ESAT Preparation: Engineering and Science Admissions Test Guide
The ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) is used for selected courses at Cambridge, Imperial, Oxford and UCL. Check the course requirements for your entry year before registering.
The required module combination depends on the course. If you apply to several courses, check that your booking meets all their requirements.
Test structure
Each ESAT module contains 27 multiple-choice questions and lasts 40 minutes. Most candidates take three modules, giving 120 minutes in total.
Mathematics 1 is compulsory. Most candidates also take two modules from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2, as specified by their chosen courses.
Use the current UAT-UK specification and preparation materials to check the syllabus. Do not assume that a school qualification covers every topic or uses the same question style.
Calculators and dictionaries are not allowed. Incorrect answers do not reduce your score.
On the same topic, see our article: Choosing an IT course.
When to register and sit
For 2027 entry, the general test windows are 12–16 October 2026 and 4–8 January 2027. Most Oxford and Cambridge applicants must use October. Consult the UAT-UK calendar for booking deadlines, exceptions and regional dates. Results are released later through your UAT-UK account, not immediately after the test.
How to prepare
Preparation should combine revision of the specified topics with timed practice. Review both incorrect answers and questions you could not finish.
Start with the free official specimen and practice tests in the Pearson test player, available through UAT-UK. These help you practise the current format and interface. Older questions may offer additional practice, but should not replace the current specification.
For the mathematics sections, the key skills are: working with unfamiliar notation quickly, handling multi-step problems without a calculator, and recognising when a problem is simpler than it appears. Calculators are not permitted.
For Physics, use the official topic list to identify gaps, then practise extracting relevant information and selecting an appropriate method.
French baccalaureate students should budget time to learn English scientific vocabulary if they’ve studied their bac spécialités in French.
What score do you need?
ESAT results are reported separately for each module on a 1–9 scale. There is no universal pass mark or guaranteed interview score; universities consider results alongside the rest of an application.
YourDreamSchool’s ESAT preparation
YourDreamSchool works with students applying to Cambridge and Imperial for STEM programmes. Our ESAT preparation includes:
- Diagnostic assessment to identify which parts of the syllabus need the most work
- Timed practice sessions with worked solutions and question-type analysis
- Targeted work on the mathematical reasoning speed that differentiates high scorers
- Coordination with your overall Cambridge or Imperial application timeline (UCAS personal statement, references, interview preparation)
ESAT preparation is available as a standalone programme or as part of our UCAS and Oxbridge packages. Contact our team to discuss your timeline and target score.
Test-format and registration references checked on 28 September 2026: official ESAT overview and UAT-UK calendar.