Status
Discontinued
Replaced by TARA from 2026 entry
Preparation Guide
Physics Aptitude Test (Restructured) Preparation Guide
Format, scoring, key dates, strategy, and expert preparation support.
Discontinued
The PAT was discontinued in 2023 (last sitting for 2024 entry (in legacy form)).
PAT has undergone significant changes. Verify current Oxford Physics test requirements directly with the department.
Now replaced by: ESAT
PAT at a Glance
Replaced by
TARA
New unified Oxford test
Final cycle
2025 entry
Used by
Oxford Physics / Engineering (legacy)
Key Dates & Deadlines
Restructured / partial discontinuation
Test Status
Verify the current Oxford Physics test requirement directly with the department.
Restructured / partial discontinuation
Test Status
Verify the current Oxford Physics test requirement directly with the department.
The PAT (Physics Aptitude Test) was Oxford's admissions test for Physics, Engineering Science, and Materials Science. It was changed in 2023 — verify the current format with the Oxford admissions website, as the test has been restructured and elements may eventually be replaced by Oxford's broader TARA framework.
The PAT (Physics Aptitude Test) was Oxford's admissions test for Physics, Engineering Science, and Materials Science. It was changed in 2023 — verify the current format with the Oxford admissions website, as the test has been restructured and may eventually be replaced by Oxford's broader TARA framework for some courses.
If you are applying for an Oxford Physics-family course, check the Oxford department's admissions page directly for the current required test. The PAT in its previous form is no longer the canonical assessment for these courses.
Past PAT papers remain valuable practice material for Oxford physics interviews and for ESAT Physics preparation, since the underlying skill set (problem-solving in mechanics, optics, electricity, waves, and thermal physics) is shared.
01Section 01
Scoring, Bands & What Universities Look For
01
Section 01
Scoring, Bands & What Universities Look For
PAT scoring in its previous form is no longer the active shortlisting metric for Oxford Physics-family courses.
For current scoring information, refer to whichever test is now required by your course (verify directly with Oxford admissions).
02Section 02
Preparation Strategy
02
Section 02
Preparation Strategy
PAT-style preparation — solving unfamiliar physics problems with A-Level-level tools, drawing free-body diagrams, and reasoning through ratios and limits — remains directly relevant for Oxford physics interview preparation.
Past PAT papers from 2007 onwards are freely available on the Oxford Physics Department website and remain a high-value resource for any Oxford physics applicant.
03Section 03
How This Test Compares to Its Predecessor
03
Section 03
How This Test Compares to Its Predecessor
Side-by-side with — what changed, what didn't, and what that means for preparation.
Dimension
PAT
Replaced test
Status
Use TARA
PAT (discontinued)
Format
Critical thinking + analytical reasoning (computer-based)
Maths + Physics, multi-step calculation paper
Duration
TBC (TARA first cycle 2026)
2 hours
Scoring
TBC
Out of 100
Subject focus
Cross-subject reasoning
Maths + Physics specifically