University of OxfordUCAS BC98
Oxford Biomedical Sciences ESAT Requirements (2027 Entry)
Applicants to Biomedical Sciences (UCAS code BC98) at the University of Oxford for 2027 entry must complete an admissions test: the official UAT-UK 2027 Course List states that "either the ESAT, TARA or the TMUA is compulsory". This page focuses on the ESAT route: which modules BC98 involves, why Oxford applicants can only use the October sitting, the fixed dates for candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, and how to build real 40-minutes-per-module pacing with FrontierVue's question bank.
- 57
- Papers
- 2392
- Questions
- 2
- Free to try
01
Oxford's Official Requirement
Oxford offers a single undergraduate course in this area for 2027 entry, and the authoritative statement of how the test is used comes from the official UAT-UK 2027 Course List:
| Course | UCAS code | ESAT modules | How the test is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biomedical Sciences | BC98 | Mathematics 1, plus any two of Biology / Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics 2 | An admissions test is compulsory: the Course List states "either the ESAT, TARA or the TMUA is compulsory", so you must complete one of the three |
If you take the ESAT route, you sit 3 modules in 120 minutes. Each module has 27 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes, and results are reported on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale per module. See the ESAT scoring guide for how the scale works.
02
Key Dates and Booking (Mainland China / Hong Kong / Macau)
The ESAT is run by UAT-UK and delivered as a computer-based test by Pearson VUE. For 2027 entry, candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have fixed dates: 12 to 13 October 2026, or 6 January 2027.
For Oxford applicants, only the October sitting counts. Both the Imperial and Cambridge ESAT pages state: "If you are applying to the University of Cambridge or the University of Oxford, you must take the test in October". That makes 12 to 13 October 2026 the only usable window for BC98; a score from the 6 January 2027 sitting will not work for an Oxford application.
An October test date means serious preparation needs to start over the summer. Work backwards from test day with the revision plan guide, and read the test day guide in advance so the Pearson VUE computer-based format holds no surprises.
03
How to Prepare with FrontierVue
The ESAT replaced the NSAA and ENGAA in 2024, and no official ESAT past papers have ever been released. The closest thing to authentic exam material is the archive of those predecessor tests.
FrontierVue has reorganised 31 archive papers from the predecessor tests NSAA and ENGAA (2015 to 2023) into the current ESAT module structure, alongside 26 mock papers including Frontier Original full ESAT-format sets: 2,345 questions in total, each with a worked explanation and a Chinese translation. The two most recent archive papers are free to try. Start at the ESAT practice hub, or read the ESAT exam overview first.
Work module by module with the subject guides: Mathematics 1, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Finishing 27 questions in 40 minutes is the hardest part of the ESAT, so pair timed papers with the time management guide until the pacing becomes automatic.
04
Points Specific to Oxford
Choosing between the three tests: the official position for BC98 is that completing any one of the ESAT, TARA or TMUA satisfies the requirement. The three tests are separate, so choose based on your subject strengths and on which test the other courses in your application cycle accept, and avoid preparing for more than one.
Choosing your optional modules: on the ESAT route, the two modules beyond Mathematics 1 can be any two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2; no particular combination is prescribed. The choosing modules guide walks through the decision, and if Mathematics 2 is on your shortlist, read the Mathematics 2 guide before committing.
One window per cycle: because Oxford only accepts the October sitting, BC98 applicants effectively have a single usable window, 12 to 13 October 2026. Plan booking and revision around that hard deadline; there is no January fallback.
SAME UNIVERSITY
Other University of Oxford pages for the ESAT
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to take the ESAT for Oxford Biomedical Sciences (BC98)?
Not the ESAT specifically. The UAT-UK 2027 Course List states that "either the ESAT, TARA or the TMUA is compulsory" for BC98, so you must complete one of the three. If you choose the ESAT, you sit Mathematics 1 plus any two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2.
Can Oxford applicants take the January 2027 ESAT sitting?
No. Official ESAT pages state that applicants to Oxford or Cambridge must take the test in October. For 2027 entry candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, the only usable dates for BC98 are 12 to 13 October 2026; a 6 January 2027 score will not count for Oxford.
Which ESAT modules does Oxford BC98 require?
Three modules in 120 minutes. Mathematics 1 is compulsory, plus any two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2. Each module has 27 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes, scored on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale per module.
There are no official ESAT past papers, so what should I practise with for BC98?
Correct: the ESAT replaced the NSAA and ENGAA in 2024 and no official ESAT past papers have been released, so the predecessor tests' archive is the closest authentic material. FrontierVue reorganises 31 NSAA/ENGAA archive papers into the current module structure, plus 26 mock papers, 2,345 questions in total with worked solutions and Chinese translations; the two most recent archive papers are free.
FrontierVUE is an independent practice platform. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by UAT-UK, Pearson, OCR, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, or any official admissions-test owner.
FrontierVUE 是独立的备考练习平台，与 UAT-UK、Pearson、OCR、剑桥大学、 帝国理工学院或任何官方入学考试主办方均无隶属或背书关系。
Start preparing for the ESAT for Biomedical Sciences
57 ESAT papers and 2392 questions on FrontierVUE, every one with a worked solution. The 2 most recent papers are free to try.