A Guide to the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT)
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Table of Contents
About ESAT
We know that applying to university for competitive courses can be challenging, particularly if you must take an admissions test. This guide provides key information about the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT), including how to register for it, the test format, cost and how to prepare for it, helping you understand what to expect.
You will likely need to sit the ESAT test if you are applying to the University of Cambridge or Imperial College London to take an engineering or science-based course. Please check course details on the university’s website, where any requirements will be listed.
Background: The online ESAT test is produced by University Admissions Tests UK (UAT-UK), a not-for-profit organisation established by the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London. The test aims to enable universities to evaluate the skills of accomplished students applying for highly competitive engineering or science-based courses.
Currently, the ESAT test is used by Cambridge and Imperial for selected engineering, physics, natural sciences and veterinary medicine courses. UAT-UK also produces the TMUA test, designed to assess the abilities of students applying for maths or maths-based courses.
The tests are a great way to compare UK and overseas students fairly to help decide who to shortlist for interviews and make offers to.
Pearson Vue, a highly regarded educational company, administers both the ESAT and TMUA tests.
If you are required to sit the ESAT test, please read on to find out how to register.
Registering for the ESAT Test
Registering is a two-step process:
1. Firstly, you need to set up a Pearson Vue account, but don’t worry — it’s a simple process. Use your legal name because the name on your account must match the photo ID you will bring to the test. You will receive an email when your account is ready and be given a temporary password. Please be aware this could take 24 hours. When your account is up and running, check that your details are correct and note your candidate ID (you must quote this if you have to contact UAT-UK for any reason).
2. Once registration for the ESAT is open, you can book a test at a Pearson Vue test centre. You must pay a £75 registration fee if you plan to sit the test in the UK or Republic of Ireland and £130 for elsewhere. You will receive an email to confirm your booking. Bear in mind that the earlier you book, the more likely you are to get your preferred date, time and location. You may be entitled to a bursary voucher to cover the registration fee. More details are given further down.
It’s important you don’t miss the test registration window.
Registration Deadlines and Test Dates
There are two test dates in October on consecutive days. Registration for the October tests opens at the beginning of August and closes mid-September. You must book your ESAT test for October if you are applying to Cambridge, as their UCAS deadline is in October.
There are also two test dates in January on consecutive days. Registration opens towards the end of October and closes before mid-January.
Make sure you apply for a bursary voucher if you are eligible before booking your test.
Bursary Applications
You can only apply for a bursary voucher to cover the registration fee if you live in the UK and are going to book to take the ESAT test in the UK. Your parent/guardian or you must receive one of the means-tested benefits specified by UAT-UK, and you must upload the necessary evidence. You can only apply for one voucher for the ESAT test per application cycle. However, you can also apply for a voucher for the TMUA if you are sitting both tests.
If you are going to apply for a bursary voucher, you can do so from the beginning of June for an October test and towards the end of September for a January test. Processing your application could take up to five working days, so apply early to ensure you have peace of mind knowing it will be processed in time. Once you have your voucher, you can book your test.
If relevant, you can also apply for access arrangements.
Access Arrangements
If you are going to apply for access arrangements, you can do so from the beginning of June for an October test and towards the end of September for a January test. Your application could take up to ten days to process, so it is worth applying sooner rather than later. Once your access arrangements have been approved, you will receive a call from Pearson Vue customer services to book your test. The registration window will close earlier than it does for other candidates, which will allow time for you to submit further evidence if UAT-UK requests it.
Access arrangements can include extra time, rest breaks and a separate room.
Please click here for further details.
You may wonder about the test centres and how far you will have to travel.
Pearson Vue Test Centres
Pearson Vue has test centres around the world. You can see a list of them via your UAT-UK account once the test registration window opens. Outside the UK, you may have to travel quite a distance to your nearest test centre. Within the UK, you should be able to attend a test centre within 40 miles of your home or school. If you cannot book a test within 40 miles of your home postcode, you can contact Pearson Vue’s customer services team ([email protected]) to see if they can help you. Realistically, you will likely have to travel further than 40 miles if you live in a remote location.
Once you have booked your test and know where you will sit it, consider the test day itself.
ESAT Test Day
We hope this section answers any questions you have about the test day.
You should aim to arrive around 30 minutes before your test is due to start. This will enable you to sign in without feeling rushed. Remember, you need to take photo ID with you that matches the name you registered with.
You cannot take any personal items into the exam with you. This includes pens and paper. However, you will be provided with a pen and notepad to do working out in. You also won’t be allowed to take a bottle of water in with you, so ensure you are hydrated before the test.
You can take in permitted comfort aids or any items agreed upon under your access arrangements.
You will not be allowed to use a calculator or be given a formulae sheet.
If you cannot sit the test or your performance will be significantly impacted due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances, you should contact UAT-UK before the test. They will flag up the issue with the relevant university so they can decide whether to take it into consideration or not. If you are not applying for the University of Cambridge and have a test booked for October, consider moving your test to January.
If you fall ill during the test, you must let the invigilator know. They will record it, and after the test, you should contact the UAT-UK office. Please make sure you get a case ID number from the invigilator.
Of course, the main thing you will want to know about the test day is what the ESAT exam will be like.
