NSAA PAST PAPERS

NSAA Past Papers (2016–2023)

Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment. The final NSAA sitting was the 2023 admissions cycle. From 2024 onwards Cambridge and other universities moved to the ESAT, and the NSAA is no longer administered. No new NSAA papers will ever be released, so the existing archive is all there is. FrontierVUE hosts all 18 papers we hold, each sat online in a timed interface with worked solutions.

Past papers
18
Questions
1204
Years covered
2016–2023
Try past papers freeSee all ESAT past papers
About this test

What the NSAA was, and why it still matters

The admissions test for Natural Sciences and related science courses at the University of Cambridge.

The NSAA had two sections. Section 1 contained four parts: Part A (Mathematics) was compulsory, and candidates chose one of Part B (Physics), Part C (Chemistry) or Part D (Biology). Section 2 tested a single subject in greater depth. All questions were multiple choice.

WHY IT STILL WORKS

What NSAA papers do for your ESAT preparation

The ESAT draws on much the same ground as the NSAA: the first two years of A-Level maths and science, multiple choice throughout, and the same emphasis on fast quantitative reasoning under time pressure. For ESAT candidates the NSAA archive is the largest body of closely comparable material available, and it is particularly good for building speed and accuracy on Mathematics 1 and the science modules.

Module mapping

Which ESAT module each NSAA part maps to

NSAA partESAT moduleWhy it maps
Section 1 Part A (Mathematics)Mathematics 1The module every ESAT candidate sits. This is where the overlap is strongest, so it is the highest-value part of the archive.
Section 1 Part B (Physics)PhysicsMechanics, electricity and waves carry over largely unchanged.
Section 1 Part C (Chemistry)ChemistryPhysical and inorganic chemistry calculations are the most directly comparable.
Section 1 Part D (Biology)BiologyCell biology, genetics and physiology follow the same question style.
Section 2Mathematics 2Section 2 sits closest in difficulty to the ESAT advanced maths module, and is the right material for pushing towards a high score.

This table describes continuity of content and question style, not an official equivalence. The ESAT has its own specification, so always check the UAT-UK specification before you sit it.

Before you use this archive

The NSAA was a paper-based test while the ESAT is computer-based, so pacing and interface differ. Each ESAT module is 27 questions in 40 minutes, which does not map one-to-one onto the NSAA structure. Use the NSAA archive for content and speed, and use ESAT-format mocks for the on-screen experience.

Paper list

All 18 NSAA past papers

YearPaperQuestionsAccess
2023Section 260Free
2023Section 180Free
2022Section 260Premium
2022Section 180Premium
2021Section 260Premium
2021Section 180Premium
2020Section 180Premium
2020Section 180Premium
2020Section 260Premium
2019Section 235Premium
2019Section 190Premium
2018Section 225Premium
2018Section 190Premium
2017Section 228Premium
2017Section 190Premium
2016Section 226Premium
2016Section 190Premium
2016Section 190Premium
WHY FRONTIERVUE

Sharper than a stack of PDFs

  • Exam-style pacing: the NSAA was a paper test and the ESAT is sat on screen. Here every paper runs in a timed interface with instant marking, so there are no answer keys to check by hand.

  • Worked solutions: every question comes with a full solution, and mistakes can be saved to a review list for repeat practice.

  • Performance analytics: accuracy and timing are broken down by topic, so weak areas are visible rather than guessed at.

  • Complete by year: the whole NSAA archive is organised by year and paper, so you can sit a full timed paper or drill a single year.

  • Always current: for a year after purchase, new ESAT papers and solutions are added at no extra cost; everything already unlocked stays available afterwards.

FAQ

FAQ

Is the NSAA still running?
The final NSAA sitting was the 2023 admissions cycle. From 2024 onwards Cambridge and other universities moved to the ESAT, and the NSAA is no longer administered. No new NSAA papers will ever be released, so the existing archive is all there is.
Are NSAA past papers useful for ESAT preparation?
The ESAT draws on much the same ground as the NSAA: the first two years of A-Level maths and science, multiple choice throughout, and the same emphasis on fast quantitative reasoning under time pressure. For ESAT candidates the NSAA archive is the largest body of closely comparable material available, and it is particularly good for building speed and accuracy on Mathematics 1 and the science modules.
How many NSAA past papers are on FrontierVUE?
18 papers, each sat online in a timed interface with worked solutions and performance analytics on submission. Registration is free and the first 2 past papers in every subject are free to try.
Which ESAT module should I practise with NSAA papers?
Section 1 Part A (Mathematics) maps to ESAT Mathematics 1. Section 1 Part B (Physics) maps to ESAT Physics. Section 1 Part C (Chemistry) maps to ESAT Chemistry. Section 1 Part D (Biology) maps to ESAT Biology. Section 2 maps to ESAT Mathematics 2. This reflects continuity of content and question style rather than an official equivalence, so check the UAT-UK specification for the definitive scope.
Before you use the NSAA archive
The NSAA was a paper-based test while the ESAT is computer-based, so pacing and interface differ. Each ESAT module is 27 questions in 40 minutes, which does not map one-to-one onto the NSAA structure. Use the NSAA archive for content and speed, and use ESAT-format mocks for the on-screen experience.
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Related pages

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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