The implementation of admissions tests at Oxbridge is one of the key factors that sets their admissions process apart from other universities in the UK. They also provide one of the greatest challenges to applicants, so being able to provide support for these tests is a vital skill to learn.
If you have worked with Medicine and Law applicants at your school then you should already be aware of the admissions test process. However, when it comes to Oxbridge, the amount of knowledge required to provide effective support goes far deeper.
Most major courses at Oxford and Cambridge will require an admissions test of some sort, and the types of tests available vary greatly. Thankfully, this guide will teach you all about these tests, including the formats, key dates and much more. If you’re ready, let’s start off by recapping the basics of admissions testing.
What are Admissions Tests?
Put simply, an admissions test (or entrance exam) is an examination used by an institution as a metric for the quality of their applicants. This concept isn’t exclusive to universities and is also used for employment, school admissions and much more.
However, we are concerned with Oxbridge admissions tests. These tests are implemented by Oxford and Cambridge in order to view the academic potential of their applicants. These tests can have completely different formats to one another, ranging from scientific multiple-choice exams to general thinking skills tests and even essay writing. Each test is designed to be relevant to the course that is using it.
Why Does Oxbridge Use Admissions Tests?
If you have read our other Teachers Guides, you should already know that Oxbridge is extremely competitive, having some of the most competitive degrees in the UK and even the world. With the number of applications received and the quality of said applications, it would be next to impossible to make informed decisions about who to admit with just the standard UCAS Application.
Therefore, they implemented some extra steps in the admissions process to help get a better picture of each of their applicants. This includes the Oxbridge Interviews, submitted work and, of course, Admissions Tests. These exams test each applicant’s competency and ability in their chosen subject, which makes the shortlisting process much easier for the admissions tutors.
This is all a massive benefit for Oxford and Cambridge, but these tests can also help applicants in a couple of ways.
For more niche subjects, the specialised admissions tests offer an exam experience focussed on what the student wants to study.
Scoring well in an Oxbridge admissions test is the perfect confidence boost for any applicant who feels they may not be right for Oxbridge.
How Are Admissions Tests Used at Oxbridge?
As you would expect, admissions tests at Oxford and Cambridge are used during the admissions process to help determine the best applicants for the course. However, this isn’t as simple as admitting the applicants with the highest scores. In many cases, the admissions test score is mostly used within the shortlisting process.
The Oxbridge Shortlisting Process
Every Oxbridge applicant will have submitted their UCAS application (including Personal Statements) by October 16th and sat their relevant admissions test by November at the latest. However, decisions aren’t made yet as applicants will still need to attend their interviews, should they be invited.
Not every applicant is invited to interviews, so academic grades, Personal Statements and admissions test scores are used to differentiate between applications and help filter the best prospective students. While a student’s academic performance is expected to reach a certain level to be considered, the other two elements provide a good insight into each applicant’s abilities and personal character, both being important to the admissions tutors at Oxbridge. Therefore, it is important that both parts are to a high standard in order to stand out from the competition.
Interview performance plays a big part in the final decision-making process as it provides the most in-depth look at each applicant and is typically fresh in the minds of the admissions tutors. However, Personal Statements and admissions test scores are reviewed again before making decisions.
UniAdmissions' Teacher Tips
- Be aware that some courses at Cambridge will require applicants to sit their admissions test on the same day as their interview, so the score isn't used in the shortlisting process in these cases.
Admissions test Weightings
One question that is often asked is how important the admissions test is to an application, or the weighting of the results compared to other factors in the process. In truth, there is no definitive answer to this question as it will vary from subject to subject and college to college (if set weightings are even used).
However, we have found that the below pie chart roughly reflects how important each element of the application is to admissions tutors:
As you can see, the main factor considered here is the Interview at 40% weight. This is followed by the Admissions Test Score which typically accounts for 30% of the decision-making process. The other aspects are slightly less important, but all of these factors need to reach an equal level of quality in order to stand the best chance of success.
Does Oxbridge Use Cut-off Scores?
In most cases, there are no threshold or cut-off scores for admissions tests at Oxbridge. This means there is no minimum score that a student needs to achieve in order to be considered for shortlisting.
Of course, achieving a higher score is always going to improve an applicant’s chances. However, a poor performance on the test isn’t going to ruin a student’s application if the other elements are particuarly strong.
Who Runs The Oxbridge Admissions Tests?
It is easy to assume that each subject department simply creates and runs its own admissions tests for its courses, but there are actually a variety of organisations involved in administering the various tests used at Oxbridge.
Pearson VUE
Pearson VUE is one of the largest exam organisers in the UK and have been responsible for the UCAT and LNAT for many years. However, in 2024, it was confirmed that they would also be taking responsibility of two University of Cambridge admissions tests – the ESAT and the TMUA.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Due to a recently announced change in Oxford’s admissions test process, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will be running Oxford’s range of exclusive admissions tests in 2023 and beyond (once again, this change will be discussed later).
These admissions tests include the Physics Admissions Test (PAT), History Admissions Test (HAT) and Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT), which is accepted by a variety of universities in the UK. The press release from Oxford has confirmed a variety of details, although more is due to be announced in the coming months.
