Classics Admissions Test (CAT): Complete Preparation Guide

What is the Classics Admissions Test?

The Classics Admissions Test (CAT) is a two-hour written examination designed to assess the aptitude and potential of candidates applying to read Classics, Ancient and Modern History, or related courses at Oxford University. Unlike standard A-level examinations, the CAT evaluates your ability to engage critically with classical texts, analyse unfamiliar material, and demonstrate the analytical thinking essential for undergraduate study in Classics.

The test focuses on your capacity to interpret, evaluate and respond to classical literature and historical sources, rather than testing factual knowledge. You'll work with passages presented both in the original language (with vocabulary support) and in translation, making the test accessible to candidates with varying levels of classical language experience.

Which Universities and Courses Require the CAT?

Currently, Oxford University is the primary institution requiring the CAT for specific undergraduate programmes. The test is compulsory for applicants to:

• Classics (Course I - four years including classical languages)
• Classics (Course II - four years for those starting or continuing one classical language)
• Classics and English
• Classics and Modern Languages
• Classics and Oriental Studies

The Ancient and Modern History course has its own separate admissions test. Candidates applying to study Classics at Cambridge or other universities should verify the specific entrance requirements for those institutions, which may differ considerably.

Why Universities Use the CAT

Oxford employs the CAT to identify candidates who possess the intellectual curiosity, analytical skills and critical thinking abilities required for rigorous undergraduate study in Classics. The test enables admissions tutors to:

• Assess your potential to engage with primary sources and complex texts
• Evaluate your capacity for close reading and textual analysis
• Determine your ability to construct coherent arguments from evidence
• Identify candidates who can think independently and creatively about classical material
• Differentiate between candidates with similar A-level predictions

The CAT provides a standardised measure across diverse educational backgrounds, ensuring fairness for applicants from different schools and countries who may have encountered varying curricula.

Test Format and Structure

The CAT comprises a single two-hour examination sat under formal conditions at your school or college, or at an authorised test centre. The paper contains two sections, and you must answer questions from both.

Section A: Language Questions

This section presents passages in Latin or Ancient Greek (or both, depending on your course choice), accompanied by comprehensive vocabulary and grammatical notes. Questions assess your ability to:

• Understand and translate short sections of text
• Analyse grammatical structures and literary techniques
• Comment on style, tone and meaning
• Interpret the author's intentions and rhetorical strategies

The passages are chosen to be accessible to candidates at different stages of language learning. Even if you're beginning a classical language or applying for Course II, you'll receive sufficient support to engage meaningfully with the text.

Section B: Translation and Analysis

Section B provides passages from classical literature in English translation. Questions require you to:

• Demonstrate close reading and textual comprehension
• Identify and analyse literary techniques and themes
• Compare different passages or authors
• Construct arguments supported by textual evidence
• Engage critically with the material presented

This section evaluates your capacity to think like a classicist, even without extensive prior knowledge of classical texts or history.

Materials and Conditions

You may bring pens and pencils to the examination. You will be provided with the question paper and answer booklet. Dictionaries, notes, electronic devices and calculators are not permitted. The test is handwritten, so clear, legible writing is essential.

Understanding Question Types

Translation Tasks

You'll encounter short sections of Latin or Greek text requiring translation into English. These aren't designed to trip you up with obscure vocabulary or complex syntax. Instead, examiners want to see that you can:

• Recognise grammatical forms and sentence structures
• Make sensible choices when words have multiple meanings
• Produce fluent, accurate English that captures the sense of the original
• Use the vocabulary lists and grammatical notes effectively

Commentary Questions

These questions ask you to comment on specific features of the text, such as literary devices, stylistic choices, or rhetorical techniques. Strong answers will:

• Identify the specific features accurately
• Explain their effect or purpose within the passage
• Support observations with precise textual reference
• Demonstrate understanding of how form contributes to meaning

Comparative Analysis

You may be asked to compare two passages, examining similarities, differences, or contrasting approaches to similar themes. Successful responses will:

• Structure comparison clearly and systematically
• Identify meaningful points of similarity and difference
• Support claims with specific evidence from both texts
• Develop a coherent argument rather than listing observations

Extended Essay Questions

Some questions invite longer, more discursive responses exploring themes, interpretations or arguments. Examiners look for:

• Clear thesis or argument
• Logical structure and development of ideas
• Effective use of evidence from the passages provided
• Critical engagement with the material
• Awareness of complexity and nuance

Scoring and Use in Admissions

The CAT is marked by Oxford classics tutors using detailed marking schemes. Examiners assess the quality of your analysis, the accuracy of your language work (where applicable), and your ability to construct reasoned arguments.

There is no published pass mark or minimum score requirement. Instead, your CAT performance forms one element of your overall application, considered alongside:

• Your UCAS personal statement
• Your academic reference
• Your predicted A-level or equivalent grades
• Any submitted written work
• Your interview performance

Strong CAT performance can significantly strengthen your application, whilst a weaker result doesn't necessarily preclude an offer, particularly if your interview and other application elements are compelling. The test helps tutors identify candidates who will thrive in Oxford's tutorial system, where you'll regularly analyse primary sources and defend interpretations in discussion with expert scholars.

Registration Process and Key Dates

Registration for the CAT occurs through your school or college, or through an authorised test centre if your school cannot accommodate the examination. The key timeline typically follows this pattern:

Early September: Registration opens. Your school's examinations officer must register you through the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing system. If you're applying independently, you'll need to find an authorised centre willing to administer the test.

Mid-October: Registration deadline (usually around 15th October, but verify annually). Late registration is not normally possible.

Early November: The CAT is administered on a specified date (typically early November), usually at 09:30 GMT. All candidates worldwide sit the test on the same day.

Mid-December: Oxford interviews take place. Your CAT script will have been marked and considered by tutors before your interview.

There is no fee for the CAT itself, though test centres may charge administration fees. Ensure you verify current deadlines each year, as dates can shift slightly.

Developing an Effective Preparation Strategy

Six Months Before the Test

If you're planning to take the CAT, ideally begin preparation during the spring or early summer preceding your application year. At this stage:

• Familiarise yourself with the test format and question types by reviewing specimen papers
• Strengthen your language skills if you're studying Latin or Greek, focusing on translation accuracy and grammatical analysis
• Develop close reading habits by analysing poetry and prose extracts in detail
• Read widely in classical literature, both in original languages and translation
• Practise constructing analytical arguments about texts

During this period, focus on building foundational skills rather than intensive test practice. Regular engagement with classical texts develops the analytical mindset examiners seek.

Three Months Before the Test

As summer ends and autumn begins, intensify your preparation:

• Complete at least two full practice papers under timed conditions
• Analyse your performance, identifying strengths and areas requiring development
• Focus revision on question types you find challenging
• Develop efficient time management strategies for the two-hour paper
• Practise writing clearly and concisely under time pressure
• Review common literary and rhetorical devices in classical literature

Working with a specialist tutor during this period can prove invaluable, as they can provide expert feedback on your responses and help you refine your analytical approach.

One Month Before the Test

In the final month, consolidate your preparation:

• Complete remaining practice papers, maintaining timed conditions
• Review examiner reports and specimen answers to understand what high-scoring responses contain
• Revise essential grammatical concepts for language questions
• Practise translations with vocabulary support similar to CAT format
• Ensure you're comfortable with the test's administrative requirements
• Maintain regular reading to keep your analytical skills sharp

Avoid cramming classical knowledge. The CAT tests skills and aptitude, not factual recall. Focus on honing your analytical and writing abilities.

Essential Skills to Develop

Successful CAT candidates typically excel in several key areas:

Close Reading: The ability to read texts carefully, noticing nuance, ambiguity and subtle meaning. Practise by analysing short passages in detail, questioning every word choice and stylistic decision.

Analytical Writing: The capacity to construct clear, logical arguments supported by textual evidence. Regularly practice writing brief analytical responses to classical texts, focusing on precision and coherence.