ESAT Test Format
The ESAT exam is an online test that consists of the following five modules:
Mathematics 1
The topics covered in this module are as follows:
– Units
– Number
– Ratio and proportion
– Algebra
– Geometry
– Statistics
– Probability
Biology
The topics covered in this module are as follows:
– Cells
– Movement across membranes
– Cell division and sex determination
– Inheritance
– DNA
– Gene technologies
– Variation
– Enzymes
– Animal physiology
– Ecosystems
– Plant physiology
Chemistry
The topics covered in this module are as follows:
– Atomic structure
– The Periodic Table
– Chemical reactions, formulae and equations
– Quantitative chemistry
– Oxidation, reduction and redox
– Chemical bonding, structure and properties
– Group chemistry
– Separation techniques
– Acids, bases and salts
– Rates of reaction
– Energetics
– Electrolysis
– Carbon/Organic chemistry
– Metals
– Kinetic/Particle theory
– Chemical tests
– Air and water
Physics
The topics covered in this module are as follows:
– Electricity
– Magnetism
– Mechanics
– Thermal physics
– Matter
– Waves
– Radioactivity
Mathematics 2
The topics covered in this module are as follows:
– Algebra and functions
– Sequences and series
– Coordinate geometry in the (x, y) plane
– Trigonometry
– Exponentials and logarithms
– Differentiation
– Integration
– Graphs of functions
You will likely take Mathematics 1. Additionally, you will take another two modules. Look at your course details to see which two modules these should be. You must specify the modules you will take when you register for the ESAT test.
Each module will last 40 minutes and consists of 27 multiple-choice questions. If you finish a module early, you won’t be allowed to start the next one until the 40 minutes are up. There will be no break between the modules, meaning the ESAT test will take two hours to complete three modules.
Most of the test will cover maths and science content you have been taught at school. However, the questions will be challenging because the ESAT test is designed to identify the most able students from a cohort of highly intelligent candidates! You must think creatively and apply your knowledge in unfamiliar contexts.
Please do not expect to score as highly as you are used to. Until now, you have probably only sat tests designed for a mixed-ability group. We will explain how the scoring works.
ESAT Test Scores
Each question is worth one mark. You will not lose any marks for incorrect answers, so give every question a go.
You will receive a separate score for every module you take. Your scores will be available on your UAT-UK account about six weeks after you take the test (you will be sent an email to let you know when they are ready).
Scores will range from 1 (low) to 9 (high) and are given to one decimal place. The scale has been designed so that 4.5 is an average score. Around 10% of students will score higher than 7.0.
Your results will be sent to the appropriate institutions you named on your UCAS application, so do not worry about this.
Please remember that your ESAT test scores are just part of the application process. Universities will also review your UCAS application and, if applicable, consider your interview performance.
To achieve the best score you can, you will need to prepare for the ESAT test. It could make all the difference between being offered a place on your first-choice course or not.
ESAT Test Preparation
We suggest you devise a revision timetable that covers all the topics you will be tested on. You can cross through the topics as you complete them — this is very satisfying! Make flashcards for any facts you find hard to recall. You can then regularly go through the flashcards or get someone to test you on them. You will most likely, though, already know the methods that work best for you.
Once you have revised, we recommend you use ESAT practice tests. Practice tests are invaluable for so many reasons:
● They will get you used to navigating the online format of the ESAT exam.
● You will become familiar with the types of questions you will be asked, helping you understand how you will be expected to apply your knowledge in the ESAT exam.
● You can practise your creative-thinking skills.
● You will get used to answering questions quickly and accurately, enabling you to manage the time constraints of the actual exam.
● You will know what to expect on the day, which will help reduce your nerves and mean you can perform to the best of your ability when it matters.
● You can identify any weak areas and gaps in your knowledge and work on these so you are strong across the board by the time you take the ESAT exam.
You can access ESAT sample and practice tests here.
You can access ESAT past papers here. Please be aware these are not online, and the exam used to be known by different names. It will be clear which questions are not relevant for the ESAT exam.
You may also be taking the TMUA or MAT test.
TMUA Test
The Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA) is a test you may have to take if you apply for a maths or maths-related course at university. It is also produced by UAT-UK and administered by Pearson Vue. Currently, the universities that use the TMUA test are Imperial, University of Cambridge, Durham University, University of Warwick and The London School of Economics and Political Science.
It is an online test that consists of two papers, lasting two hours and thirty minutes altogether.
Please check your course requirements carefully to see if you need to register for the TMUA test. If you do, you may be interested in our TMUA practice test. It is highly accurate and could help you secure an offer on your dream course.
MAT Test
You will take the Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) if you apply to Oxford University for a maths, computer science or joint honours course. It is also an online test that Pearson Vue delivers. The MAT test comprises 25 multiple-choice questions and 2 extended questions. You will have to explain your reasoning in the longer questions, which a team at Oxford will mark.
You may be wondering which test is the hardest. This is tricky to answer as it often comes down to personal preference. If you are highly competent in both maths and sciences, you may find the ESAT test the easiest. If you prefer focusing solely on maths, the TMUA or MAT test might suit you better. Some consider the MAT the hardest due to the two longer questions, which require a greater degree of critical thinking. However, all three tests are challenging and designed to assess top-performing candidates.
We hope you have found this guide informative. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We hope you do well in your admission test/s and secure a place on your first-choice course. Additionally, we wish you all the best at university and in your future career.
Please note that Pretest Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and not affiliated with or endorsed by the publishers of the ESAT online assessment or any other test publisher.
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