University of Cambridge
Various admissions tests used by colleges at Cambridge are developed and administered in-house. These are typically subject-specific tests such as the History Admissions Assessment, Philosophy Admissions Assessment and Classics Admissions Assessment.
With all of this in mind, it’s now time to learn about the admissions tests themselves.
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Oxbridge Admissions Tests: What You Need To Know
Below you will find a comprehensive list of all of the current admissions tests used by Oxford and Cambridge. There are a lot to go through, so you may wish to look up specific ones in order to gain a better understanding of them when needed. However, we do recommend that you develop a basic understanding of each one to help you provide support to your students when needed.
We have split these up into STEM-based and Humanities-based exams, so let’s get started:
Humanities Admissions tests
Oxbridge STEM Admissions Tests
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
Universities:
- All UK Medical Schools
- Learn more about UCAT Universities here
Administrator:
- Pearson VUE
Exam Length:
- 2 Hours
Question Types:
- Multiple-Choice Questions
Key Dates:
| Registration Dates | 14th May – 19th September |
| Testing Dates | 8th July – 26th September |
Format:
The UCAT is a virtual exam that is made up of five sections:
- Verbal Reasoning (21 Minutes)
- Decision Making (31 Minutes)
- Quantitative Reasoning (25 Minutes)
- Abstract Reasoning (12 Minutes)
- Situational Judgement (26 Minutes)
Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT)
Universities:
- University of Oxford
- Imperial College London
- University of Warwick
Subjects:
Administrator:
- Tata Consultancy Services
Question Types:
- Multiple-Choice Questions (Question 1)
- Written Questions (Questions 2 – 6)
Key Dates:
| Registration Deadline | 29th September |
| Testing Date | 19th October |
| Results Released | January |
Exam Length:
- 2 Hours 30 Minutes
Format:
The MAT is made up of six questions:
- Question 1 is multiple choice and contains 10 parts each worth 4 marks. Marks are given solely for the correct answers.
- Questions 2-6 are longer questions, each worth 15 marks, and candidates will need to show their working. Part marks are available for the longer questions.
Which MAT questions do applicants answer?
Applicants only need to answer certain questions based on the subject they are applying for:
- Mathematics, Mathematics & Statistics, Mathematics & Philosophy applicants should attempt questions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
- Mathematics & Computer Science applicants should attempt questions 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6.
- Computer Science, Computer Science & Philosophy applicants should attempt questions 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. Bear in mind that previous year's featured a Question 7 that was required by these applicants. However, this was removed in 2023.
- For other universities, if you are not applying for an Oxford degree, you will need to do Q1,2,3,4,5.
Physics Admissions Test (PAT)
Universities:
- University of Oxford
Subjects:
Administrator:
- Tata Consultancy Services
Exam Length:
- 2 Hours
Question Types:
- Multiple-Choice Questions
- Written Questions
Key Dates:
| Registration Deadline | 29th September |
| Testing Date | 20th October |
| Results Released | January |
Format:
The PAT is made up of two-mark multiple-choice questions and written questions ranging from three-marks up to 10-marks. These questions cover Advanced Mathematics and Physics Each paper will have between 23 and 26 questions.
Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT)
Universities:
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
Subjects:
- (BCF0) Natural Sciences
- (H100) Engineering
- (D100) Veterinary Medicine
- (H810) Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Administrator:
- Pearson VUE
Exam Length:
- 2 Hours
Question Types:
- Multiple-Choice Questions (Sections 5 Subsections)
Key Dates:
| Registration Dates | TBC |
| Testing Dates | 15th – 17th October/7th – 8th January |
| Results Released | November/February |
Format:
The ESAT is the replacement for the NSAA and ENGAA. It is split into 5 subsections, of which applicants will only need to complete 2 – 3:
- Mathematics 1 (Required for all applicants)
- Mathematics 2 (Optional)
- Biology (Optional)
- Chemistry (Optional)
- Physics (Optional)
Test of Mathematics for University Admissions (TMUA)
Universities:
- University of Cambridge
- The TMUA is also accepted (though not required) by a number of non-Oxbridge universities (find out more in our TMUA Guide)
Subjects:
Administrator:
- Pearson VUE
Exam Length:
- 2 Hours 30 Minutes
Question Types:
- Multiple-Choice Questions
Key Dates:
| Registration Dates | TBC |
| Testing Dates | 15th – 17th October/7th – 8th January |
| Results Released | November/February |
Format:
The TMUA is made up of two papers:
Paper 1: This paper contains 20 MCQ relating to pure mathematics. This paper must be completed in 75 Minutes.
Paper 2: This paper contains 20 MCQ relating to mathematical reasoning. This paper must be completed in 75 Minutes.
Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP)
Universities:
- University of Cambridge
- Various Non-Oxbridge Universities will also accept the STEP in their admissions process.
Subjects:
Administrator:
- OCR
Exam Length:
- 6 Hours
Question Types:
- Written Questions
Key Dates:
| Registration Date | 1st March – 4th May |
| STEP Paper 2 Testing Date | 8th June |
| STEP Paper 3 Testing Date | 21st June |
| Results Released | 17th August |
Format:
The STEP is sat in two 3-hour papers across 2 days. Each paper contains 12 questions, 6 of which must be answered by the applicant (they may choose which).