Critical Thinking: The skill of questioning interpretations, considering alternative readings, and evaluating evidence. Engage with literary criticism and develop the habit of questioning your own first impressions.

Time Management: The ability to allocate time appropriately across questions, ensuring you complete the paper whilst producing thoughtful responses. Practise full papers under timed conditions to develop this skill.

Language Competence: For those studying classical languages, solid grammatical knowledge and translation accuracy are essential. Regular translation practice, with attention to idiom and style, builds this competence.

Practise Resources and Materials

Official Past Papers

The University of Oxford publishes specimen papers and, occasionally, past CAT papers on the admissions testing website. These represent your most valuable preparation resource, as they're created by the same tutors who will mark your test. Work through all available papers, ideally under timed conditions.

Classical Texts for Practise

Reading classical authors widely builds the familiarity with style and genre that strengthens CAT performance. Recommended authors include:

• Latin: Virgil, Ovid, Cicero, Livy, Tacitus, Catullus
• Greek: Homer, Euripides, Sophocles, Herodotus, Thucydides, Sappho

Read both in original languages (at your level) and in translation, paying attention to literary techniques, themes and stylistic variation.

Academic Reading

Whilst the CAT doesn't test factual knowledge, reading academic introductions to classical literature develops the critical vocabulary and analytical frameworks useful for the test. Look for accessible scholarly works on Greek and Roman literature, focusing on close reading approaches rather than broad surveys.

Online Resources

The Oxford Classics Faculty website provides guidance for prospective applicants, including reading lists and advice. Various online platforms offer forums where applicants discuss preparation strategies, though treat advice from peers with appropriate caution.

How Taylor Tuition Prepares Students for the CAT

At Taylor Tuition, our CAT preparation programme is delivered by specialist tutors who are Oxbridge graduates with expertise in Classics and related disciplines. Our tutors understand the test intimately, many having sat it themselves and subsequently studied Classics at Oxford.

Our Structured Approach

We develop personalised preparation programmes tailored to each student's strengths, weaknesses and timeline. A typical programme includes:

• Initial diagnostic assessment to identify areas requiring development
• Targeted skill-building sessions focusing on close reading, analytical writing and critical thinking
• Language support for translation and grammatical analysis (for students studying Latin or Greek)
• Practise paper completion under timed conditions with detailed expert feedback
• Question-specific strategies for each CAT question type
• Mock test sessions replicating examination conditions

Expert Tutorial Support

Our tutors provide the individualised attention essential for developing sophisticated analytical skills. In one-to-one sessions, your tutor will:

• Work through practice questions together, modelling expert analytical approaches
• Provide detailed feedback on your written responses, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement
• Discuss interpretations and arguments, developing your critical thinking through dialogue
• Share insights into what Oxford tutors look for in strong candidates
• Build your confidence in engaging with unfamiliar classical texts

Mock Test Practise

We conduct full-length mock CAT examinations under conditions replicating the actual test. Your responses are marked using Oxford's criteria, with comprehensive feedback identifying specific areas for development. This experience proves invaluable for time management, exam technique and building confidence.

Integration with Broader Application Support

CAT preparation doesn't exist in isolation. Our tutors coordinate with your wider Oxford application preparation, ensuring consistency between your personal statement, submitted written work, CAT performance and interview preparation. This holistic approach maximises your chances of presenting a compelling, coherent application.

Flexible Scheduling

We recognise that students preparing for the CAT are managing demanding A-level courses alongside their application. Our tutorial scheduling is flexible, accommodating your academic commitments and personal circumstances. Whether you begin preparation six months before the test or require intensive support in the final weeks, we tailor our programme to your timeline.

Begin Your CAT Preparation

If you're considering applying to Oxford for Classics or related courses, early preparation significantly enhances your prospects. Our specialist tutors can assess your current level, develop a personalised preparation strategy, and provide the expert guidance essential for performing at your best.

To discuss your CAT preparation requirements and explore how Taylor Tuition can support your application, please visit our enquiry page. We look forward to helping you demonstrate your full potential.