From 2026, Oxford and Cambridge have moved to a new set of admissions tests managed by UAT-UK. If your child is applying for 2027 entry, here is exactly what they need to know.
ESAT — Engineering and Science Admissions Test
Required at Cambridge for Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Natural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine. Required at Oxford for Engineering Science, Physics, Physics & Philosophy and Biomedical Sciences. Tests mathematics and science reasoning. Taken in October before the UCAS deadline.
TMUA — Test of Mathematics for University Admissions
Required at Cambridge for Mathematics, Economics and Computer Science. Required at Oxford for Mathematics, Computer Science and related courses. Tests mathematical reasoning and problem solving beyond A-Level. A strong TMUA score significantly boosts your chances of interview.
TARA — Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions
New for Oxford 2026 entry. Required for PPE, Economics & Management, History & Economics, History & Politics, Human Sciences, Psychology and Psychology, Philosophy & Linguistics. Tests critical thinking and academic reasoning rather than subject knowledge.
LNAT — National Test for Law
Required for Law at both Oxford and Cambridge, as well as UCL, King's College London and other universities. Tests verbal reasoning through multiple choice questions and an essay. Taken between September and January.
UCAT — University Clinical Aptitude Test
Required for Medicine at Oxford, Cambridge and the majority of UK medical schools. Tests verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning and situational judgement. Taken over the summer before application.
STEP — Sixth Term Examination Paper
Not a pre-application test — STEP is typically offered as a condition of Cambridge Mathematics offers. Students sit it in June of Year 13. It is one of the most demanding exams in the UK and requires dedicated preparation over many months.