Specification:
Oxbridge Humanities Admissions Tests
Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT)
Universities:
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Learn more about LNAT Universities here
Subjects:
Administrator:
- Law National Aptitude Test
Exam Length:
- 2 Hours 15 Minutes
Question Types:
- Multiple-Choice Questions (Section A)
- Essay Writing (Section B)
Key Dates:
| LNAT Registration | 1st August – 15 September |
| First Testing Date | 1st September |
| Final Testing Date | 16th October |
Format:
The LNAT is split into two sections:
- Section A: This section contains 42 MCQ’s relating to 12 argumentative passages. These questions test analysis, reasoning, deduction and comprehension. Applicants have 95 minutes to complete this section.
- Section B: This section tasks applicants with answering one of three questions with an argumentative essay. This section lasts 40 minutes.
Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
Universities:
- University of Oxford
Subjects:
- (L0V0) Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
- (LN12) Economics and Management
- (LV11) History and Economics
- (BCL0) Human Sciences
- (VQ51) Philosophy and Linguistics
- (CQ81) Psychology and Linguistics
- (CV85) Psychology and Philosophy
- (C830) Experimental Psychology
Administrator:
- TBC
Exam Length:
- 2 Hours
Question Types:
- Multiple-Choice Questions (Section 1)
- Essay Writing (Section 2)
Key Dates:
| Registration Dates | TBC |
|---|---|
| Testing Date | TBC |
| Results Released | TBC |
Format:
The TSA is split into two sections:
- Section 1: This section contains 50 MCQ’s that test general Problem Solving and Critical Thinking skills. Applicants have 90 minutes to complete this section.
- Section 2: In this section, the applicant must answer one of four questions with an argumentative essay. Applicants have 30 minutes to complete this section.
Note that applicants of (LN12) Economics and Management and (LV11) History and Economics only have to complete Section 1, not Section 2.
Classics Admissions Test (CAT)
Universities:
- University of Oxford
Subjects:
- (Q800) Classics
- (QQ38) Classics and English
- Classics and Modern Languages
- (Q8T9) Classics and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Administrator:
- Tata Consultancy Services
Exam Length:
- 1 Hour
Question Types:
- Translation Tasks (Latin Translation Test and Greek Translation Test)
- Written Questions (CLAT)
Key Dates:
| Registration Deadline | 29th September |
| Testing Date | 19th October |
| Results Released | January |
Format:
The CAT is split into three different papers, of which an applicant will only sit one based on the subject they are applying for:
- Latin Translation Test: This paper requires the applicant to complete a pair of translation tasks in Latin.
- Greek Translation Test: This paper requires the applicant to complete a pair of translation tasks in Greek.
- Classics Language Aptitude Test (CLAT): This paper requires the applicant to complete five written questions based on a variety of languages.
You can find more information about which papers your students will be sitting here.
English Literature Admissions Test (Oxford ELAT)
Universities:
- University of Oxford
Subjects:
- (Q300) English Literature and Language
- (QQ38) Classics and Language
- English and Modern Language
- (VQ13) History and English
Administrator:
- Tata Consultancy Services
Exam Length:
- 90 Minutes
Question Types:
- Essay Writing
Key Dates:
| Registration Deadline | 29th September |
| Testing Date | 19th October |
| Results Released | January |
Format:
The ELAT is an essay writing task that requires applicants to pick two of six available poems to compare and contrast in a written piece of work. These six poems are linked by a theme which is stated in the paper. Applicants a recommended to spend 30 minutes reading each poem and the remaining time writing their piece.
Geography Admissions Test (GAT)
Universities:
- University of Oxford
Subjects:
Administrator:
- Tata Consultancy Services
Exam Length:
- 1 Hour 45 Minutes
Question Types:
- Multiple Choice Questions – Parts A/B
- Essay Writing – Part C
Key Dates:
| Registration Deadline | 29th September |
| Testing Date | 19th October |
| Results Released | January |
Format:
The GAT is an admissions test returning in 2023. The test is split into three sections which each test a different skill:
- Part A: This section lasts 30 Minutes and tests Critical Thinking via Multiple Choice Questions. There are two sub-sections in Part A which each contains a passage. The questions in each sub-section are based on said passage.
- Part B: This section also lasts 30 Minutes and is split into sub-sections. Applicants are tested on their problem-solving skills by answering MCQs based on provided information.
- Part C: This section lasts 45 Minutes and requires applicants to read a passage and answer an essay question based on it.
History Admissions Test (HAT)
Universities:
- University of Oxford
Subjects:
- (V100) History
- (V118) History (Ancient and Modern)
- (LV11) History and Economics
- (VQ13) History and English
- History and Modern Languages
- (LV21) History and Politics
Administrator:
- Tata Consultancy Services
Exam Length:
- 1 Hour
Question Types:
- Essay Writing
Key Dates:
| Registration Deadline | 29th September |
| Testing Date | 20th October |
| Results Released | January |
Format:
In the HAT, applicants are given a single question to answer based on a passage relating to a historical event. The essay should be based only on the information provided in the passage, so external knowledge of the subject is not to be discussed.
Modern Languages Admissions Test (MLAT)
Universities:
- University of Oxford
Subjects:
- Modern Languages
- European and Middle Eastern Languages
- Classics and Modern Languages
- English and Modern Languages
- History and Modern Languages
- Modern Languages and Linguistics
- Philosophy and Modern Languages.
