Pre-admission assessments and tests for UK universities are evaluations that prospective students may need to complete as part of the application process.
Only some universities, typically the more competitive and prestigious ones such as Oxford, Cambridge, and other Russell Group universities, use these assessments. These may include standardised tests like the UCAT for medical courses, the LNAT for law, and subject-specific tests such as the TMUA or ESAT for mathematics, engineering, Economic courses for example
These assessments help universities gauge applicants' aptitude, subject knowledge, and suitability for the chosen course, ensuring that admitted students are well-prepared and capable of succeeding in their academic programs. Some of these tests are compulsory and others are optional.
Compulsory Tests: These are mandatory for admission into specific courses or universities. If an applicant does not take these tests, they will not be considered for the program.
Optional Tests: These are not required but can enhance an application by providing additional evidence of a student's abilities and knowledge. Good performance on optional tests can sometimes lead to a lower offer, as it demonstrates a high level of proficiency and readiness for the course, potentially allowing the university to be more flexible with the other entry requirements.
Please pay special attention to the process for requesting access arrangements, such as extra time. Contact the AsFl team promptly to obtain the necessary evidence for support on the assessment day. Note that each test has its own process and deadline, and it is your responsibility to provide the correct information to the test center on time.
Each test and assessment has its specific deadlines and registration protocols that applicants must follow. It is the responsibility of eligible pupils to check the details, register, and book the tests within the deadline.
Below, you will find some key information and useful links about the most common tests and assessments.
This is a 2 hours computer based test
You will need to book your UCAT test independently on their website.
If you need access arrangements you will need to liaise with the Support for Learning department to get a proof of the support required and send this to UCAT before the 15 September. The details of what arrangements are provided by UCAT and the evidence you need to produce can be found here
Between18 June- 19 September : book your test
15 September: Access Arrangement application deadline
8 July- Testing starts
26 September: Last test day
27 September : Bursary Scheme application deadline
Early November: Results delivered to universities
Practice tests can be found here
Section A- 95 min: This section consists of 42 multiple choice questions. The questions are based on 12 argumentative passages, with 3 or 4 multiple choice questions on each.
Section B- 40 minutes to answer one of three essay questions on a range of subjects to demonstrate your ability to argue economically and to come to a conclusion.
Registration
You will need to register for the LNAT and book your test independently using the LNAT website here
The list of universities which require the LNAT is here
If you require exam access arrangements, you need to fill in an Examination Access Requirements form after you have registered. find all the details here. You will need to contact the ASfL department to get a proof of your need and upload the evidence onto the form .
1 August 2024: LNAT registration begins.
1 September 2024: LNAT testing begins
1 August -15 September 2024: Register and book your LNAT test slot (in order to sit the test before or on, 15 October 2024).
15 October 2024: Sit the LNAT before, or at the latest on, 15 October 2024.
31 December 2024: Sit the LNAT before or on 31 December 2024.
20 January 2025: Register and book your LNAT test slot before this date
29 January 2025: Sit the LNAT before or on 29 January 2025.
20 January 2025: Register and book your LNAT test slot before this date
25 January 2025: Sit the LNAT before or on 25 January 2025.
Ancient History and Classical Archaeology Admissions Test (AHCAAT) - NEW for 2024
Biomedical Sciences Admissions Test (BMSAT) – NEW for 2024
Classics Admissions Test (CAT)
History Admissions Test (HAT)
Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT)
Modern Languages Admissions Test (MLAT)
Philosophy Test (PhilAT)
Physics Admissions test for Physics, Engineering and Materials Science (PAT)
Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
In place of the BMAT, in 2024, Oxford will use the Pearson VUE UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) for Medicine and Graduate Entry Medicine with arrangements and charges as advertised by Pearson VUE.
As in other years, candidates for Law will take the Pearson VUE LNAT, with arrangements and charges as advertised by Pearson VUE.
In 2024, there will be no English Literature test for candidates for English Language and Literature, English and History, English and Modern Languages or Classics and English. Check the relevant course page for details on applying for any of these courses. Candidates for joint schools will still need to take the relevant test for their other subject, if applicable.
In 2024, there will be no test for Geography candidates.
