University Entrance Test
ESAT Tutoring & PreparationEngineering and Science Admissions Test
Specialist one-to-one preparation for the ESAT — the admissions test for Engineering, Physics, Natural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial and UCL. Learn from tutors who sat these tests and scored well above the offer-holder average.
Find an ESAT tutorAbout the Test
What is the ESAT?
The ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) is the admissions test for engineering, physics, natural sciences and veterinary medicine at Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial and UCL. It's a modular, multiple-choice test of mathematical fluency and scientific problem-solving under time pressure.
Who takes the ESAT
- Engineering, Physics, Natural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine applicants
- Cambridge: Engineering, Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine
- Oxford (from 2027 entry): Engineering Science, Physics, Physics & Philosophy, Biomedical Sciences
- Also used by Imperial College London and UCL for selected courses
Format & scoring
- Mathematics 1 is compulsory; you then take the further modules your course needs (from Maths 2, Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
- Each module: 40 minutes, 27 multiple-choice questions — most candidates sit three (about 120 minutes)
- No calculator, and no marks lost for wrong answers
- Each module scored 1.0–9.0; most score around 4.5, with the top ~10% above 7.0
Key dates (2026 cycle, 2027 entry)
- Registration opens: 20 July 2026
- Registration deadline: 28 September 2026
- Oxford & Cambridge applicants must sit in October
- Imperial/UCL may choose October or January (January booking by 21 December 2026)
- An entry fee applies; bursaries available for UK candidates in need
What's changed?
- The ESAT replaced Cambridge's ENGAA and NSAA in 2024
- From 2027 entry, Oxford has adopted it for Physics, Engineering and Biomedical Sciences (in place of the PAT)
- ENGAA and NSAA past papers remain some of the best available practice
- Always confirm the exact modules your course needs before you register
Dates, modules and fees are set by UAT-UK and confirmed on each university's course pages — always check the latest at esat-tmua.ac.uk before registering.
Which modules do you take?
Maths 1 — plus two more, set by your course
Every ESAT candidate sits Mathematics 1. You then take two further modules from Mathematics 2, Physics, Chemistry and Biology — and the combination is decided by the course you apply to, not by you. Registering for the wrong modules can invalidate your application, so check carefully. The most common combinations:
Engineering & Physics
Maths 1 · Maths 2 · Physics
Cambridge Engineering · Oxford Engineering Science, Physics, and Physics & Philosophy · Imperial engineering & physics
Biological sciences
Maths 1 · Biology · Chemistry
Cambridge Natural Sciences (biology route) · Veterinary Medicine · Oxford Biomedical Sciences
Physical sciences
Maths 1 · Physics · Chemistry or Maths 2
Cambridge Natural Sciences (physical route) · Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology
Module requirements are set by each university and can change between cycles — always confirm the exact combination for your course on the official UAT-UK and university course pages before you register. You can't change modules at the test centre.
Not sure who to prepare with? Check the module badge on each tutor below and pick the one whose modules match yours.
Your Tutors
Meet our ESAT tutors
Oxford and Cambridge tutors who sat the engineering and science admissions tests themselves — and have guided applicants to offers.
Louis
Oxford — MSt Philosophy of Physics
Oxford graduate (MSt Philosophy of Physics) and Durham Physics First, with four A*s including Maths, Further Maths and Physics. Last cycle I guided multiple students to competitive Oxford Physics offers — a success rate well above the university average — and I specialise in ESAT preparation and Physics, Maths and Engineering admissions.
I offer comprehensive support tailored to the selection criteria: ESAT preparation, refining personal statements and intensive mock interviews. My master's deepened my conceptual grasp of physics and sharpened how clearly I can explain demanding ideas.
Aminah
Oxford Biology — First Class Master's
I graduated from Oxford with a First Class Master's in Biology and I'm now a PhD researcher in biology, working with AI and bioinformatics. I scored 44/45 in the IB with straight 7s, and I've spent five years tutoring Biology and Chemistry from GCSE to A-Level and IB — so I know the ESAT's Biology and Chemistry content inside out.
Alongside subject tuition, I've supported Biology applicants through admissions for the past three years — running personal statement workshops and mock interviews, and helping students show genuine passion for the subject. Three of my students have gone on to study Biology at Oxford. In my research role I also teach genomics to Master's students, so I'm used to making complex ideas click. I like to weave exam-style questions into every session so you build both content and technique.
William
Cambridge Physics — MSci (First Class)
Hi, I'm William, a Cambridge Physics MSci student specialising in theoretical and computational physics, with consistently high First-Class marks, multiple scholarships and prizes, and prize-winning original research. I entered Cambridge through Natural Sciences, and I focus on ESAT Physics and Maths preparation, entrance-test problem solving and Oxbridge-style interviews.
I support students preparing for the ESAT Physics and Maths modules and Cambridge Natural Sciences and Physics applications, alongside A-Level Physics, Maths and Further Maths. I focus on fast, accurate problem solving and clear physical intuition — helping you understand not just how to reach the answer but why the method works, so you can adapt confidently to unfamiliar questions under pressure. Through outreach and admissions work with the Cambridge Physics Department, and prize-winning experience explaining complex ideas clearly, I'm used to making demanding physics genuinely click.
Lion
Cambridge Engineering — MEng (First Class)
Cambridge Engineering graduate (MEng, First Class) and Formula 1 Scholar. I scored an average of 7 out of 9 across the three sections of Cambridge's engineering admissions test — well above the typical offer-holder average of around 5.5 — and I specialise in ESAT preparation and Oxbridge engineering applications.
Since starting at Cambridge I've tutored admissions tests alongside A-Level Maths, Further Maths and Physics, and mentored Oxbridge applicants through interviews and application strategy. My MEng specialised in machine learning, and I bring that problem-solving focus to every session.
Alexander
Oxford Engineering — Fourth Year (MEng)
Fourth-year Oxford Engineering student (MEng) with three years of tutoring experience. I specialise in ESAT preparation and engineering interview coaching for Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial — having received Engineering offers from both Oxford and Imperial myself.
I've prepared students for both the admissions tests and interviews, with several going on to secure Oxford and Cambridge offers. I tutor Maths, Physics and Biology at GCSE, A-Level and IB, working with students at every level — patient, enthusiastic and practical.
Barnaby
Oxford Mathematical & Theoretical Physics — MMathPhys
Oxford MMathPhys student with a First-Class bachelor's and a predicted First in my master's, holding an 86% average across my mathematics modules. I specialise in TMUA, STEP and maths/physics admissions, with all-A* A-Levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
I've gained classroom teaching experience through a secondary-school physics teaching internship and mentored students on Oxford's MPLS bridging programme, which supports applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds. I tutor A-Level Maths and Physics alongside admissions preparation.
Free Resources
Official ESAT resources
The ESAT is still new, so official practice is limited but reliable. Start with the UAT-UK specification and practice materials, then build volume with the legacy past papers below.
Official test pages
Practice materials
Because the ESAT only began in 2024, the retired ENGAA and NSAA past papers remain excellent practice — the ESAT shares much of their content and question style. UAT-UK recommends them too.
All official resources are hosted by UAT-UK and the universities, and open in a new tab.
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