Which university admissions tests do you need to take?

Applying to a law course

• Some universities will require you to take the Law National Aptitude Test (Lnat).

Applying to a mathematics course

• Applying to an Oxford mathematics course? You’ll have to take the Mathematics Admissions Test (Mat).
• Some other universities (including Cambridge) will require you to take the Sixth Term Examination Paper (Step).

Applying to a medical course

Applying to Oxford

• Applying to a medical course? You'll have to take the Bmat.

• Applying to a law course? You'll have to take the Lnat.

• Applying to a mathematics course? You'll have to take the Mat (some also take Step).

• Applying to a classics course? You'll have to take the Classics Admissions Test (Cat).

• Applying to an English course? You'll have to take the English Literature Admissions Test (Elat).

• Applying to a modern languages course? You'll have to take the Modern Languages Admissions Test (Mlat).

• Applying to an engineering, materials science or physics course? You'll have to take the Physics Admissions Test (Pat).

• Depending on the course you're applying to, you may have to take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) Oxford.
   

​Applying to Cambridge

• Applying to a mathematics course? You'll have to take the Step.

• Applying to a medical course? You'll have to take the Bmat.

• Applying to a law course? You'll have to take the Law National Aptitude Test (Lnat).
   
• You may have to take a subject-specific test.
   
• Applicants to English at Cambridge have to sit a written assessment if they are shortlisted for interview. 

Is your university asking for a specific admissions test?

University admissions tests – in detail

Bmat

The Biomedical Admissions Test is a university admissions exam you'll have to take if you're applying to either a medicine, veterinary medicine, biomedical science or dentistry course at some universities.

The Bmat tests a lot of natural skills such as problem-solving and applying scientific knowledge, and doesn’t require much in the way of extra study.

• Who uses it? Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Imperial College London, Lancaster University, University of Cambridge, University of Keele (only for international students who will be paying the overseas fee), University College London and University of Oxford.
• Key dates (for 2024 entry): 29 September 2023 – entry closing date; 18 October – Bmat tests take place; 26 November – Bmat results published.
• How long does it last? Two hours.
• How much does it cost? £75.

Learn more about the Bmat on the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing website. 

Gamsat

The Graduate Medical School Admissions test, originally developed in Australia, is used by some medical schools in the UK (as well as around the world). It's used as part of the admissions process for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

It's split into three sections: reasoning in humanities, written communication and reasoning in biological and physical sciences.

• Who uses it? University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, University of Liverpool, Cardiff University, Keele University, St. George’s University of London, Swansea University, University of Nottingham, University of Sunderland, the University of East Anglia, Universities of St Andrews and Dundee (in partnership with the University of the Highlands and Islands), University of Worcester and Ulster University. 
• ​Key dates: The Gamsat is taken twice a year, in March (registration from early November to end of January) and September (registration from mid May to late July).
• How long does it last? There are 5.25 hours of test time, which includes 21 minutes of reading time plus one hour of recess time.
• How much does it cost? £271.

Learn more about Gamsat on its website.

Ucat

The University Clinical Aptitude Test is a university admissions exam used by a number of university medical and dental schools to distinguish you from other applicants to these competitive courses. It tests verbal, quantitative and abstract reasoning, as well as decision analysis and situational judgement – all skills which students should possess should they get on to those courses.

• Who uses it? University of Aberdeen, Anglia Ruskin University, Aston University, University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, Brunel University London, Cardiff University, University of Central Lancashire, University of Chester, University of Dundee, Edge Hill University, University of East Anglia, University of Edinburgh, University of Exeter, University of Glasgow, Hull York Medical School, Keele University, Kent and Medway Medical School, King's College London, University of Leicester, University of Liverpool, University of Manchester, Newcastle University, University of Nottingham, Plymouth University, Queen Mary University of London, Queen's University Belfast, St George's University of London, University of Sheffield, University of Southampton, University of Surrey, University of St Andrews, University of Sunderland, University of Warwick and University of Worcester.
• ​Key dates (for 2024 entry): 20 June 2023 – booking opens; 10 July – testing begins; 21 September – final booking deadline; 28 September – deadline to take test.
• How long does it last? 120 mins approximately (including reading time).
• How much does it cost? £70.

Learn more on the Ucat website.

