Get Into a Top UK University

A computer-based aptitude test sat the summer before you apply. It assesses the thinking skills and professional behaviours needed in healthcare — not curriculum knowledge — and your score heavily shapes which schools will interview you.

Now used by almost every UK medical & dental school, including Oxford and Cambridge, since the BMAT was retired.

Required by

OxfordCambridgeImperialUCLKing's College LondonEdinburghManchesterGlasgow

Leads to

Medicine (MBBS / MBChB)Dentistry (BDS)

Format

Verbal Reasoning · Decision Making · Quantitative Reasoning · Situational Judgement

Sat Jul–Sep, before the UCAS deadline

Most UK medical and dental schools interview via timed MMI circuits — short stations testing ethics, communication, empathy and problem-solving under time pressure.

Required by

King's College LondonManchesterBristolEdinburgh

Leads to

Medicine (MBBS / MBChB)Dentistry (BDS)

Tests mathematical reasoning and logical thinking rather than memorised content. A strong score is required at some universities and earns a reduced grade offer at others.

Oxford now uses the TMUA for Maths & Computer Science, having retired its own MAT.

Required by

OxfordCambridgeImperialLSEWarwickDurham

Leads to

MathematicsComputer ScienceEconomics

Format

Two 75-min multiple-choice papers

Sat in October

Demanding exams that go well beyond A-Level, written into conditional offers (e.g. grades 1,1 in STEP 2 & 3) and sat after an offer is made. They reward fluent, rigorous mathematical writing.

Required by

CambridgeWarwickImperial

Leads to

MathematicsMathematics with Physics

Format

STEP 2 & STEP 3 · 3-hour papers

Sat in June, as a condition of your offer

A computer-based test with a core Mathematics module plus optional Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths 2 modules — you sit the ones relevant to your course.

New shared test (replaced the NSAA and ENGAA). Oxford adopted it for Physics & Engineering, retiring its PAT.

Required by

OxfordCambridgeImperial

Leads to

EngineeringPhysicsNatural SciencesVeterinary Medicine (Cambridge)

Format

Mathematics 1 + two optional modules (Physics / Chemistry / Biology / Maths 2)

Sat in October

Tests verbal reasoning, comprehension and the ability to build an argument — not legal knowledge. Both the multiple-choice score and the essay are read closely by admissions tutors.

Required by

OxfordCambridgeUCLKing's College LondonLSEBristolDurhamGlasgowSOAS

Leads to

Law (LLB)Jurisprudence (Oxford BA Law)Law with a language

Format

Section A: 42 MCQs · Section B: timed essay

Sat Sep–Jan (sit early for Oxford)

A skills-based test of critical thinking, problem-solving and written communication for Oxford’s social science courses, plus Computer Science at UCL.

New for 2027 entry — replaced Oxford’s TSA (and UCL’s STAT for Computer Science).

Required by

OxfordUCL

Leads to

PPEEconomics & ManagementHuman SciencesExperimental PsychologyComputer Science (UCL)

Format

Critical Thinking · Problem Solving · Writing Task

Sat in October

Oxford retired its arts admissions tests (HAT, ELAT, CAT, MLAT, PhilAT). Applicants for these subjects are now assessed on submitted written work and the interview instead of a pre-registration test — so preparation focuses on your essays and reading.

Required by

OxfordCambridge

Leads to

HistoryEnglishClassicsPhilosophyModern Languages

The written core of a UK application: your UCAS personal statement, plus the motivation letters some courses ask for. It is where you evidence a genuine interest in the subject, alongside your grades and reference.

Oxford and Cambridge make most offers partly on subject interviews that probe how you think — working through unfamiliar problems aloud rather than reciting facts.

Required by

OxfordCambridge

Leads to

All Oxford & Cambridge courses

The UCAS process in one place — your five course choices, entry requirements, references, predicted grades, deadlines, and contextual / widening-participation routes where they apply.