Administrator:
- Tata Consultancy Services
Exam Length:
- 30 Minutes (Excluding the Philosophy Section which lasts 1 Hour)
Question Types:
- Written Questions
- Translation Exercises
- Essay Writing (Philosophy)
Key Dates:
| Registration Deadline | 29th September |
| Testing Date | 20th October |
| Results Released | January |
Format:
The MLAT is a collection of 10 smaller tests based on a variety of languages and disciplines. Candidates will only be required to complete one of these 10 tests based on the language they have chosen to study for their course. The 10 tests in the MLAT are:
- Czech
- French
- German
- Italian
- Modern Greek
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Spanish
- Language Aptitude Test (LAT)
- Philosophy
The exercises included in the MLAT vary from language to language, including translation exercises, grammar exercises and more. The LAT is based around invented languages and the Philosophy section includes long-form written questions.
Oxford Philosophy Test
Universities:
- University of Oxford
Subjects:
Administrator:
- Tata Consultancy Services
Exam Length:
- 60 Minutes
Question Types:
- Written Questions
- Essay Writing
Key Dates:
| Registration Deadline | 29th September |
| Testing Date | 20th October |
| Results Released | January |
Format:
The Oxford Philosophy Test is split into two Parts. Part A requires applicants to answer a question about a passage in multiple parts. Applicants will sometimes need to choose between two questions to answer. Part B is an essay writing tasks, where applicants are provided three questions to pick one from. The subjects of these questions will all vary from one another. Each part lasts 30 minutes.
Cambridge College Assessments
The University of Cambridge run a number of smaller admissions tests in-house for different courses. These are run by the colleges directly, so most of these tests are run in person on the same day as the interviews. This means that no registration is required as only shortlisted applicants will be required to take these tests. While some of these tests are required by all colleges, some courses have tests that are not essential to sit for every college. There can also be some variance in the exams from college to college, so be ensure your student has all the relevant information from their chosen college.
Below are the admissions test that will be required of applicants at Cambridge:
Archaeology Admissions Assessment
Subjects: (V400) Archaeology
Exam Length: 1 Hour
Question Types: Written Questions
The Archaeology Admissions Assessment is a computer-based test that requires applicants to write four analytical, argumentative answers to questions based on two included passages. For each passage, the applicants will need to pick two questions to answer out of four. Prior knowledge of the passage topics is not required.
Architecture Admissions Assessment
Subjects: (K100) Architecture, (KH11) Design
Exam Length: 1 Hour
Question Types: Written Questions & Graphic Sketching
The Architecture Admissions Assessment is split into two sections, each lasting 30 minutes. The first section is a test of writing ability, providing the applicant with a long-form written question to answer. The second section is a test of graphical and spatial ability, requiring applicants to sketch the room they are sitting the exam in (this exam is sat at the university).
Classics Admissions Assessment (CAA)
Subjects: (Q800/Q801) Classics (3-Year and 4-Year Course)
Exam Length: 1 Hour (+ 20 Minute Language Aptitude Interview for 4-Year applicants)
Question Types: Translation Exercises (+ Language Aptitude Interview for 4-Year applicants)
The CAA features two separate papers for 3-Year and 4-Year applicants. Each paper features a variety of translation exercises based on Latin and Ancient Greek (candidates will only answer for the language they have an A-Level in). The CAA is taken before the official Oxbridge interview, but 4-Year applicants will need to attend a separate 20 Minute Language Aptitude Interview as a part of the assessment.
English Admissions Assessment (EAA)
Subjects: (Q300) English
Exam Length: 90 Minutes
Question Types: Essay Writing
The EAA is an essay writing assessment that tasks applicants with reading 5 passages and selecting 2 to write a comparative piece about. The 5 passages are linked by a common theme which should be discussed by the applicant. No word limit is implemented in the assessment but no external materials are permitted. The essay is typed on a computer.
History Admissions Assessment (HAA)
Subjects: (V100) History, (VL12) History and Politics
Exam Length: 1 Hour
Question Types: Essay Writing
The HAA tasks applicants with writing a comparative essay based on two provided passages. Each passage will discuss the same period in history from two different perspectives, so the applicant’s job will be to compare and contrast these two viewpoints. No prior knowledge of these topics is required for the assessment as the applicant is expected to base their work solely on the passages. Note that not all colleges will require applicants to sit this test, you can find out which colleges do require it here.
History of Art Admissions Assessment
Subjects: (V350) History of Art
Exam Length: 1 Hour (within a 90-minute window)
Question Types: Essay Writing
In the History of Art Admissions Assessment, applicants are tasked with writing a comparative essay based on two pairs of art pieces provided in the paper. Applicants will be able to pick two pairs out of five sets provided in the paper. Applicants are assessed on the observation, analysis and comparison presented within their writing.
Linguistics Admissions Assessment (LAA)
Subjects: (Q100) Linguistics
Exam Length: 1 Hour
Question Types: Written Questions, Essay Writing
The LAA is split into three sections with two question types. Sections 1 and 2 provide applicants with two sets of data based on language, with Section 1 focusing on translation and Section 2 focusing on data analysis. Section 3 is an essay writing section, tasking applicants to answer a question about a passage provided in the paper. Each section lasts 20 minutes and is worth 30 marks each.
