through past papers from the oldest first and move forwards through the cycle. Keep the most recent 5 papers untouched for the final week before your exam — they're the closest match to the real difficulty.
- 3
Sharpen on the hardest questions
Most past papers contain 2–3 questions that consistently trip students up. Our ESAT question bank is built around those — extra drills on the difficult question types plus the time-efficiency methods that turn a borderline score into a top one.
Access the question bank → - 4
Sit the specimen papers
Sit the latest specimen and most-recent real papers under exam conditions in the final week. These are the closest indicator of the real exam's difficulty — don't waste them early.
- 5
Sit the exam
Confirm logistics the day before — ID, allowed materials, travel — and sit the test. By this point the work is done; exam day is about delivery, not new learning.
05Section 05
Common mistakes to avoid
05
Section 05
Common mistakes to avoid
- Starting timed practice too late. Most score plateaus aren't a knowledge problem — they're a pacing problem. Time yourself from week one, not just in the final month.
- Burning the most recent papers early. The newest specimen and live papers are the only honest indicator of the real exam's difficulty. Keep at least 5 untouched for the final week.
- Reviewing wrong answers passively. Skimming the mark scheme isn't a fix. For every error, write out (a) the exact wrong reasoning, (b) the correct method, and (c) the cue you missed.
- Spending too long on hard questions. Every minute on a stuck question is a minute not banked on three easier ones. Practise an explicit "skip and return" rule from your first timed paper.
- Ignoring the optional papers / module choice. For multi-paper tests, check which papers your specific course requires before you start prepping — a course-mismatched plan loses weeks.
- Algebra under time pressure. Maths 2 questions have at least one elegant route. Bashing through algebra leaves you 4–5 questions short.
- Physics formula recall. Derivations cost 90 seconds you don't have. Top scorers recognise the formula in <10 seconds.
Common ESAT mistakes are time-sinking on individual questions, treating the test like an A-Level paper rather than a multiple-choice speed test, and over-investing in one paper at the expense of the others.
A specialist tutor can identify which question types are leaking marks and build a focused drill plan. The fastest gains come from practising under strict time conditions from the first week.
06Section 06
Practice resources
06
Section 06
Practice resources
Official ESAT specimen materials are published on the UAT-UK website; these are the closest representation of real exam content.
Past NSAA (Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment) and ENGAA (Engineering Admissions Assessment) papers remain valuable supplementary practice — the ESAT directly replaced these tests with similar style and difficulty.
For Mathematics 1 and 2, supplementary problem-solving from MAT past papers and the STEP Support Programme builds the reasoning depth ESAT rewards.
Oxbridge Mentors exclusive
Access our exclusive ESAT question bank
Built by tutors who scored highly on the ESAT — the hardest historic questions, focused drills, and time-efficiency methods for the trickiest question types.
Official past papers
Official past papers are published on the board's own site. Our own worked solutions are being added on a rolling basis.
07Section 07
Registration & logistics
07
Section 07
Registration & logistics
ESAT is registered through the UAT-UK booking system via an authorised test centre — your school or, for private candidates, a Pearson VUE centre.
For the 2027-entry UAT-UK cycle, account creation and registration opens 1 June 2026, booking opens 20 July 2026, and booking closes 28 September 2026. The main test window is 12–16 October 2026, with results released on 16 November 2026. Verify these dates on the official UAT-UK page before booking.
You will need a valid passport or accepted government-issued photo ID matching the name on your UCAS application.
Official registration page
Register and check the latest test windows directly with the test board — links change every cycle, so always confirm here.
08Section 08
International applicants
08
Section 08
International applicants
Chinese applicants
A highly competitive UK applicant pool — the test is a major shortlisting input
Chinese applicants compete in one of the most intensive UK applicant pools at Oxbridge and Imperial. None of the test providers publish a pass/fail score — scores are read alongside the rest of the application — so there is no specific cut-off we can guarantee. What we can say from observed cohorts: top Chinese applicants cluster in the upper percentiles, and the ESAT is one of the most influential non-academic signals in shortlisting at oversubscribed courses. The realistic target is therefore not the published minimum but the upper-percentile band for your course.
All other international applicants
The bar remains high — aim for the top band
For applicants from outside China the effective bar at Oxbridge and Imperial is still well above the published minimums. At oversubscribed courses, top universities are choosing between strong files, and a competitive ESAT score is one of the clearer differentiators. We do not publish a specific cut-off (the test providers do not publish one either) — but the realistic target for a serious application is the upper percentile band rather than the published minimum.
Logistics for international test-takers (centres, ID, deadlines)
International applicants sit the ESAT at the same UAT-UK / Pearson VUE network used by UK candidates. Centres exist across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.
Test slots fill fastest in countries with high UK-applicant volumes. Book within the first week of the booking window opening to secure a convenient centre.
Universities apply the same scoring scale to international and domestic candidates. There is no international discount or penalty on score thresholds.
