ESAT: Engineering and Science Admissions Test
Who needs to take it?
The ESAT is required for entry to a variety of Engineering and Science courses at Cambridge, Imperial and UCL.
Specifically:
University of Cambridge
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Engineering
Natural Sciences
Veterinary Medicine
Imperial College London
Aeronautics
Chemical Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Dyson School of Design Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Physics
University College London (UCL)
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Key dates
TBC: Registration opens
9 & 10 October 2025: Test sitting 1
6 & 7 January 2025: Test sitting 2
University-specific deadlines
Cambridge applicants: Must register for sitting 1, and will set an earlier deadline by which to register (likely to be September).
Format
It is run by University Admissions Tests (UAT-UK), and delivered in Pearson VUE test centres in the UK and worldwide.
There are five modules available: Maths 1, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths 2.
All students will take the Maths 1 module, and will need to take one or two of the remaining modules.
Details for this are on each universities website.
Each module lasts 40 minutes and contains 27 multiple choice questions.
Results
Results for each module of the ESAT are reported on a scale that runs from 1 (low) to 9 (high) with scores being reported to one decimal place. There is no pass or fail.
Results will be available approximately six weeks after the test date and are automatically sent to any relevant universities included in your UCAS application.
Cost
To be confirmed for 2025. The cost in 2024 was £75 if taken in the UK and Republic of Ireland, or £130 if taken elsewhere. UK students in financial need will be able to apply for a bursary to pay for the test.
Preparation
Preparation materials, including notes, past questions, sample tests and more are available on the UAT-UK website.
Further information
You can find out everything you need to know about the ESAT at:
