ESAT
Engineering and Science Admissions Test
The computer-based engineering and science admissions test — compulsory Maths 1 plus two course-specified modules, each 40 minutes and 27 questions.
- Format
- Computer-based (Pearson VUE)
- Modules
- Maths 1 + 2 set modules
- Per module
- 40 min, 27 questions
- History
- Replaced NSAA/ENGAA in 2024
The ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) is run by UAT-UK and delivered worldwide by Pearson VUE. It replaced the NSAA and ENGAA in 2024 and is used for undergraduate admissions by the University of Cambridge (Engineering, Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology), Imperial College London (eight departments: Aeronautics, Chemical, Civil and Environmental, Design Engineering, Electrical and Electronic, Mechanical, Life Sciences and Physics), the University of Oxford (replacing the PAT from 2027 entry: Engineering Science, Physics, Physics and Philosophy, Biomedical Sciences and more) and UCL (Electronic and Electrical Engineering). The test is computer-based: Mathematics 1 (compulsory) plus two further modules for most candidates — usually specified by the course you apply to, drawn from Mathematics 2 / Physics / Chemistry / Biology — each lasting 40 minutes with 27 multiple-choice questions. Choosing the right module combination for your target course is essential.
PRACTICE
ESAT past papers and original mocks, all timed online
- Past papers
- 31+
- Original mocks
- 41+
- Questions
- 2790+
Every paper is sat under time in an interface built to mirror the real computer-based test, not a PDF that gets downloaded and forgotten. Alongside the past papers, the original mocks follow the current exam structure exactly and target the syllabus points that come up most. Submit and you get worked solutions for every question, AI-classified error causes, accuracy tracked topic by topic and a weakness report that tells you what to practise next. Register free to sit 2 papers per subject.
By the numbers
What the ESAT bank holds today
- questions
- 2790
- papers
- 72
- official past papers
- 31
- with worked solutions
- 98%
Four difficulty tiers
- Easy
- 1302
- Standard
- 1126
- Hard
- 222
- Very hard
- 93
By module
- Biology1 paper · 27 questions
- Mathematics 113 papers · 351 questions
- Mathematics 211 papers · 297 questions
- Physics16 papers · 425 questions
- Section 119 papers · 1266 questions
- Section 212 papers · 424 questions
Counted live from published content. Every paper and question can be checked in the catalogue.
How it works
From a first taste to test day, in four steps
- 01
Try 5 questions
No account needed. The sample above is real ESAT difficulty, with instant marking and a method hint.
- 02
Sign up free
10 questions a day per subject with full solutions, 2 free papers per subject, analytics and review included.
- 03
Practise by topic
Build sets by topic, difficulty and length. Every solution explains the right method and why the other options fail.
- 04
Review, then decide
Mistake book, weakness radar and study plan are all free. Pay once per subject only when you want every paper and full mocks.
What you get
Six things ESAT preparation needs
Official past papers + originals
Every officially released paper organised by year, plus original papers written to the current format. Counts are in the numbers above.
A worked solution for every question
The right method, and why each wrong option is wrong. Solutions are verified, not generated once and left.
Topic radar and weak spots
Mastery by topic updates after every session; weak topics go straight into your study plan.
A timed, true-to-exam interface
Same timing, navigation and flagging as the real computer-based test, so nothing is new on the day.
Mistake book and review
Mistakes are grouped by cause; the review centre rebuilds a set of similar questions to try again.
English and Chinese
Questions, solutions and the interface in both languages, switchable at any time.
SCHEDULE
Test dates
October sitting (2027 entry)
- Registration opens
- 20 July, 3pm UK time
- Registration closes
- 28 September, 6pm UK time
- Test date
- 12-16 October (12 or 13 in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau)
- Results
- 16 November
January sitting (2027 entry)
- Registration opens
- 26 October, 3pm UK time
- Registration closes
- 21 December, 6pm UK time
- Test date
- 4-8 January (6 January in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau)
- Results
- 8 February
Register now
The ESAT runs twice per application cycle — October and January (registration for October roughly late July to late September). Cambridge and Oxford applicants must normally take the October sitting (only routes with January deadlines, such as Cambridge mature colleges, may use January); the January sitting suits Imperial, UCL and others — always check the requirements for your exact course. Sittings, platforms and dates are confirmed each year on the official website.