09Section 09
How This Test Compares to Its Predecessor
09
Section 09
How This Test Compares to Its Predecessor
Side-by-side with NSAA, ENGAA, PAT — what changed, what didn't, and what that means for preparation.
Dimension
ESAT
NSAA / ENGAA / PAT
Format
3 × 40-min modules, all multiple choice (5-module universe; you sit Maths 1 + 2 chosen)
NSAA: 2 papers; ENGAA: 2 papers
Total duration
~2 hours of testing (plus admin)
NSAA: 2h; ENGAA: 2h
Scoring
1.0–9.0 per module, scaled
NSAA/ENGAA: 1.0–9.0 per section
Negative marking
No
No
Subject coverage
Maths 1 (compulsory) + two from Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Maths 2
NSAA: Phys/Chem/Bio + Maths; ENGAA: Maths + Mechanics
Centre
Pearson VUE (computer-based)
School-based, paper
Where This Test Takes You
Top university-subject combinations that depend on the ESAT — open the relevant subject guide for entry requirements, interview format, and tutoring tailored to that course.
University of Cambridge
Chemical Engineering
Open subject guide
University of Cambridge
Engineering
Open subject guide
University of Cambridge
Natural Sciences
Open subject guide
University of Cambridge
Veterinary Medicine
Open subject guide
Imperial College London
Aeronautical Engineering
Open subject guide
Imperial College London
Biochemistry
Open subject guide
Imperial College London
Biological Sciences
Open subject guide
Imperial College London
Chemical Engineering
Open subject guide
Watch & Learn
Helpful ESAT Videos
Engineering and science admission test | ESAT | ESAT UK | physics | preparation | sample question and practice question | video no 01
A public ESAT-focused explainer that helps students see the style of questions and the overall format before starting serious timed practice.
What is the ESAT? Key Information for 2025-2026 | Vantage Admissions
A useful overview video for understanding what the ESAT is, who takes it, and how applicants should think about preparation.
Pearson VUE Exam Day Experience
Helpful for understanding the check-in process and what a Pearson VUE test-centre experience feels like before test day.
A-Level Maths: E5-03 [Trigonometric Identities: Simplifying Trigonometric Expressions]
A strong TLMaths-style example of the kind of fast topic repair students often need when patching weak A-level maths areas for ESAT.
A-Level Maths: E1-08 [Trigonometry: Using the Sine Rule]
Good for rebuilding fluency in core A-level maths methods that show up in time-pressured admissions-test work.
All videos are the property of their respective creators.
Further Reading
Recommended Resources
Website
UAT-UK ESAT Overview
by UAT-UK
The main official ESAT page covering format, sittings, registration links, fees, and candidate guidance.
Website
UAT-UK Prepare
by UAT-UK
The official preparation hub with guidance on how to prepare, test specifications, and sample materials.
Website
ESAT Preparation Materials
by UAT-UK
The best official source for the ESAT guide, sample materials, and archived ENGAA and NSAA-style papers.
Website
Cambridge ESAT Admissions Page
by University of Cambridge
Official Cambridge guidance on who must sit ESAT, which modules different applicants take, and how Cambridge treats the test.
Website
UCL Tests, Tasks and Interviews
by UCL
Official UCL page confirming that ESAT is required for Electronic and Electrical Engineering and outlining the required module combination.
Website
Oxford Admissions Tests
by University of Oxford
Official Oxford guidance confirming that selected 2027-entry applicants will use ESAT and that full UAT-UK details will be published in April 2026.
Website
UCL ESAT for Electronic & Electrical Engineering Applicants
by UCL Faculty of Engineering
Useful extra detail on UCL's use of ESAT, including fees, sittings, access arrangements, and how the department uses the score.
Book
A-Level Maths Complete Revision & Practice
by CGP Books
A practical all-in-one revision book for students who need to strengthen core A-level maths topics before pushing into timed ESAT practice.
Book
A-Level Physics
by CGP Books
A useful starting point for students who need broad A-level physics revision support before focusing on admissions-test speed and accuracy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Relevant applicants to Cambridge, Imperial, and UCL may need ESAT, depending on course. Oxford has confirmed that it will use ESAT for selected courses from 2027 entry, including Biomedical Sciences, Engineering Science, Physics, and Physics & Philosophy.
No. Mathematics 1 is compulsory for everyone, but the other modules depend on the course and university. Cambridge Engineering candidates take Mathematics 1, Physics, and Mathematics 2, while other courses may allow or require different combinations.
For most candidates, ESAT lasts 120 minutes in total. That usually means three 40-minute modules taken back-to-back on the same day.
No. Wrong answers do not lose marks, so it is usually worth attempting every question.
No. ESAT has no pass-or-fail threshold. Universities use scores in context alongside the rest of the application.
No. Applicants may take the ESAT only once per UCAS admissions cycle, so you should plan your preparation and your preferred sitting carefully.
You sit ESAT at a Pearson VUE test centre. Results are usually released through your UAT-UK account about four weeks after your test date and are then matched automatically to relevant participating universities.