Imperial College LondonUCAS F300 +4
Imperial College London Physics: ESAT Requirements and Preparation
Imperial College London requires the ESAT for all five of its undergraduate Physics courses in the 2027 entry admissions cycle. Imperial's official ESAT page states plainly that you must take the ESAT if you are applying to an undergraduate course in one of the listed departments, and Physics is one of them. The department specifies three modules, Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics, sat as a single 120-minute computer-based test. This page pulls together the official course-by-course requirements, the fixed test dates for candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, and a practical way to prepare with FrontierVUE's archive and mock papers.
- 72
- Papers
- 2790
- Questions
- 2
- Free to try
Imperial Physics ESAT at a Glance
- Required for 2027 entry?
- Compulsory: Imperial's official ESAT page lists the Department of Physics among the departments where you must take the ESAT
- Which modules
- Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics, taken as one 120-minute computer-based sitting
- Which Physics courses this covers
- All five undergraduate courses, F300, F303, F309, F325 and F390, with exactly the same combination
- Test dates for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau
- Window 1 is 12 or 13 October 2026 only; Window 2 is 6 January 2027 only
- Booking deadlines and how the score is used
- Window 1 closes 28 September 2026 at 18:00 and Window 2 closes 21 December 2026 at 18:00 UK time; Imperial accepts only your first result in each admissions cycle
The compulsory status and the three-module set come from Imperial's official ESAT page for 2027 entry; the UAT-UK Course List 2027 records these courses as "either the ESAT or the TMUA is compulsory", and applicants to Physics should follow the three modules specified on Imperial's own page. The first-result rule, the test dates and the booking deadlines are compiled on this page for the 2027 entry sittings in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
4 sections1,116 words6 min read1 official sources
01
01 Imperial's official requirements: five courses, one module set
Imperial's official ESAT page for 2027 entry puts it directly: "You must take the ESAT if you're applying to our undergraduate courses in one of these departments", and the Department of Physics is on that list. The UAT-UK Course List 2027 records these courses as "either the ESAT or the TMUA is compulsory"; in practice, applicants to Physics should follow the three-module ESAT combination specified on Imperial's own page. All five Physics courses require the same modules:
BSc Physics
F300
Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics, compulsory
MSci Physics
F303
Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics, compulsory
MSci Physics with a Year Abroad
F309
Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics, compulsory
BSc Physics with Theoretical Physics
F325
Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics, compulsory
MSci Physics with Theoretical Physics
F390
Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics, compulsory
The modules and the compulsory status for all five courses above come from Imperial's official ESAT page for 2027 entry. On format, the ESAT is run by UAT-UK and delivered at Pearson VUE test centres:
3 modules
The modules Imperial Physics specifies: Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, Physics
27 questions / 40 min
Multiple-choice questions and time allowed in each module
120 minutes
Total length of the three-module computer-based sitting
1.0 to 9.0
The scale on which each module is scored separately
One more thing to remember: Mathematics 1 is compulsory for every ESAT candidate, and the remaining modules are set by the course, so for Imperial Physics the other two are Mathematics 2 and Physics. For a syllabus-level breakdown of each module, see the Mathematics 1 guide, the Mathematics 2 guide and the Physics guide.
02
02 Key dates and booking: mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau sittings
Imperial accepts both ESAT windows for 2027 entry: 12 to 16 October 2026, or 4 to 8 January 2027. The rule that matters most, though, is how the score is used: Imperial only accepts your first result in each admissions cycle. Sitting the test again in January after an October attempt does nothing for your Imperial application; the first sitting is the one that counts. Candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have fixed dates rather than a free choice within each window.
2026 – 2027Timeline
Sep 26
Oct 26
Nov 26
Dec 26
Jan 27
Window 1 booking deadline28 Sep 2026, 18:00
Window 1 booking deadline
28 Sep 2026, 18:00
Booking closes at 18:00 UK time. Reserve a seat in your own city ahead of time rather than leaving it to the closing day.
Window 1: the sitting period Imperial accepts12 to 16 Oct 2026
Window 1: the sitting period Imperial accepts
12 to 16 Oct 2026
The first of the two ESAT windows Imperial accepts for 2027 entry.
Window 1: fixed dates for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau12 or 13 October 2026
Window 1: fixed dates for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau
12 or 13 October 2026
In this window, candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau sit on 12 or 13 October only; they cannot pick freely across 12 to 16 October.
Window 2 booking deadline21 Dec 2026, 18:00
Window 2 booking deadline
21 Dec 2026, 18:00
Booking closes at 18:00 UK time.
Window 2: the sitting period Imperial accepts4 to 8 Jan 2027
Window 2: the sitting period Imperial accepts
4 to 8 Jan 2027
The second of the two ESAT windows Imperial accepts for 2027 entry.