Lnat

The Law National Aptitude test is a university admissions test used by several universities to assess your aptitude for the skills required to study law, such as your ability to understand and interpret information.

The test is made up of a 42-question, multiple choice exam and an essay on a related subject. You do not need to possess any legal knowledge for the test.

• Who uses it? University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, Durham University, University of Glasgow, King’s College London, LSE, University of Oxford, SOAS and University College London.
• Key dates (for 2024 entry): August 1 2023: Lnat registration opens; September 1 2023: Lnat testing begins.
• Deadlines for Oxford applicants in 2023/24: 15 September 2023 – deadline to register and book your Lnat; 16 October – deadline to take the Lnat.
• Deadlines for LSE applicants in 2023/24: 31 December 2023 – deadline to take the Lnat.
• Deadlines for University of Bristol and University of Durham in 2023/24: 20 January 2024 – deadline to register and book your Lnat; 31 January 2024 – deadline to take the Lnat. 
• Deadlines for all other applicants in 2023/24: 20 January 2024 – deadline to register and book your LNAT; 25 January 2024 – deadline to sit the Lnat.
• How long does it last? Two-and-a-quarter hours.
• How much does it cost? £75.

Visit the Lnat website to learn more.

Step

If you're applying to a maths course at certain universities, you'll have to take the Sixth Term Examination Paper. This admissions exam tests your ability to answer similar questions to those you should expect on a degree course. 

There are two Step examinations: Step 2 and Step 3. There used to be a Step 1 exam as well, but it was scrapped a few years ago. Students take either one or two examinations; the university will decide which ones applicants take.

• Who uses it? University of Cambridge, University of Warwick and Imperial College London, though other universities may ask applicants to take it as part of their offer.
• ​Key dates (for 2023 entry): 1 March 2022 – Step entries open; 5 May – standard entry closing date for centres to register your test but centres may set their own deadlines before this date; 9 June – Step paper 2 takes place; 20 June – Step paper 3 takes place; 18 August – Step results published.
• How long does it last? Each Step exam is three hours long. Candidates answer six questions in each.
• How much does it cost? £93 per Step paper.

Learn more about Step on its website.

Mat

You'll have to take the Mathematics Admissions Test if you're applying to one of a handful of computer science and mathematics courses at Oxford. It's a paper-based admissions exam. 

• Who uses it? University of Oxford, Imperial College London and the University of Warwick.
• ​Key dates (for 2024 entry): 29 September 2023 – registration deadline; 19 October 2023 – Mat test takes place.
• How long does it take? Two-and-a-half hours.
• How much does it cost? No fee (though some test centres charge a small admin fee).

Learn more about the Mat on its website here.

Cat

The Classics Admissions Test is a paper-based university admissions exam you'll have to take if you're applying to one of Oxford's classics courses.

You must take either one or two of three possible papers: a Latin Translation Test, a Greek Translation Test and a Classics Language Aptitude Test.

• Who uses it? University of Oxford.
• Key dates (for 2024 entry): 29 September 2023 – deadline for Cat entries; 19 October – Cat testing takes place.
• How long does it take? Each paper is an hour.
• How much does it cost? No fee (though some test centres charge a small admin fee).

Learn more about the Cat on the University of Oxford's website.

Elat

The English Literature Admissions Test is a paper-based university admissions test you'll have to take if applying to an English course at Oxford. 

The exam is taken prior to your interview and tests your close reading skills. You'll be required to write one essay comparing two passages, focusing on elements such as language, imagery and structure.

• Who uses it? University of Oxford.
• Key dates (for 2024 entry): 1 September 2023 – entries open; 29 September – deadline for Elat entries; 19 October – Elat testing takes place.
• How long does it take? One-and-a-half hours.
• How much does it cost? No fee (though some test centres charge a small admin fee).

Learn more about the Elat on its website.

Mlat

You'll have to take the Modern Languages Admissions Test when applying to a modern languages course at Oxford.

It is a paper-based admissions test involving a booklet containing several papers (you'll take no more than two papers).

• Who uses it? University of Oxford.
• ​Key dates (for 2024 entry): 29 September 2023 – deadline for Mlat entries; 20 October – Mlat testing takes place.
• ​How much does it cost? No fee (though some test centres charge a small admin fee).

Learn more about the Mlat on the University of Oxford website here.