UK University Admissions Tests
Past papers, specimen papers, and preparation resources for the admissions tests used by Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College London, UCL, and other top UK universities.
Available Tests
ESAT
AvailableEngineering and Science Admissions Test
Tests Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. 27 MCQs per subtest, 40 minutes each. Take Maths 1 (compulsory) plus two chosen subtests.
TMUA
AvailableTest of Mathematics for University Admission
Assesses mathematical reasoning for Maths, Computer Science, and Economics courses. Two papers of 20 MCQs each, based on AS-level pure maths and Higher GCSE maths.
UCAT
Resources ComingUniversity Clinical Aptitude Test
Required for Medicine and Dentistry applications. Tests Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Situational Judgement.
TARA
AvailableTest of Academic Reasoning for Admissions
Non-subject-specific test of reasoning skills required for undergraduate study. Replaces Oxford's TSA for Humanities and Social Sciences courses.
LNAT
Resources ComingLaw National Aptitude Test
Required for Law courses at top UK universities. Section A tests comprehension with MCQs; Section B requires an argumentative essay.
Not sure which test you need?
Pick your course and your target university to see the required tests, typical offer level, and how to prepare. Covers 5 STEM courses across 11 top UK universities.
Open the test finderApplying from CIE? Read the subject-by-subject guides.
Cambridge International A-Level applicants face a different set of admissions decisions than UK A-Level students. Our Study in UK guides cover the full picture for Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Engineering: top universities, typical offers, CIE subject choices that matter, and the common mistakes.
Open the Study in UK hubAdjacent Past Paper Archives
Oxford's MAT and PAT were replaced for 2027 entry, and Cambridge's STEP is still in use. Their past papers remain the largest pool of Cambridge / Oxford / Imperial-grade practice questions available, and are the closest direct preparation for the TMUA, ESAT, and Cambridge STEP offers.
MAT
Retired 202619 years of Oxford MAT past papers (2007 to 2025) with official solutions. The largest source of TMUA-grade MCQ practice outside the TMUA itself.
STEP
ActiveCambridge STEP 2 and STEP 3 (2019 to 2025) with detailed worked solutions, the STEP question database (1986 to 2018), and the official Cambridge STEP Support Programme.
PAT
Retired 202618 Oxford PAT past papers (2006 to 2023). Closest direct match for ESAT Physics preparation outside the NSAA archive.
The UAT-UK System
Since 2024, UK university admissions tests have been consolidating under UAT-UK (University Admissions Tests UK), a collaboration between Cambridge and Imperial College London. Tests are taken on computer at Pearson VUE test centres worldwide, offered twice per year in October and January.
Deciding where to apply? Compare graduate outcomes, acceptance rates, and rankings for UK universities on CampusQuant, our companion site for UK university data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which admissions test do I need?
It depends on your course: ESAT for Engineering, Natural Sciences, Chemical Engineering, and Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge/Imperial/Oxford. TMUA for Mathematics, Computer Science, and Economics. UCAT for Medicine and Dentistry. TARA for various UCL and Oxford courses. LNAT for Law. Always check your university's specific requirements.
When are the tests held?
The UAT-UK tests (ESAT, TMUA, TARA) run in two windows per cycle and you sit one window, not both. For 2027 entry: the October window is 12–16 October 2026 (candidates in China, Hong Kong and Macau have fixed days within each window), with booking open 20 July to 28 September 2026; the January window is 4–8 January 2027, with booking open from 28 October to 21 December 2026 (closes 6pm UK time). Cambridge and Oxford applicants must sit the October window, with limited exceptions. UCAT runs over the summer before you apply and LNAT from autumn to winter; both set their own dates, so check their official sites for this cycle. UAT-UK key dates →
Where do these dates come from?
Every date on this page comes from the organisation that runs the test, not from us:
- ESAT, TMUA and TARA sitting windows, booking windows, results dates and fees come from UAT-UK. Key dates →
- The 15 October application deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and for medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses comes from UCAS. UCAS dates and deadlines →
- UCAT test windows and format come from UCAT. Official UCAT site →
Dates and fees can change, so check the official pages before you book. You book and pay for the test yourself through your UAT-UK account, and sit it at a Pearson VUE test centre. Your school is only involved if you need a letter for access arrangements. Check each university's course page for which test it requires.
How much do the tests cost?
UAT-UK tests cost around £78 in the UK/Ireland and £133 internationally. UCAT costs £70 in the UK and £115 outside it (2026). LNAT costs £75 (UK) or £120 (international). Bursary schemes are available for eligible candidates.
What happened to MAT, PAT, and TSA?
Oxford discontinued its own admissions tests from 2027 entry (the tests sat in October 2026). The MAT (Maths) is replaced by TMUA, the PAT (Physics) by ESAT, and the TSA (Thinking Skills) by TARA. Past papers from the old tests remain the best practice material. See the dedicated archives: MAT past papers (2007 to 2025) for TMUA prep, and PAT past papers (2006 to 2023) for ESAT Physics prep. NSAA and ENGAA papers — also linked from the ESAT page — remain the closest format match for ESAT.
Can I use NSAA/ENGAA past papers to prepare for ESAT?
Yes — NSAA and ENGAA are the best practice resources for ESAT. The ESAT specification is closely aligned with NSAA Section 1, and UAT-UK publishes these papers as ESAT preparation material, marking any questions that fall outside the ESAT specification. For ESAT Mathematics 2, TMUA past papers are also excellent practice.
Also Available
A-Level Past Papers
Cambridge A-Level papers for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Maths. Build the subject knowledge tested in ESAT and TMUA.
IGCSE Past Papers
Cambridge IGCSE papers for 11+ subjects. Strong IGCSE foundations help with admissions test preparation.