Modern and Medieval Languages Admissions Assessment (MML)
Subjects: (R800) Modern and Medieval Languages
Exam Length: 1 Hour
Question Types: Written Questions
The MML is split into two sections focusing on different languages. In Section A, applicants must answer a question about a passage featured in the paper. The question must be answered in the foreign language that the applicant is applying to study, so the answer will be judged on the quality of the writing as well as the comprehension found in the answer. Section B will see you answering another question about the same passage. However, this answer must be written in English. Applicants have 40 minutes to complete Section A and 20 minutes to complete Section B.
Official Modern and Medieval Languages Admissions Assessment Specification
Philosophy Admissions Assessment (PAA)
Subjects: (V500) Philosophy
Exam Length: 1 Hour
Question Types: Multiple-Choice Questions, Essay Writing
The PAA consists of two parts. Part I is a series of 18 MCQs relating to logic. These questions do not relate to a specific subject and are used as a test of the applicant’s logical thinking. Part II sees applicants writing a short essay based on one of two provided questions. Each question features a scenario and asks the applicant to analyse it in a logical and philosophical manner. Part I lasts 20 minutes and Part II lasts 40 minutes.
Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion Admissions Assessment
Subjects: (V600) Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion
Exam Length: 1 Hour
Question Types: Comprehension Questions
This admissions test is required by all applicants of the subject and sees them answering questions about a pre-recorded lecture about a religious subject. There are two sections to this test, with Section 1 simply requiring applicants to watch the pre-recorded lecture (which lasts 20 minutes). In Section 2, applicants must write answers to a series of questions relating to the lecture they saw. This section lasts 40 minutes.
Official Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion Admissions Assessment Specification
Applicants of the following subjects may be required to sit an admissions test during their application:
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Getting Your Students Registered for Their Oxbridge Admissions test
One of the most important things for a student to do to prepare for their assessment is to register for it. This process is handled by the administrator of the exam, although input from their school may also be required. The process differs between administrators, so here is what you need to know about the registration process for Oxbridge admissions tests:
Cambridge Assessments Admissions Testing Registration Process
The registration process for exams run by CAAT is split into three parts and requires a large amount of input from the applicant’s school, specifically the school’s Exams Officer. If this is you, then knowing this process is extremely important.
- Finding a Test Centre: Applicants will need to find their closest testing centre to sit their exam. If your school is a registered testing centre for CAAT tests, then they will be able to sit their test there. Schools can register to become an approved testing centre (more on this later), or your student can use the Online Testing Centre Finder to find their nearest testing centre. The Exams Officer should help their students with this process.
- Registering for the Test: Next, the Exams Officer will need to register the student for their exam. This is primarily done through the CAAT Entries Extranet, which acts as a registration hub for educational institutions. Your school must register for access to this via email. You can learn more about the actual registration process for students within the Official Entries Extranet User Guide, which details everything you need to know to get your students registered. To register your students, you must have access to the following information:
Personal details, such as their name and date of birth
UCAS number (those applying to UK universities only)
The names of the courses/universities they are applying to (those applying to UK universities only)
Medical evidence if they require modified question papers or any Access Arrangements such as extra time.
3. Providing the Candidate Entry Number: Once registered, each student will receive a Candidate Entry Number. This should be given to the student but you must ensure they know to keep it safe and have it available on the testing day.
This process will need to be completed for each student who applies to Oxbridge (and other BMAT medical schools). The registration dates for every admissions test are from 1st September until 29th September at 18:00.
Be aware that you must specify any access arrangements your students may require (e.g. extra time) during the registration process. The deadline for this is the same as the regular deadline, excluding requests for modified papers (e.g. larger print) which must be submitted by 15th September.
Tata Consultancy Services Registration Process (Oxford)
For Oxford admissions tests, schools need to register as authorised testing centres in order to register their students for their admissions tests. Once this process is complete, you can register your students via the Testing Centre Portal, where you will need to provide the student’s details.
Once registered, each student will be assigned a Test Candidate Entry Number which will need to be given to the student and retained for them to sit the test. It is vital that these numbers are kept safe or else your students will not be able to sit their test.
If your school is not a registered testing centre, you and your school will not be able to register your students. Instead, they will need to register independently to sit the test at an open testing centre near them. Your school can also apply to be an open testing centre should you wish to accept test takers from outside of your school.
Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT) Registration Process
Registration for the LNAT is done via their website and can be done by the students themselves or on their behalf by a parent of teacher. This can be done between 1st August and 15th September.
To register for the LNAT, the student must set up an LNAT account via Pearson VUE. This process is simple and requires basic information such as the student’s name, address and contact details. They must also provide their UCAS number and specify which LNAT universities they are applying for.
Once the account is set up, they will need to register for their test. The LNAT runs over multiple days, so they will need to select their preferred date and testing centre (there are over 150 centres in the UK). Applicants must pay to sit the LNAT, which costs £75 in the UK and EU and £150 everywhere else. Payment will need to be made during the registration process, although LNAT Bursaries and LNAT Vouchers are available (these will need to be applied for before registration.