STRUCTURE
Paper structure
01Mathematics 1
Compulsory — core mathematics
27 multiple-choice questions40 minutes
Compulsory for every candidate. The specification lists seven topics: units, number, ratio and proportion, algebra, geometry, statistics and probability. Note what is not there: no trigonometry and no calculus, which belong to Mathematics 2. The specification also states that every module assumes knowledge of Mathematics 1, so it doubles as the foundation for whichever two modules you add.
02Mathematics 2
Optional — further mathematics
27 multiple-choice questions40 minutes
For engineering and mathematics-heavy courses. The eight official topics are algebra and functions, sequences and series, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, differentiation, integration and graphs of functions. The specification notes this module also assumes everything in Mathematics 1.
03Physics
Optional — physics
27 multiple-choice questions40 minutes
The seven official topics are electricity, magnetism, mechanics, thermal physics, matter, waves and radioactivity. This is the default pick for engineering and most physics routes, and thermal physics and radioactivity are the two most commonly skipped.
04Chemistry
Optional — chemistry
27 multiple-choice questions40 minutes
The specification lists 17 topics, running from atomic structure, the Periodic Table, chemical reactions and equations, quantitative chemistry, redox and bonding through to group chemistry, separation techniques, acids and bases, rates, energetics, electrolysis, organic chemistry, metals, particle theory, chemical tests and air and water. A common pick for Chemical Engineering, Natural Sciences chemistry routes and veterinary applications.
05Biology
Optional — biology
27 multiple-choice questions40 minutes
The 11 official topics are cells, movement across membranes, cell division and sex determination, inheritance, DNA, gene technologies, variation, enzymes, animal physiology, ecosystems and plant physiology. The matching choice for Natural Sciences biology routes and Veterinary Medicine; gene technologies and plant physiology are the ones most often left out of revision.
SCORING
Scoring
- 01Each module is scored separately on a scale from 1 (low) to 9 (high), reported to one decimal place. The scores are not combined into a single total.
- 02Mathematics 1 is compulsory; most courses specify two further modules (drawn from Maths 2 / Physics / Chemistry / Biology — a few courses require only two modules in total).
- 03Universities look at the scores for the modules your course requires — choosing the right combination directly determines whether your application qualifies.
- 04There is no penalty for a wrong answer — you get one mark per correct answer, so every question is worth attempting and leaving one blank gains you nothing.
- 05No calculators and no dictionaries. The test centre provides an erasable notepad and pen for working, which you can ask to have replaced, and you may not bring your own materials.
- 06There is no pass mark. UAT-UK does not publish grade boundaries or a pass mark; your score is read alongside the rest of your application.
- 07UAT-UK publishes an official Explanation of Results for every sitting. For October 2025 it states that the scale is designed so typical candidates score around 4.5 and approximately 10% score higher than 7.0, with a distribution chart for each module. This is the only official basis for judging what a good score looks like.
- 08The fee is £78 in the UK and Republic of Ireland and £133 elsewhere, determined by where your test centre is, not by your nationality or residence.
- 09Results come out about four weeks after the test. For 2027 entry the exact dates are 16 November 2026 for the October sitting and 8 February 2027 for the January sitting. Scores are matched course by course against your UCAS application and sent automatically to the institutions that require the test, so you cannot choose who sees them.
The score scale, per the official Explanation of Results
typical ≈ 4.5
top ~10% ≈ 7.0
1.09.0
UAT-UK (October 2025): the scale is designed so typical candidates score around 4.5 and approximately 10% score higher than 7.0; scores are capped at 1.0 and 9.0. No grade boundaries or pass mark are published.
