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.
- 72
- Papers
- 2790
- Questions
- 2
- Free to try
Oxford Biomedical Sciences (BC98): ESAT at a Glance
- Is an admissions test required?
- Compulsory, but completing any one of the ESAT, TARA or the TMUA satisfies it
- Which ESAT modules on the ESAT route
- Three: Mathematics 1 compulsory, plus any two of Biology / Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics 2
- UCAS code
- BC98 (Biomedical Sciences, University of Oxford)
- Usable sitting (Oxford BC98 applicants)
- October only: 12 to 13 October 2026 for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau; a 6 January 2027 score will not work for an Oxford application
- Booking deadline, October sitting
- 6pm UK time on 28 September 2026
The requirement, UCAS code and module combination come from the official UAT-UK 2027 Course List; the October-only rule for Oxford applicants comes from the official Imperial and Cambridge ESAT pages; the fixed dates for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau and the booking deadline come from UAT-UK's official schedule, which is always the final authority.
4 sections1,027 words6 min read
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: an admissions test is compulsory, and the Course List states "either the ESAT, TARA or the TMUA is compulsory", so you must complete one of the three. This page focuses on the ESAT route.
Course and UCAS code
Biomedical Sciences, BC98
Oxford's only undergraduate course in this area for 2027 entry
Admissions test
Compulsory: complete one of the ESAT, TARA or the TMUA
Official wording: "either the ESAT, TARA or the TMUA is compulsory"
ESAT module combination
Mathematics 1 compulsory, plus any two others
The two optional modules come from Biology / Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics 2
Modules and total time
Three modules, 120 minutes in total
Each module
27 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes
Score scale
1.0 to 9.0 per module
The three modules are not a free choice throughout: under the UAT-UK 2027 Course List, Mathematics 1 is fixed and only the remaining two are picked by the candidate. See the ESAT scoring guide for how the scale works.
ESAT modules for Oxford Biomedical Sciences (BC98)
From the official UAT-UK 2027 Course List: three modules in total
Mathematics 1Compulsory
Any two of the followingChoose any two from the four below; no particular combination is prescribed
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Mathematics 2
Tap a branch to unfold
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.
Note that 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 Oxford Biomedical Sciences (BC98); a score from the 6 January 2027 sitting will not work for an Oxford application.
2026 – 2027Timeline
Sep 26
Oct 26
Nov 26
Dec 26
Jan 27
Booking closes, October sitting28 Sep 2026, 6pm
Booking closes, October sitting
28 Sep 2026, 6pm
Per UAT-UK's official schedule, booking for the October sitting closes at 6pm UK time on 28 September 2026. Applicants to Oxford Biomedical Sciences (BC98) can only use the October sitting, so this is the hard deadline for the cycle.
October sitting (mainland China / Hong Kong / Macau)12 to 13 Oct 2026
October sitting (mainland China / Hong Kong / Macau)
12 to 13 Oct 2026
For 2027 entry, candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau sit the October test on the fixed dates of 12 to 13 October 2026, which is also the only sitting usable for Oxford Biomedical Sciences (BC98).
Booking closes, January sitting21 Dec 2026
Booking closes, January sitting
21 Dec 2026
Per UAT-UK's official schedule, booking for the January sitting closes on 21 December 2026. This sitting does not work for Oxford applicants and is listed for reference only.
January sitting (mainland China / Hong Kong / Macau)6 Jan 2027
January sitting (mainland China / Hong Kong / Macau)
6 Jan 2027
For candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, the January sitting is fixed to 6 January 2027. A score from this sitting will not work for an Oxford application.
Hard deadline Event WindowDates and booking deadlines follow UAT-UK's official schedule; always confirm against official announcements.
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, which FrontierVue has reorganised into the current ESAT module structure. The bank looks like this.
Archive papers
31
From the predecessor NSAA and ENGAA tests, 2015 to 2023, reorganised into the current ESAT module structure
Mock papers
26
Including Frontier Original full ESAT-format sets
Questions in total
2,345
Each with a worked explanation and a Chinese translation
Free to try
The two most recent archive papers
Start at the ESAT practice hub, or read the ESAT exam overview first. The route below is our own suggestion rather than an official procedure, so adjust the pace to your own progress.
01Step 1
Know what you can practise on
No official ESAT past papers have ever been released, so the NSAA and ENGAA archive is the closest thing to authentic material. Begin at the ESAT practice hub.
02Step 2
Work module by module
Go through the subject guides for the modules you will actually sit: Mathematics 1 is compulsory, and the other two are your own choice from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2.
03Step 3
Train the pacing
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.
The guides used in the steps above:
- Module by module: Mathematics 1, Biology, Chemistry and Physics
- Pacing: the time management guide
04
Points Specific to Oxford
Three points apply specifically to applicants for Oxford Biomedical Sciences (BC98): choosing between the three tests, choosing your optional modules, and the single sitting available this cycle.
Choosing between the three tests: ESAT, TARA or TMUA
The official position for Oxford Biomedical Sciences (BC98) is that completing any one of the ESAT, TARA or TMUA satisfies the requirement. The three tests are separate, and our advice is to choose based on your subject strengths and on which test the other courses in your application cycle accept, so that you avoid preparing for more than one.
Choosing your optional modules: the two beyond Mathematics 1
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, applicants to Oxford Biomedical Sciences (BC98) 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.
Start preparing for the ESAT for Biomedical Sciences
72 ESAT papers and 2790 questions on FrontierVUE, every one with a worked solution. The 2 most recent papers are free to try.