What is the ESAT and who needs it?
The Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT) is run by UAT-UK and taken on computer at Pearson VUE test centres. It tests whether you can apply GCSE and A-level science and maths quickly, without a calculator, in unfamiliar problems. For 2027 entry four universities use it:
- Cambridge: Engineering; Natural Sciences; Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology; Veterinary Medicine.
- Oxford: Engineering Science and its separate engineering courses (biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, information, mechanical, including Foundation Year versions); Physics; Physics and Philosophy; Biomedical Sciences. Oxford moved to the UAT-UK tests from 2026, so the old PAT is no longer used.
- Imperial: Aeronautical, Civil, Electrical and Electronic, Electronic and Information, Mechanical, Chemical and Design Engineering; Physics; Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Ecology and Environmental Biology, and Microbiology.
- UCL: Electronic and Electrical Engineering (BEng and MEng).
Maths, computer science and economics courses use the TMUA instead. Always confirm on the university's course page before booking.
ESAT format and which modules to take
Every module has 27 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes. Everyone takes Mathematics 1. Most candidates then take two more modules, so the usual test is three modules and 120 minutes. Calculators and dictionaries are not allowed.
| Module | Who takes it |
|---|---|
| Mathematics 1 | Everyone |
| Mathematics 2 | Required for most engineering and physics courses |
| Physics | Required for most engineering and physics courses |
| Chemistry | Imperial Chemical Engineering and biosciences; an option elsewhere |
| Biology | Imperial biosciences; an option for Natural Sciences, Vet Medicine, Biomedical Sciences |
Module rules from the 2027 course list:
- Maths 1, Maths 2 and Physics: Cambridge Engineering; Oxford engineering courses, Physics, and Physics and Philosophy; Imperial Aeronautical, Civil, Electrical and Electronic, Electronic and Information, and Mechanical Engineering and Physics.
- Maths 1, Maths 2 and Chemistry: Imperial Chemical Engineering.
- Maths 1, Chemistry and Biology: Imperial biosciences courses.
- Maths 1 and Maths 2 only: Imperial Design Engineering.
- Maths 1 plus any two: Cambridge Natural Sciences, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, and Veterinary Medicine; Oxford Biomedical Sciences; UCL Electronic and Electrical Engineering.
40 minutes for 27 questions is under 90 seconds a question. Speed with mental arithmetic, standard results and units matters as much as knowledge.
How the ESAT is scored and what a good score looks like
You get a separate score for each module on a 1 to 9 scale, to one decimal place. There is no overall score, no pass mark, and no penalty for wrong answers, so answer every question. Scores are equated across test versions.
Results come out about six weeks after the test in your UAT-UK account. Imperial publishes an interactive dashboard of mean scores and score spreads by department for the 2025 cycle, but stresses that these vary each year and are not requirements. No official cut-offs are published. Universities read your scores alongside predicted grades, your personal statement and, at Oxford and Cambridge, interviews.
ESAT dates and fees for the 2026–27 cycle
The October sitting (12–16 October 2026, results 16 November 2026) has passed. It was the main sitting for 2027 entry and the only one for most Oxford and Cambridge applicants. The January sitting is:
| January 2027 sitting | Date |
|---|---|
| Booking opens | 28 October 2026, 3pm |
| Access arrangements deadline | 7 December 2026, 6pm |
| Bursary deadline | 14 December 2026, 6pm |
| Booking closes | 21 December 2026, 6pm |
| Test window | 4–8 January 2027 |
| Results | 8 February 2027 |
UAT-UK says the January sitting does not apply to Oxford or Cambridge, except for Cambridge mature colleges and the Oxford Foundation Year, which have January deadlines. Check your Imperial or UCL course page to see which sitting it accepts. You can sit each UAT-UK test once per cycle.
Fee: £78 in the UK and Republic of Ireland, £133 elsewhere. UK applicants in financial need can apply for a bursary.
How to prepare: a 4-week ESAT plan
- Days 1–2: Confirm your modules. Take a practice test for each, timed at 40 minutes, and list the topics you got wrong.
- Week 1, Maths 1: This module counts for everyone. Drill algebra, ratio, graphs, probability and quick non-calculator arithmetic. Do sets of 9 questions in 13 minutes.
- Week 2, your other two modules: Physics: mechanics, electricity, waves and energy, with units and powers of ten by hand. Maths 2: A-level pure. Chemistry: moles, equations and calculations without a calculator. Biology: read the question stem twice and do not over-think.
- Week 3: Two full three-module mocks at real timing. Review every miss and log the reason: knowledge, slip or time.
- Week 4: Two more full mocks plus drills from your error log. Practise skipping: if a question will take over two minutes, flag it and come back.
Short on time? Ten days is enough for three full mocks with thorough reviews. That is far better than reading notes.
Practising with Principly: our 13 ESAT mocks include all five modules at 27 questions in 40 minutes each. Pick the modules your course needs and practise exactly that combination, with worked solutions and a 1–9 estimate per module.
Try a ESAT mock now. The free practice test gives you a decile estimate in one short sitting; the full set is 13 timed mocks with worked solutions.
Common ESAT mistakes
- Booking the wrong modules. Check every course on your UCAS form before you book.
- Running out of time. At under 90 seconds a question, one long calculation can cost you three easy marks later.
- Relying on a calculator in practice. Estimate, cancel and use standard forms by hand.
- Unit slips. Many wrong options come from forgetting to convert grams, centimetres or milliamps.
- Skipping Maths 1 practice because it "looks easy". It is compulsory, and fast accuracy is the skill being tested.
- Leaving blanks. No negative marking means every question should get an answer.
ESAT FAQ
- Which ESAT modules should I take?
- Everyone takes Mathematics 1. Your course decides the rest. For example, Cambridge Engineering needs Maths 2 and Physics, while Cambridge Natural Sciences lets you choose any two. If two of your courses differ, pick modules that satisfy both.
- Can I use a calculator in the ESAT?
- No. Calculators and dictionaries are not permitted in any module.
- How long is the ESAT?
- Each module is 27 questions in 40 minutes. Most candidates sit three modules, which is 120 minutes.
- How is the ESAT scored?
- Each module gets its own score from 1 to 9, to one decimal place. There is no overall score, no pass mark and no penalty for wrong answers.
- Can I take the ESAT in January 2027?
- The January sitting (4–8 January 2027, booking closes 21 December 2026) is not for Oxford or Cambridge applicants, apart from stated exceptions. Check your Imperial or UCL course page.
- Does Oxford still use the PAT?
- No. Oxford moved to the UAT-UK tests from 2026, and its physics and engineering courses list the ESAT for 2027 entry.
- How much does the ESAT cost?
- £78 in the UK and Republic of Ireland and £133 elsewhere, with bursaries for UK applicants in financial need.
Try a ESAT mock now. The free practice test gives you a decile estimate in one short sitting; the full set is 13 timed mocks with worked solutions.
Sources
- UAT-UK: About the ESAT
- UAT-UK: Key dates and deadlines
- UAT-UK: Course list for 2027 entry (PDF)
- University of Oxford: Admissions tests
- Imperial: Understanding your ESAT and TMUA scores
- UCL: Tests, tasks and interviews
Last checked: 31 October 2026
Principly is an independent practice provider. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any test body or university; test names are used only to describe what our mocks prepare for.