OFFICIAL DATA
What the scores actually looked like
UAT-UK publishes a technical report for each of its tests every cycle. The 2025/26 report for the ESAT carries printed score distributions for every module and both sittings. The figures below are taken from that report, table by table.
| Module | Candidates | Median | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths 1 | 14,193 | 4.4 | 6.7 |
| Biology | 1,547 | 4.5 | 7.0 |
| Chemistry | 3,146 | 4.5 | 7.0 |
| Physics | 11,290 | 4.1 | 6.5 |
| Maths 2 | 12,113 | 4.2 | 6.5 |
| Module | Oct top 10% | Jan top 10% |
|---|---|---|
| Maths 1 | 7.0 | 5.4 |
| Chemistry | 7.0 | 5.7 |
| Physics | 7.0 | 5.5 |
| Maths 2 | 7.0 | 5.4 |
How to read these numbers
- None of these is a cut-off. UAT-UK publishes no pass mark, and universities publish no fixed score threshold.
- A gap between the two sittings reflects who sat them, not how hard the papers were. Scaling is anchored to the October cohort and the same constants are applied to January.
- Scores cannot be compared across cycles: scaling is refixed every admissions cycle.
14,193 ESAT tests were delivered in 2025/26. 10,116 sat in October and 4077 in January.
UNIVERSITIES
Universities & requirements
| Requirement | University | Courses | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | University of Cambridge | Engineering, Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Chemical Engineering and more | The combination is fixed by the course: Engineering (H100) specifies Maths 1 + Maths 2 + Physics, while Natural Sciences (BCF0), Veterinary Medicine (D100) and Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (H810) all take Maths 1 plus any two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2 — note that Mathematics 2 is a valid choice there, which is easy to miss. |
| Required | Imperial College London | Engineering departments plus Physics and Life Sciences (8 departments) | ESAT required since 2024. Aeronautics / Civil and Environmental / EEE / Mechanical / Physics commonly take Maths 1 + Maths 2 + Physics; Chemical Engineering takes Maths 1 + Maths 2 + Chemistry; Life Sciences takes Maths 1 + Chemistry + Biology; Design Engineering (Dyson) takes Maths 1 + Maths 2 only — check each department’s admissions page for the current year. |
| Required | University of Oxford | Engineering Science, Physics, Physics and Philosophy, Biomedical Sciences and more (from 2027 entry) | Replaces the PAT from the 2027 entry cycle; the October sitting is required. Engineering Science specifies Maths 1 + Maths 2 + Physics; check each Oxford course page for the rest. |
| Required | UCL | Electronic and Electrical Engineering BEng/MEng | Required from September 2027 entry (or September 2028 deferred entry) for H600/H601: three modules in total, Maths 1 plus any two of Maths 2, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. |
BY COURSE
Find your course
For 2027 entry, 56 courses across 4 universities require the ESAT. Each page below covers one department's degrees with every UCAS code, how the score is used, and the key dates.
Imperial College London
University of Cambridge
University of Oxford
GUIDES
Prepare module by module
17 in-depth guides for the ESAT: what each module actually tests, how to build a revision plan around it, how the marks work, and what to do on test day.
- ESAT Mathematics 1: the seven topics, and what is not in them
- ESAT Mathematics 2, module by module
- The ESAT Physics Module: Seven Topics, No Calculator, 40 Minutes
- ESAT Chemistry: all 17 official topics, and where the marks actually go
- The ESAT Biology Module: Eleven Topics, Four Blind Spots
- Choosing Your ESAT Modules: Official Combinations for Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial and UCL
- How to plan your ESAT revision, week by week
- ESAT time management: a minute-by-minute plan for one module
- How ESAT scoring works, and how to read your result
- Cambridge Engineering ESAT scores: what the official FOI data shows
- ESAT test day, from arriving at the centre to the final module
- ESAT vs NSAA & ENGAA: the handover, explained
- ESAT Registration and Key Dates: the Full 2027 Entry Timeline
- ESAT score statistics: the numbers, and their limits
- ESAT in October or January: what the official data can settle
- ESAT international candidates: what the official tables actually show
- ESAT candidate numbers: the real scale of the 2026 cycle
COMPETITIVENESS
How scores compare
- Imperial is the only university that has published department-level data. Its public dashboard shows scores and outcomes for 2025-entry applicants using the raw mark out of 27, not the 1 to 9 scaled score. Mean marks among offer-holders were 17.5 for Aeronautics, 17.5 for Physics, 16.6 for Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 15.8 for Mechanical, 14.2 for Chemical Engineering, 12.6 for Civil and Environmental and 8.9 for Design Engineering.
