University admissions tests

The BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is a subject-specific admissions test taken by applicants to certain medicine, veterinary medicine and related courses. The BMAT is owned and administered by Cambridge Assessment, the new identity for UCLES, one of the world’s largest assessment agencies.

Test format

The BMAT is divided into three sections:

• Aptitude and Skills.
• Scientific Knowledge and Applications.
• Writing Task.

Exam dates: examinations are held in October/November each year. Please visit this page in August to find out about the exact  exam fees for the current year.
BMAT – October can be taken at your chosen centre on 18 October.  

Registration: will take place from first week in September to end September.

Exam fees and venue details will be published on this page, by mid August.

Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) tests the skills that are essential for success in higher education such as critical thinking and problem solving which school-based exams don’t cover specifically.

Students don’t need to be familiar with specific texts or theoretical frameworks – they’re simply being tested on their ability to think through problems and arguments, critically and logically

Who uses TSA? 
TSA is used by a number of leading universities, including the University of Oxford, University College London (UCL) and the University of Cambridge.

What’s in TSA? 
TSA is a pen and paper test consisting of two sections. Section two is optional. 

Section 1: Multiple-choice questions testing problem-solving and critical thinking skills. 
Section 2: Writing task.

Exam dates: examinations are held in November each year.

Registration: will take place from first week in September to the end of September.

Exam fees and venue details will be published on this page, by mid August.

The Physics Aptitude Test (PAT) is a two-hour paper test. It covers subject-specific admission tests for applicants to all University of Oxford Engineering, Materials Science and Physics undergraduate degree courses.

The Admissions Testing Service works in partnership with the University of Oxford to administer the PAT.

The University of Oxford’s Department of Physics is responsible for the setting and development of the PAT, including the test format and scoring. For general information about the test, see University of Oxford’s Department of Physics website.

Exam dates: examinations are held in November each year. 

Registration: will take place from first week in September to the end of September.

Exam fees and venue details will be published on this page, by mid August.

The HAT is a two-hour paper test. I covers subject-specific admission test for applicants to the University of Oxford’s undergraduate degree courses in history and its joint schools.

The Admissions Testing Service works with the University of Oxford to assist in the administration of its History Aptitude Test (HAT).

For general information about the test, including the test format and preparation, see University of Oxford’s Faculty of History website.

Exam dates: examinations are held in November each year. 

Registration: will take place from first week in September to end September.

Exam fees and venue details will be published on this page, by mid August.

The English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT) is a pre-interview admissions test for applicants to English undergraduate courses at the University of Oxford. It is one of the elements admissions tutors use to decide whether to invite a candidate for interview.

The ELAT is a 90 minute paper test designed to enable applicants to show their ability in the key skill of close reading. Candidates write one essay comparing two or three passages set for comment, focusing on elements such as language, imagery, allusion, syntax, form and structure. 

For more information on this test and to register, please contact us.

STEP (Sixth Term Examination Paper) Mathematics is a mathematics examination designed to test candidates on questions similar in style to undergraduate mathematics.

STEP is used by the University of Cambridge, the University of Warwick and Imperial College London. Candidates applying to other universities may also be requested to take this examination. Please check with your university if you are required to take STEP and which papers to take. 

Please click here to find more information.