Window 2: fixed date for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau6 January 2027
Window 2: fixed date for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau
6 January 2027
In this window, candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have one date only, 6 January 2027. This sitting cannot be used for Oxford or Cambridge applications.
Hard deadline Event WindowImperial accepts either window but counts only your first result in each admissions cycle: the sitting you take first is the one that stands.
Two further points. First, anyone also applying to Oxford or Cambridge must sit the October window, since the January sitting cannot be used for those applications; joint applicants effectively have only Window 1. Second, the test is delivered at Pearson VUE centres, so book a seat in your city well before the deadline. For the on-the-day process, see the test day guide.
03
03 Preparing for Imperial's three modules with FrontierVUE
One fact first: no official ESAT past papers exist, because UAT-UK has never released any. The ESAT replaced the NSAA and ENGAA from 2024, so the closest material to the real test comes from those predecessor exams. Here is what FrontierVUE holds, with the archive papers already reorganised to match the current ESAT module boundaries of Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics.
Archive papers
31 papers
NSAA and ENGAA, 2015 to 2023, reorganised into the current ESAT modules
Mock papers
26 papers
Including Frontier Original full ESAT-format sets
Questions in total
2,345 questions
Each with a worked explanation and a Chinese translation
Free to try
The two newest archive papers
Start straight from the ESAT practice hub
The free papers open from the practice hub. For Imperial Physics's three-module combination, this is the structure we suggest:
01Suggestion 1
Drill archive papers module by module
Practise under timed conditions until the 27-questions-in-40-minutes rhythm feels automatic, using the time management guide to budget per question.
02Suggestion 2
Treat Mathematics 2 and Physics as the differentiators
These two are the differentiators for Imperial Physics applicants: review every explanation and lay out a weekly plan to the October sitting with the revision plan guide.
03Suggestion 3
Run the full sitting on ESAT-format mocks
In the final stretch, run full 120-minute three-module simulations with the ESAT-format mocks, and read the scoring guide to understand the 1.0 to 9.0 scale.
The three guides referred to above are the time management guide, the revision plan guide and the scoring guide. Background on the test itself lives on the ESAT exam page.
04
04 What Imperial Physics applicants should watch
Three things are worth settling before you book.
Your first result is your only result
Imperial only accepts the first sitting in each cycle, so there is no room for an October trial run followed by a January retake. Plan your preparation around a single decisive attempt and peak for the sitting you book.
Applying to Oxford or Cambridge as well leaves you one window
Joint applicants must sit the October window; for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau that means the fixed dates of 12 or 13 October 2026, with booking closing on 28 September 2026 at 18:00 UK time. If that is you, build your plan backwards from Window 1.
The modules are fixed, so there is nothing to choose
All five Imperial Physics courses (F300, F303, F309, F325, F390) specify Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics, unlike some courses where applicants pick optional modules. If you are still deciding between Physics and an engineering course, the choosing modules guide maps out how combinations differ by course.
Each ESAT module is scored separately on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale, and the official sources this page draws on give no cut-off score for Imperial Physics. Treat any specific number presented as an "Imperial Physics ESAT cut-off" with caution, and rely on the university's own page.
SAME UNIVERSITY
Other Imperial College London pages for the ESAT
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which ESAT modules do I take for Imperial Physics F300 or F303?
Imperial's Physics department specifies Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics, taken as one 120-minute computer-based sitting with 27 multiple-choice questions per 40-minute module. All five Physics courses (F300, F303, F309, F325, F390) require exactly the same combination.
How many ESAT attempts does Imperial Physics accept? Can I retake in January?
Imperial only accepts your first result in each admissions cycle, so a January retake after an October sitting does not count for Imperial. The university accepts either the October 2026 or the January 2027 window, but whichever you sit first is the one that stands. Anyone also applying to Oxford or Cambridge must take the October sitting.
When do candidates in mainland China sit the ESAT for Imperial Physics?
For 2027 entry, candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have fixed dates: Window 1 is 12 or 13 October 2026 only, with booking closing 28 September 2026 at 18:00 UK time; Window 2 is 6 January 2027 only, closing 21 December 2026 at 18:00 UK time. The test runs at Pearson VUE centres, so book a seat early.
Are there official ESAT past papers for Imperial Physics preparation?
No. UAT-UK has never released official ESAT past papers. The ESAT replaced the NSAA and ENGAA from 2024, and FrontierVUE reorganises 31 archive papers from those predecessor exams (2015 to 2023) into the current ESAT modules, alongside 26 mock papers including Frontier Original full ESAT-format sets: 2,345 questions in total, each with explanations and Chinese translations, with the two newest archive papers free to try.
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.
Start preparing for the ESAT for Physics
72 ESAT papers and 2790 questions on FrontierVUE, every one with a worked solution. The 2 most recent papers are free to try.