Engineering and science admissions
Prepare for the ESAT with the right paper plan
The ESAT is modular. Useful preparation starts by confirming the papers your course requires, then working from the current specification and official material.
Free consultationNo commitmentReply within 1 working day
40 min
per module
27
multiple-choice questions
No
calculator or dictionary
1.0-9.0
score for each module
Choose the right route
Your course decides the module combination
Mathematics 1 is compulsory. Most candidates then take two more modules, but the combination is set by the course. Check every university choice before booking because requirements can conflict.
Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics
The module combination required for Cambridge Engineering. The dedicated route brings the three papers, preparation sequence and historical admissions data into one view.
Other ESAT courses
Build from Mathematics 1 and the course requirements
Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Chemical Engineering and university-specific courses use different combinations. Start with the official course page rather than a generic paper bundle.
Check the official ESAT overview2027-entry examples
How module combinations change by course
Cambridge
Engineering
Cambridge
Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Imperial
Design Engineering
Imperial
Life Sciences courses using ESAT
UCL
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Oxford
Engineering Science and Physics
Examples, not a complete course directory. Requirements can change by admissions cycle.
Five modules
One test, several academic routes
Each module is scored separately. The useful question is not only which test to sit, but which combination your application needs.
Mathematics 1
Taken by every ESAT candidate
Mathematics 2
Required for some courses
Physics
Required for some courses
Chemistry
Required for some courses
Biology
Required for some courses
Reading the scale
A reference point, not an admissions threshold
In the October 2025 sitting, the median was 4.5 and the 90th percentile was 7.0 across all five modules. UAT-UK reports each module separately and does not set a pass mark.
There is no public, universal raw-mark conversion table. UAT-UK equates multiple test forms before mapping results to the reported scale, so an unofficial calculator cannot reproduce every sitting reliably.
Read the UAT-UK technical reportPreparation sequence
Turn practice into evidence
A paper is useful when it changes what happens in the next one.
- 01
Confirm the route
Check the current course page before booking. Module requirements differ by university and course.
- 02
Work from the specification
Map familiar content, topics that need revision and the calculator-free skills the test expects.
- 03
Use official material first
Complete the specimen material under timed conditions before adding older or third-party questions.
- 04
Review the decision process
Record why an answer was missed: content, interpretation, method, arithmetic or time. Then reattempt it.
Common questions
Questions before preparation begins
Which ESAT modules do I need?
Mathematics 1 is required for every ESAT candidate. The other modules depend on the university and course, so confirm them on the current course page before booking.
Is there a pass mark for the ESAT?
No. UAT-UK does not set a pass mark. Universities use the result alongside other information in the application, and each module receives a separate score.
Should I use ENGAA and NSAA papers?
They can add useful practice after the current specification and official ESAT material. Use the filtered papers published by UAT-UK, which identify questions outside the current specification.
A considered next step
Start with the matching survey
Tell us the course, university choices and current preparation stage. We will review the context before recommending a route into support.
Free consultationNo commitmentReply within 1 working day
Information reviewed September 2026. Confirm current requirements on the university and UAT-UK websites.