- If you are applying from outside the UK, read the Overseas column rather than the total. In every single department the mean mark among Overseas offer-holders is higher than among Home applicants: 19.8 for Electrical and Electronic Engineering against 14.2 for Home, 19.4 for Physics, 18.6 for Aeronautics, 16.8 for Mechanical and 15.4 for Chemical Engineering. Overseas offer rates are also lower across the board.
- The ESAT is scored module by module with no overall cut-off, so competitiveness rests on the modules your course cares about rather than your average. Imperial states plainly alongside the data that it is historic, that a high score does not guarantee an offer, and that a low score does not rule you out.
- Both primary sources are worth reading directly: Imperial's score dashboard with applicant scores and outcomes by department, and the official UAT-UK score distribution for the whole cohort. Exact expectations and weighting are set by each university and may shift year to year.
Imperial offer-holder means · 2025 entry
Raw mark out of 27, by department; the only university publishing at this granularity
Historic averages, not thresholds; Imperial states a high score does not guarantee an offer.
ANALYSIS
Exam analysis
- The ESAT replaced the NSAA/ENGAA in 2024 and is still a young computer-based test — get familiar with the question style and on-screen interface early to avoid surprises on the day.
- Choosing the right module combination comes first: fix your target course, then take the modules it specifies from Maths 2 / Physics / Chemistry / Biology — the wrong combination can rule your application out.
- Each module is 27 questions in 40 minutes (about 1.5 minutes per question) — a brisk, computer-based, strictly timed pace that rewards quick question-type recognition and decisive triage.
- Modules are scored separately, so allocate preparation effort by your course’s core subjects and chase consistently high scores where they matter most.
Score distribution
Share of candidates by ESAT module score band (each module 1.0–9.0), drawn to the official anchors
Indicative shape drawn to the official anchors: the UAT-UK Explanation of Results (October 2025) states that for each module typical candidates score around 4.5 and roughly 10% score above 7.0. The official document includes a distribution chart for every module; refer to it for exact per-band shares.
ESAT preparation starts with fixing your target course and module combination, then training systematically for Mathematics 1 and your two chosen modules. Prioritise the computer-based interface and its time pressure: drill timed practice with past papers and mock exams to build speed and triage instincts. For a structured pathway, see our prep guides.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does the ESAT relate to the old NSAA / ENGAA?
The ESAT replaced the NSAA and ENGAA in 2024. Run by UAT-UK and delivered by Pearson VUE, it is fully computer-based and used by Cambridge and Imperial for engineering and science admissions; from the 2027 entry cycle Oxford also uses it (Engineering Science, Physics and more, replacing the PAT), as does UCL (Electronic and Electrical Engineering, from 2026).
Which modules do I need to take?
Mathematics 1 is compulsory, and most candidates take two further modules (three in total, about 120 minutes). The modules are usually specified by your course rather than a free choice — for example, Cambridge/Imperial engineering takes Maths 2 + Physics, while Imperial Design Engineering needs only Maths 1 + Maths 2.
How long is each module, and how many questions?
Each module is 40 minutes with 27 multiple-choice questions — roughly 1.5 minutes per question, so quick recognition and decisive triage matter.
How is the ESAT scored? Is there a total score?
Each module is scored separately on a 1 to 9 scale to one decimal place, and there is no combined total. Universities look at the modules your course requires, so choosing the right subjects matters more than your average.
How should I prepare for a computer-based test?
First fix your course and module combination, then train systematically for Maths 1 and your two chosen modules — with particular focus on the on-screen interface and timed mock practice. See our prep guides and practice modules.
Process
How It Works
01
Sign Up
02
Choose Your Exam
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Start Practicing
There is no waiting step in between. You can open a paper the moment you register.
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How far free goes for ESAT, and what a purchase adds
Free
£0/ forever
- 10 questions a day per subject, each with a full solution
- 2 free papers per subject, plus a 5-question taster before you sign up
- Analytics, mistake book and review centre fully open
Pay once per subject
£58.80/ ESAT · permanent access
- Every ESAT past paper and original paper
- Full mock exams (twice a year by the Frontier team)
- New content included for a year, then renew the update window annually
Struggling to pay? Apply for a bursary and, if approved, get one subject free. About the bursary
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.
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