Once registration is completed, the student will receive the relevant information which they must retain and bring with them to the testing centre on the day.
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) Registration Process
The UCAT has a fairly similar registration process the LNAT, using the Pearson VUE registration system on the UCAT website. Students must create a UCAT account, providing the same details as those taking the LNAT. Account creation begins on 16th May and cannot be accessed beforehand.
From 20th June, students can book their testing date using their UCAT account, with various dates and testing centres available. This process must be completed by 21st September, although it is always best to encourage them to register sooner. Ensure that the student retains all information they receive after registration and brings it with them on their testing date.
The UCAT is a paid exam and must be paid for during registration. One sitting costs £70 for UK applicants and £115 outside of the UK. More information about UCAT Bursaries and Access Arrangements can be found on the website.
Cambridge College Assessments Registration Process
As mentioned before, there is no registration process for any admissions tests run in-house by the Cambridge colleges. These tests are typically run on the same day as interviews, so receiving an invitation to interview is confirmation that you will need to sit the admissions test before (if required by your selected colleges).
Registering your School as a Testing Center
If you are expecting a lot of applicants to be sitting admissions tests run by CAAT or TCS, then you can apply to register your school as an approved testing centre. If you wish to run exams from both, you will need to apply separately for each.
For CAAT, this process needs to be completed by 15th September in order to be eligible to hold tests for the current admissions cycle. In both cases, there are various guidelines that must be followed, including:
- Your school must be a suitable venue to hold an examination, including a test room that adheres to guidelines.
- For TCS exams, your school must have appropriate hardware and software to run computer-based tests.
- Your schools must have suitable storage for exam papers and applicant details.
- Test Invigilators must be fully suitable and qualified.
The full terms for becoming a testing centre can be found on the official CAAT and Oxford websites. To register, a member of your faculty will need to fill out the CAAT Testing Center Application Form or Oxford Testing Centre Application Form online. Within this forms, you will need to answer questions about your school, including locations, storage security, test administration experience and reasoning for becoming a centre. Be aware that you will need to provide photographic evidence of where you intend to store the papers in order to ensure you are adhering to the requirements.
UniAdmissions' Teacher Tips
- When applying to become a test centre, you will have the option to be an open or internal testing centres. An open centre will be available to find on the "Find A Testing Centre" page of the CAAT and Oxford websites, whereas internal centres will not, meaning you can only host your own students.
What Admissions test Scores Should My Students be Achieving?
The point of the admissions tests at Oxbridge is to demonstrate an applicant’s academic ability and subject competency, so scoring highly is obviously the goal. However, there isn’t a standard for every exam, so the expected results depend on the test.
As we discussed before, there are typically no cut-off scores in any Oxbridge exam, so applicants can (and do) receive an offer with a low test score. However, these cases are rare, so getting a high score is the best chance for a student to earn their place.
We won’t be able to go through every exam here but we will take a look at the biggest exams at Oxbridge. If you want to go into even more depth, check out our series of Admissions Test Results Guides below.
What is A Good LNAT Result?
Sections A and B of the LNAT have different marking schemes, with Section A being the more consistent of the two. In Section A, the final score is simply the number of questions an applicant got correct out of 42. Below you will find the average scores of Oxford applicants in 2021:
Oxford Section A Average Results
All Applicants – 22.5
Shortlisted Applicants – 27
Offer holders- 28.25
Oxford Section B Average Results
Shortlisted Applicants – 63.52
Offer holders- 64.05
As you can see, there is a nearly 6-mark difference between successful applicants and the entire cohort. This shows how important it is to score well, not only to demonstrate your skills but also to stand out from the rest of the applicants.
Although some law schools do not consider Section B of the LNAT, Oxford specifically places a greater emphasis on it, going so far as to have its own scoring system for it. In this system, applicants’ essays are ranked out of 100. The results from 2021 show that shortlisted applicants and offer-holders both scored similarly, so aiming for a score above 65, while difficult, will help an applicant stand out further.
What is a good TSA Result?
The TSA is scored on a field of 1-100, with your raw marks being converted to a final score on that scale. When considering Section 1 scores, it is widely agreed that a score of 70 or above will be a competitive score for the average applicant. The results from the 2021 TSA provide strong evidence for this:
For each section, we can see a clear average point while the overall scores are much more scattered. However, we can see where scores begin to drop off which is the point where applicants should be aiming to be.
Section 2 of the TSA isn’t scored in a numerical fashion so it’s not possible to pinpoint an average or good score for it. In this case, the aim should simply be for the applicant to write to an extremely high standard.
Helping Your Applicants Prepare for their admissions test
Everything you have just learnt is crucial to support you in your most important job when it comes to admissions tests: helping your student prepare. The first step to helping them with this process is to provide them with the information relevant to their application. Having a good understanding of the process, competitiveness and expectations will give them the context they need to get motivated and prepare effectively.
However, that’s only a small part of it. The most important thing for applicants is to actually prepare, which can be approached in a variety of ways. Your students should hopefully be used to exam preparation already and have good systems in place, as well as good exam support from the school. Many of these principles will be helpful, but Oxbridge Admissions Tests also present some new challenges.