This year’s tests will take place between 21-31 October. You must check Oxford's webapage regularly to find out the date of your assesment
Oxford has appointed global assessment leader Pearson VUE to manage the delivery of the University's undergraduate admissions tests. Oxford has used Pearson VUE’s LNAT (National Admissions Tests for Law) for a number of years.
All admissions tests will be online, delivered in partnership with Pearson VUE via its established network of test centres. In 2024 there will be no charge for candidates to register for Oxford's own tests.
Access Arrangements
When registering, candidates will be able to request the access arrangements which are normally available to them for public examinations taken in their schools and colleges.
Detailed guidance on test preparation will be available shortly and there will be practice materials and a full sample test provided in most cases, with the exception of tests that are new for this year where a shorter sample test may be provided. In the meantime, for existing Oxford tests, you may find the existing practice materials on the individual test pages useful.
Oxford admission test page. This includes access to past papers for each of the relevant tes
Many Colleges set up pre-admission tests. You do not need to register for these in advance and the date of the assessment will be set by the college and communicated by the College to you.
Archaeology
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES)
Classics (3-year and 4-year)
Design
English
Geography
History
History and Modern Languages
History and Politics
Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS)
Linguistics
Mathematics
Modern and Medieval Languages (MML)
Music
Philosophy
Psychological and Behavioural Sciences
Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion
All the details and relevant links are on this page
You must take the TMUA if you are applying to
Computer Science
Economics
You should register for the TMUA independently by 16 September 2024. Register here.
You will take the test on 16 or 17 October 2024 at a Pearson vue center. You must take the test in this first sitting.
details on this page and this page
If you're applying to Peterhouse or Trinity College for Computer Science you will also need to take the Computer Sciences Aptitude Test (CSAT)
You must take the ESAT if you are applying to
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Engineering
Natural Sciences
Veterinary Medicine
You should register for the ESAT independently by 16 September 2024. Register here.
You will take the test on 16 or 17 October 2024 at a Pearson vue center. You must take the test in this first sitting.
Details on this page and this page
We are pleased to let you know that candidates required to sit either the TMUA or the ESAT in October 2024 can now request their access arrangements, or apply for a UAT-UK bursary code (UK candidates only) to cover the full cost of their test.
So that you can best support candidates, we wanted to provide you with some clarifications around the way candidates need to request access arrangements:
Candidates must first set up a UAT-UK account before requesting their access arrangements via the UAT-UK form. Candidates might need their school or college to supply to relevant evidence to support their application.
The deadline for this is 29 August however candidates are advised to request with enough time to allow for consideration by UAT-UK and to book their test thereafter. If a candidate is unable to supply the relevant evidence by this date, owing to their school or college being closed for summer, their arrangements will be provisionally approved provided they are able to submit their evidence by 16 September.
Candidates should be reminded not to book their test first. UAT-UK and Pearson VUE are unable to amend existing bookings to take account of approved access arrangements.
Following confirmation from UAT-UK that the access arrangements have been approved, the candidate will receive a phone call from Pearson VUE to book their test over the phone.
Booking opens on 1 August, so candidates that receive approval from UAT-UK in the meantime, won’t receive a phone call until after this date.
The best and surest way to way to find out whether your course requires an admission assessment, and whether it is optional or compulsory is to check the university course webpage directly. However, you can find some useful information below
The TMUA entrance exam is used by a range of universities for selection to some courses in Mathematics, Economics and Computer Science. This test may be compulsory or optional depending on the course and institution.
University of Cambridge
Imperial College London
LSE
Warwick University
Durham University
If you are applying both to Oxford and ICL you must take the test on 14 or 15 October
If you are not applying to Cambridge but are taking the test for another university you can take the test in the second sitting on 7 or 8 January 2025
Refer to the relevant course pages of each institution’s website to find out if the courses you are applying to require the TMUA, and whether it is compulsory or optional
Registration and all details here
ESAT is used by Cambridge and Imperial College London for courses in engineering and sciences.
If you are only applying to Imperial College London, you need to take the test for
Departments of Aeronautics, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Design Engineering and Mechanical Engineering
Department of Physics
If you are applying both to Cambridge and ICL you must take the test on 14 or 15 October
If you are applying only to ICL you can take the test in the second sitting on 7 or 8 January 2025
Registration and all details here
Refer to the relevant course pages of each institution’s website to find out if the courses you are applying to require an assessment and whether it is compulsory or optional.