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Admissions tests

Admissions Test Preparation

The tests have changed. Our preparation keeps pace.

Most competitive UK courses now select with a computer-based admissions test sat in the autumn of Year 13/Grade 12. The landscape was redrawn between and , and much of the advice online is out of date. Below is the current picture, and how we prepare you for it. For a full admissions package that includes test preparation, see our Support Plans. Applying to Oxford or Cambridge? See our Oxbridge application support.

01

The current tests

entry

ESAT

Engineering and Science

The Engineering and Science Admissions Test. Cambridge sciences including Natural Sciences, Engineering and Veterinary Medicine; Oxford Physics, Engineering Science and Biomedical Sciences; most Imperial engineering and science courses; UCL Electronic and Electrical Engineering. Sat at Pearson VUE centres in October, with a January sitting for some non-standard routes.

TMUA

Mathematics

The Test of Mathematics for University Admission. Mathematics, Computer Science and Economics at Cambridge; Mathematics and Computer Science at Oxford, where it replaces the MAT; Imperial computing and mathematics; LSE Economics; Warwick Mathematics and Computer Science; UCL Economics; recommended at Durham.

TARA

Academic Reasoning

The Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions, new from . Oxford’s test for PPE, Economics and Management, Experimental Psychology, Human Sciences and related courses, replacing the TSA. Also used by UCL for Computer Science and some engineering courses.

UCAT

Medicine and Dentistry

The University Clinical Aptitude Test, used for Medicine and Dentistry across the UK, including Oxford and Cambridge. The BMAT no longer exists. One sitting per candidate, taken in a summer window before the UCAS deadline.

LNAT

Law

The Law National Aptitude Test. Law at Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, KCL, LSE, Durham, Bristol, Glasgow and SOAS. Oxford and Cambridge applicants sit it by mid-October.

At interview

Cambridge assessments

Many Cambridge arts and social science courses set a college assessment at interview instead of a pre-registered test, including English, History, Geography, HSPS, MML and Philosophy. No advance registration is needed. Oxford no longer sets written tests for Modern Languages, Classics, History or English; those abilities are assessed at interview.

02

Registration matters as much as revision

  • UCAT: registration opened on ; testing ran from to
  • ESAT, TMUA and TARA: booking for the October sitting ( to ) opened on and closed on at 6pm BST; results are released on . The January sitting runs from to , with booking from to (6pm GMT) and results on . It does not apply to Oxford or Cambridge applicants, unless you are applying to a Cambridge mature college or an Oxford Foundation Year with a January deadline
  • LNAT: registration opened on and testing began on . Oxford and Cambridge applicants had to register and book by and must sit the test by . For most other LNAT universities, book by and sit by ; Bristol and Durham applicants must book and sit by

Dates for entry, collected with AI tools from the official UAT-UK, UCAT and LNAT websites on . Always confirm on the official site before you book.

We track every deadline for you as part of any plan. Bursaries covering the full test fee exist for eligible UK candidates on all three systems; ask us and we will point you to them.

03

Admissions Test Mentoring

Two packages:

10-Hour Mentoring Plan

This plan includes:

  • Ten hours of online one to one tutoring with a mentor who holds an Oxbridge degree in your subject
  • A personalised preparation plan for your specific test (ESAT, TMUA, TARA, UCAT or LNAT)
  • Coverage of every element of the test, weighted to your needs
  • Past papers and specimen papers provided, marked and talked through by your mentor
  • Timed practice sessions under test conditions
  • Access to tailored preparation resources

20-Hour Mentoring Plan

This plan includes:

  • Twenty hours of online one to one tutoring with a mentor who holds an Oxbridge degree in your subject
  • A personalised preparation plan for your specific test (ESAT, TMUA, TARA, UCAT or LNAT)
  • Coverage of every element of the test, weighted to your needs
  • Past papers and specimen papers provided, marked and talked through by your mentor
  • Timed practice sessions under test conditions
  • Access to tailored preparation resources

04

English Proficiency: IELTS and TOEFL

For international applicants, we prepare you for the IELTS or TOEFL with the same structure: 10 or 20 hours of one to one tutoring, a personalised preparation plan, mock oral exams with a native English speaker, mock written papers, and full access to preparation resources.

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