Typically, preparing for an Oxbridge Admissions Test will present these challenges and pain points for students:
Applicants may feel that they don’t have enough time to effectively prepare for their admissions test and keep up with their regular school work, as well as the other parts of their application.
Applicants may struggle to find relevant practice materials and guides to help them prepare for their admissions tests. This is especially true with more niche tests.
The topics covered in the test may be foreign to them, either because they are advanced subject-specific topics, haven’t been covered in school or are very general concepts such as Thinking Skills.
Applicants who already deal with exam anxiety may have even more difficulty coping with their admissions test alongside their regular exams, especially considering the stakes involved with an average Oxbridge admissions test.
There are ways to help your students through each of these challenges, but let’s first look at the ways they should be preparing for their test:
Admissions Test Preparation Methods
Revision
Preparing for an admissions test often isn’t too different from a typical school exam, but there are cases when standard revision techniques aren’t going to be as effective. Reading through textbooks and watching online tutorials will certainly help cement the knowledge into an applicant’s brain, but this isn’t going to help them with sitting the actual exam unless they find more engaging ways to revise.
Rather than just reading, they could supplement their learning with courses and masterclasses that are specific to the exam that they are sitting. These resources not only cover the required knowledge but also the format of the test, techniques for answering questions effectively and much more.
UniAdmissions' Teacher Tips
- Any resources specific to the admissions test will be much more beneficial to your students. Even if their revision comes down to just reading, investing in a admissions test text book will help them learn more about the exam rather than just the required knowledge
Practice Questions
When it comes to admissions test preparation, practising the actual questions featured in the exam is essential. Once an applicant is comfortable answering practice questions, they will find the actual admissions test much less daunting as they have already seen questions in that format hundreds of times.
Past papers are always a reliable source of free, official practice questions (although they may be better left for the next preparation technique). Question Banks are able to offer applicants even more practice questions though, with many offering thousands of unique, accurate questions with worked solutions. If possible, investing in one of these banks will be invaluable to an applicant.
Mock Papers
Just like schools do before the real exams, sitting mock admissions tests will help applicants get an understanding of what they are able to achieve in exam conditions. This is where those past papers will be the most helpful, although specially-made mock papers can be found for some tests as well.
We would recommend an applicant sits multiple mock papers before the real test, as it will allow them to track their progress and monitor the areas that they struggle with the most. Many admissions tests have been running for years at this point and have a large variety of past papers to choose from. Applicants should try to do as many of these as possible under exam conditions to really develop their skills.
These are all very effective methods of preparation for admissions tests, but you and your faculty can help take their preparation a step further and really allow them to have the best chance of success. These suggestions will not only enhance the standard admissions test preparation methods but will also help combat the challenges that we listed earlier. Let’s see what you can do to help:
Resources
Before any preparation can be done, your students are going to need resources to do so. This can include guides, books, videos, practice questions, worked solutions and exam papers, all of which can be challenging to find if you don’t know where to look.
This is where you and your team can come in to save the day! Throughout our series of Teacher’s Guides, you will find all sorts of helpful resources that can provide information and advice to your students. As well as that you will be able to gather a collection of past papers from each exam, relevant documentation (specifications, results data, etc) and our series of free application guides that cover a wide variety of topics throughout the whole of the application process.
Having this curated collection of resources is not only extremely helpful, but it’s also free! If you do have a bit of budget to spend on your Oxbridge applicants, then there are various books available to purchase that provide even more detailed guides to certain admissions tests. And for the highest quality support possible for your students, UniAdmissions work with schools to provide our Premium Programmes in combination with their regular curriculum.
UniAdmissions' Teacher Tips
- Don't wait for your students to ask for help with finding resources, some may not even realise just how much help there is available for them. Make it clear to your cohort that they can gain access to all of these resources to aid them in their preparation.
Dedicated Preparation Time
Your school’s curriculum is likely very busy already, meaning spare time to focus on the Oxbridge application process may not be possible. However, if it is, then it would be a great idea to provide students with time to use their resources, try out some practice questions or even sit a mock exam.
As an example, you could offer guided study during one free period each week (depending on students’ timetables). Whether you make your own plan for the time or allow the cohort to choose how they want to prepare, just having the time dedicated to preparation will give them to confidence to get started and continue their preparation in their free time.
This time also doesn’t need to be specific to one exam, as the general principles for admissions test preparation are the same across most admissions tests. The key is that students have the time to focus on the test they need to sit.
Specialised Lessons
During the early stages of preparation, your students may still be unsure of what admissions tests they are even taking and may not have the motivation to start the preparation themselves. In this case, a one-off lesson (or potentially even a series of lessons) based around the various admissions tests at Oxbridge, medical schools and law schools should give them the extra understanding that they need to start working on their preparation.
Within these sessions, it is important to emphasise just how challenging these admissions tests are, as well as the Oxbridge application process as a whole. You may risk scaring the cohort or adding additional pressure, but it is a fact that these tests are competitive so your students will have to put in the work to succeed. You can reassure them by providing them with details of various tests and how they can best approach their preparation. Of course, also be sure to offer the many resources you have accumulated to ease them into their independent preparation.
One-to-One Support
If a student is finding preparation particularly challenging, then be there to support them just as you would with any other issue they face at school. Even if you aren’t an Oxbridge expert, you are knowledgeable about the subject so your advice and support will be greatly appreciated.
