Key Facts
| Format | Computer-based, multiple-choice modules of 40 minutes each, 27 questions per module, sat back-to-back with no calculator. |
|---|---|
| Modules required | A compulsory Mathematics 1 module plus further modules set by the course; most candidates sit 3 modules, 120 minutes total. |
| Scoring | Each module scored 1.0 to 9.0 to one decimal place, with no pass mark; the October sitting's median is fixed at 4.5. |
| Sittings | Two sittings each cycle, one in October and one in January; most Oxford and Cambridge applicants use the October sitting. |
| Who requires it | Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College London and UCL require the ESAT for specific engineering, physics and science courses. |
| Booking | Registration is via a UAT-UK account, separate from UCAS, with tests sat at Pearson test centres worldwide. |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
The ESAT exam is the Engineering and Science Admissions Test, a computer-based, multiple-choice exam used by Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College London and UCL alongside predicted grades and a personal statement for entry to engineering, physics and natural sciences degrees. UAT-UK, a not-for-profit body run jointly by Imperial and Cambridge, owns and administers the test and delivers it at Pearson test centres worldwide. Every candidate sits a compulsory mathematics module plus further modules set by their course, with the university deciding the exact combination for each degree.
Which modules a given course requires, how scores are reported and when candidates must register all vary by university and subject, so applicants should check their own course page, since no single combination applies across every engineering or science course. This guide sets out the module requirements confirmed on the official UAT-UK, Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial pages, how each module is timed, how results reach universities ahead of the UCAS deadline that applies to these courses, and where official specimen material is available for practice.
What is the ESAT and who runs it?
UAT-UK is the not-for-profit organisation that owns and manages the ESAT, run as a joint venture between Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge to give competitive engineering and science courses a shared admissions test. Pearson delivers the test on UAT-UK's behalf through its worldwide network of test centres, and candidates register and book through a UAT-UK online account, separate from UCAS. UAT-UK also owns two related tests, the Test of Mathematics for University Admission and the Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions, though neither falls within engineering, physics or natural sciences admissions specifically.
Which Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial courses require the ESAT?
Each university publishes its own list of courses that require the ESAT: Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College London and UCL each require it for specific engineering, physics or science courses, not across every course in those subjects, so applicants should check their own course page before assuming it applies. Applicants to any university not named here should check that university's course page directly, since requirements and module combinations vary.
- Cambridge: Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Natural Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine
- Oxford: Engineering Science, Physics, Physics and Philosophy, and Biomedical Sciences; Materials Science, which previously used Oxford's own Physics Aptitude Test, now requires no admissions test at all
- Imperial: Aeronautics, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Dyson School of Design Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Life Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics
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Enquire about this tutorWhich modules does each course require?
Every ESAT candidate sits Mathematics 1, a compulsory module, and then further modules that depend entirely on the course applied for, with no course allowing candidates to choose their own combination freely.
- Cambridge Engineering: Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics
- Cambridge Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Cambridge Natural Sciences, and Cambridge Veterinary Medicine: Mathematics 1 plus two further modules chosen from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2, according to the subjects the applicant intends to pursue
- Oxford Engineering Science, Physics, and Physics and Philosophy: Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics
- Imperial Aeronautics, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics: Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics
- Imperial Chemical Engineering: Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Chemistry
- Imperial Dyson School of Design Engineering: Mathematics 1 and Mathematics 2 only, with no third module
- Imperial Life Sciences: Mathematics 1, Chemistry and Biology
How is each module structured and timed?
Each ESAT module lasts 40 minutes and contains 27 multiple-choice questions, sat on screen under timed conditions with no calculator permitted and only an erasable booklet or whiteboard, provided by the test centre, for working. Modules are timed independently, so time left over from one module cannot be carried into the next. Most candidates sit Mathematics 1 plus two further modules, three modules in total lasting 120 minutes, though Imperial's Dyson School of Design Engineering candidates sit only two modules, 80 minutes in total, since that course does not require a third. Applicants planning to include Biology should also note that, on Cambridge's own course pages, this module is offered only at the autumn sitting.
How are ESAT results reported and used?
Each module is scored on a scale from 1, the lowest, to 9, the highest, reported to one decimal place, with no pass or fail threshold set for the test as a whole. Scores are based solely on correct answers, so there is no penalty for an incorrect or unanswered question. How the score feeds into a decision differs by university: Oxford's Department of Physics describes the ESAT score as its primary shortlisting criterion for interview, interpreted alongside contextual data about the candidate, while Cambridge describes the result as fitting into the rest of the application without publishing a fixed weighting, and Imperial confirms only that there is no pass or fail.