Even if they have a question you may not be able to definitively answer, it will often be helpful just to listen and offer a confidence boost. Any student that has a good shot of entering Oxford or Cambridge is already incredibly talented, so be sure to let them know that.
UniAdmissions' Teacher Tips
- Most questions your students may have will have already been asked and answered before, so searching online is always a good idea. Just be sure to find a reliable, authoritative source on the matter, be it an official webpage or a genuine Oxbridge expert.
Of course, every school (and every student) is different, so you can always get creative with how you offer support to your cohort. There are a hundred ways to tackle admissions test preparation as well as the application process as a whole.
Before we finish up, there is one more topic to touch on; a topic that can cause confusion and potentially affect an applicant’s preparation for the worse:
Dealing with Admissions Test Changes
Oxbridge admissions tests are not static and frequently have adjustments and updates made to them. Most of the time, these changes are nothing major and simply amount to a couple of additions or updates to the exam’s specifications.
As an example, in 2022 the NSAA added a new category of questions to exam specification, “Advanced Biology”, which had not featured in previous papers.
Changes like this are harmless but worth noting for revision and practice. However, these changes can sometimes be a bit more extreme, going so far as to change the actual question structure within the papers.
Going back to the NSAA again, the exam originally featured longer written questions in Section 2 of the test. In 2020, these were replaced with more Multiple-Choice Questions, just like Section 1 of the test.
These changes won’t have a negative affect on applicants now as they are already established. It is important to keep this in mind though as it now means that past papers from before the change will feature questions that are not representative of what applicants will be sitting this year.
The only type of change that is more extreme than this is the removal or replacement of an admissions test entirely. In recent years, there have been two key examples of this happening:
Cambridge Law Test (CLT): Before using the LNAT, the University of Cambridge ran its own law admissions test called the CLT. The format wasn’t too different from the LNAT and tested very similar skills, so in 2021 the CLT was replaced by the LNAT.
Economics Admissions Assessment (ECAA): This was an admissions test similar in format to the NSAA and ENGAA, used for Cambridge’s Economics course. The test had two main sections that tested mathematics skills and essay writing abilities, two key skills for economics. This test ran until the 2022 exam cycle when it was replaced by the TMUA instead.
This type of change is much more extreme and can have a big impact on a student’s preparation, especially if it’s announced later in the year when applicants may already have begun preparing.
In a situation like this, the only thing you can do is look out for updates, research what you can about the replacement admissions test and keep your students updated on new information as it arrives to ensure they can begin their preparation as soon as possible.
UniAdmissions' Teacher Tips
- If you have students who are waiting to learn what admissions test they will be sitting, it can be helpful to get their preparation started with resources from an admissions test from a similar topic. This will allow them to get a head start on understanding the subject even if the new test has a completely different format or question type.
In 2024, Oxbridge applicants will be facing the biggest admissions test shake-up to occur in years, as the majority of Cambridge and university admissions tests run by CAAT will be discontinued after 2023. To be clear, the 2023 sittings of these exams will be running as normal, but after that, we are currently unaware of what the replacement will be. The current list of admissions test to be removed in 2024 are:
- BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
- Test of Mathematics for University Admissions (TMUA)
- Natural Sciences Admissions Test (NSAA)
- Engineering Admissions Test (ENGAA)
This is going to be a major challenge for your cohort, as they will likely be lacking the preparation materials that are available for these current exams. During this time, your major task is to stay informed on any updated and relay this information to your students in a calm and detailed manner. You will be asked a lot of questions on the matter, including some you won’t be able to answer, so ensure your present any and all information you have before fielding questions.
To start with, we recommend reading our guide to these upcoming changes, which features the most up-to-date information on the matter and additional advice on how students should work around it. This guide will be updated as new changes are announced, so be sure to check back regularly or sign up for our mailing list to get regular updates:
Stay Up To Date With Oxbridge Admissions
Sign up for the UniAdmissions Mailing List now to receive updates about changes to the Oxbridge Admissions process as they are announced, as well as helpful guides to share with your students.
We had discussed this earlier, but another fairly major change also occurred in 2023 relating to Oxford’s various admissions tests, including the MAT, PAT, ELAT and more. These tests were previously run by CAAT but have are now being administered by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). As far as we are aware, this change has not resulted in any differences within the actual papers, although the registration process is now different. We also have a guide about this change if you would like the current facts about the situation.
That covers everything you need to know to begin preparing your students and yourself for the difficult task of succeeding in the various Oxbridge Admissions Tests. It is still important to learn more about each of the admissions tests featured in this guide, which you can do through our wide selection of student guides. You aren’t expected to know every single detail, but having the information available to reference and share with your students will be a massive help to their preparation journey.
You can download our free admissions tests summary, which covers all of the major admissions tests in an easy-to-digest form. And finally, enquire today about how UniAdmissions can support your school in creating the ultimate support programme for your students.
Other Helpful Oxbridge Resources
Free CPD-Accredited Oxbridge Counsellor Course
This free online course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to help your students secure a place at the world’s top universities. You’ll complete the course as an Oxbridge expert!
Teacher’s Oxbridge Learning Hub
Access all of our highly detailed written guides for teachers, as well as useful resources and information about our school support.