When are the test sittings, and how does registration relate to the UCAS deadline?
UAT-UK runs two ESAT sittings each year, one in the autumn and one in January, to accommodate different university deadlines. Registration is made directly with UAT-UK through a Pearson account and is entirely separate from the UCAS application itself, so submitting a UCAS form does not register a candidate for the test. Most Cambridge and Oxford applicants to these courses must use the autumn sitting, since that is the one whose results reach universities before the UCAS deadline that applies to their course; Cambridge allows mature applicants to use the January sitting instead, and Oxford gives its Foundation Year applicants the choice of either. Any access arrangements or bursary application must be confirmed before booking opens, well ahead of the sitting itself.
How should students prepare using official specimen material?
UAT-UK's own website is the place to prepare for the ESAT, since it publishes the only specimen and practice material the test-setters have endorsed. This includes a content specification and guide setting out the mathematics and science, drawn from GCSE and A-level study, that the test covers; free specimen tests with explained answers; timed practice tests; and an archive of past papers, including legacy papers whose question style overlaps with the ESAT. UAT-UK notes that candidates should not expect their ESAT performance to mirror school exam results, since the test is designed to be challenging enough to differentiate strongly able applicants, and it does not endorse any commercial coaching provider.
Which older tests did the ESAT replace, and what mistakes do applicants commonly make?
The ESAT succeeded several predecessor tests. At Cambridge it succeeds the Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment and the Engineering Admissions Assessment; at Oxford it succeeds the Physics Aptitude Test for Engineering Science, Physics and Physics and Philosophy. Oxford's Materials Science course, which also used the Physics Aptitude Test, had its admissions test requirement removed entirely, with no transfer to the ESAT.
- Registering for a module combination that fits a different course, since Imperial's own courses require different third modules from each other
- Forgetting that ESAT registration is made directly with UAT-UK through Pearson, separate from the UCAS application
- Assuming the Biology module is available at both sittings, when Cambridge's course pages note it is offered only in the autumn
- Leaving an access arrangements or bursary application until after booking opens, when confirmation is required in advance
- Applying to courses at different universities with conflicting fixed module combinations without checking whether a further module needs separate permission from UAT-UK
Oxford Biomedical Sciences and UCL ESAT requirements
Oxford requires the ESAT for Biomedical Sciences alongside its engineering and physics courses, with candidates sitting Mathematics 1 plus any two further modules chosen from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2, the same module structure Cambridge sets for Natural Sciences. UCL requires the ESAT for Electronic and Electrical Engineering, in both its BEng and MEng forms, with the same Mathematics 1 plus any two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2 structure. UCL does not require the ESAT for its other engineering or science courses, so applicants to any other UCL degree should check that course's own entry requirements page.
- Oxford Biomedical Sciences: Mathematics 1 plus two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics 2
- UCL Electronic and Electrical Engineering (BEng and MEng): Mathematics 1 plus two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics 2
Engineering applicants can strengthen their application well before sitting the ESAT by taking up super-curricular activities for engineering that show sustained interest in the subject.
Natural Sciences and Biomedical Sciences applicants preparing for the ESAT's Biology and Chemistry modules can draw on science super-curricular activities to show depth beyond the school curriculum.
Since ESAT scores feed into decisions that vary by course, it helps to check Cambridge acceptance rates by subject when weighing how competitive an Engineering or Natural Sciences application is.
Applicants comparing their chances across institutions can review Oxford acceptance rates by subject alongside their ESAT preparation to set realistic expectations for Engineering Science or Physics.
Booking the ESAT and what happens on test day
Applicants register for the ESAT by creating an account directly with UAT-UK, separate from any UCAS application, then book a test date and a Pearson test centre once the booking window opens.
Each candidate needs photo ID matching their UAT-UK account to sit the test. The centre provides an erasable whiteboard or booklet for working, since no calculator, dictionary or personal paper is allowed into the room, and the modules run back-to-back on the same visit.
How ESAT scores are calculated and used
Each module's raw score is converted using a statistical model that accounts for how difficult each question was, producing a scaled score from 1.0 to 9.0 reported to one decimal place. The scale is fixed so that a typical candidate's result sits at the median, which UAT-UK sets at 4.5, with no pass mark and no published grade boundaries. How heavily that scaled score counts toward an interview invitation or offer varies by course and department, so applicants should check their course's own admissions page for how it is used.
Official ESAT preparation materials
UAT-UK's ESAT Guide is the only preparation material the test-setters have endorsed, setting out the GCSE and A-level mathematics and science the test draws on alongside free specimen tests with worked answers and timed practice tests that mirror the real format. Candidates can also use UAT-UK's archive of legacy papers from the tests the ESAT replaced. The Engineering Admissions Assessment and Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment follow a different format from the current ESAT, though their mathematics and science content still overlaps enough to make them useful additional practice once the official specimen papers are exhausted.
University admissions support from Taylor Tuition
Families preparing a Cambridge or Oxford engineering application alongside the ESAT often look for Oxbridge application support that covers the personal statement and interview preparation as well as the test itself.
Applicants who work with us on university admissions usually start in the spring or summer before they apply, which leaves time for admissions-test practice, personal statement drafts and mock interviews to build on each other. Our tutors, who include graduates of Russell Group universities including Oxford and Cambridge alongside experienced exam-board examiners, plan the work around the course's actual requirements and the deadlines that apply.
Sessions run online for families across the UK and internationally, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check, and families receive progress reports after sessions.
Read more about our ESAT tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Oxford Materials Science require the ESAT?
- No. Oxford's Department of Materials states on its own admissions page that there is no longer a requirement to take an admissions test for entry to Materials Science, so applicants to that course do not sit the ESAT even though Oxford's Engineering Science, Physics, and Physics and Philosophy courses do. Materials Science previously used Oxford's own Physics Aptitude Test, which has been withdrawn without a replacement test for this course.
- Can a candidate choose which ESAT modules to sit?
- No. Mathematics 1 is compulsory for everyone; the course applied for fixes the further modules, leaving the candidate no choice in them. Cambridge Natural Sciences and Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology applicants pick two further modules from a set list according to their intended subjects, but most other courses, including Cambridge Engineering and Oxford's Engineering Science and Physics courses, specify an exact combination that all applicants must sit.
- Is there a pass mark for the ESAT?
- No. UAT-UK reports a score from 1 to 9, to one decimal place, for each module taken, and states plainly that there is no pass or fail threshold. The score reflects the number of correct answers only, with no penalty for an incorrect or unanswered question, and universities interpret the resulting scores alongside the rest of an application, without a fixed cut-off.
- Is ESAT registration part of the UCAS application?
- No. Candidates register for the ESAT directly with UAT-UK through a Pearson account, entirely separate from their UCAS form, and must arrange this registration themselves; their UCAS application does not do it for them. UAT-UK sends results to the universities named on a candidate's UCAS application automatically once testing is complete, but the booking and sitting of the test sit outside the UCAS process.
- Do all Cambridge Natural Sciences applicants sit the same ESAT modules?
- No. Cambridge's own ESAT page states that Natural Sciences applicants sit the compulsory Mathematics 1 module plus two further modules chosen from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2, selected according to the subjects they intend to pursue. This differs from Cambridge Engineering, where every applicant sits the same fixed combination of Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics.
- Does Oxford require the ESAT?
- Oxford requires the ESAT for Engineering Science, Physics, Physics and Philosophy and Biomedical Sciences, and UAT-UK's current course list also names its Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Information and Mechanical Engineering degrees, each with Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics. Every other Oxford course uses a different UAT-UK test (TMUA or TARA), the UCAT, the LNAT, or no admissions test, so applicants should check their course page.
- Does UCL require the ESAT?
- UCL requires the ESAT for its Electronic and Electrical Engineering BEng and MEng courses, where candidates sit Mathematics 1 plus any two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2. No other UCL engineering or science course currently requires the ESAT, so applicants to any other UCL degree should check that course's own admissions page.
- How much does the ESAT cost?
- UAT-UK sets a registration fee for the ESAT, with a lower rate for candidates testing in the UK and Ireland and a higher rate for candidates testing elsewhere. UAT-UK publishes the exact amount on its own booking pages, so applicants should confirm the current fee before registering.
- What is a good ESAT score?
- UAT-UK does not publish grade boundaries or a pass mark for the ESAT, so there is no single figure that counts as a good score. The scale is set so that a typical candidate's result sits at the median, which UAT-UK fixes at 4.5, so a score noticeably above that reflects stronger relative performance.
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