How important are admissions tests and why do universities use them?

Why use admissions tests?

The use of admissions tests is not new, but they’ve become an increasingly important part of the admissions process for universities – particularly for universities that routinely receive more applications than places. 

Admissions tests are not intended to replace school-leaving qualifications like A-levels, as these provide important preparation for study and material that will be covered on the course at a more advanced level. 

However, using a test allows applicants to demonstrate knowledge and skills that they will need to use successfully on their course. This is essential for admissions tutors who are selecting between hundreds of applicants offering some of the highest possible grades from a huge range of qualifications, both from the UK and internationally.

It’s why admissions tests have become more widely used as universities seek to find the fairest ways to find the strongest applicants. Equally so has the burden on students applying to multiple selective universities, employing a range of tests.

What tests have Imperial and the University of Cambridge launched?

In January 2024, Imperial and the University of Cambridge launched University Admissions Tests UK (UAT–UK) as a way of streamlining the number of admissions tests that applicants to their institutions are facing.

UAT–UK delivers two tests for admissions to certain courses at Imperial and Cambridge. These tests are:

• the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (the ESAT)
• the Test of Mathematics for University Admission (the TMUA) 

The ESAT is brand new for 2025 entry and will used only by Cambridge and Imperial for this first year.

TMUA is an existing test (previously administered by Cambridge Assessment).  It will be used by Cambridge and Imperial, as well as Durham, LSE and Warwick for selection to some courses in Mathematics, Economics and Computer Science.

Test entry fees

While an entry fee does apply for each test (£75 for candidates sitting the test in the UK and Republic of Ireland; £130 if taken elsewhere), the results will be sent automatically to any ESAT/TMUA university listed in a student’s UCAS application. This means that the student only has to sit the test once in an admissions cycle.

A bursary voucher scheme is also available for eligible UK candidates to cover the entire cost of the test.

How the tests work

The Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA) is a multiple-choice exam that lasts two and half hours and is made up of two papers, taken back to back: 

• paper one focuses on the application of mathematical knowledge
• paper two covers mathematical reasoning

The Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT) is also multiple choice and it’s made up of 40-minute modules taken back-to-back. 

Most Imperial candidates will need to take Mathematics 1 and 2, plus another module (either Physics or Chemistry) – making the test 120 minutes long.

Most Cambridge candidates will be able to choose which two modules they take (in addition to Mathematics 1), but If they’re applying for Engineering, alongside Mathematics 1, they’ll need to complete Physics and Mathematics 2.

Both tests are computer based.

How to register for the tests

The TMUA and the ESAT are administered by Pearson VUE. 

Students register for a test directly with Pearson VUE and can choose from one of their 5,000 test centres around the world. 

Key dates and deadlines

There are two sittings for the TMUA and the ESAT – the first sitting is in October 2024 (and all Cambridge candidates must take the test in this sitting). Register online between 1 August and 16 September 2024 (29 August 2024 for candidates requiring access arrangements):

• 15 and 16 October 2024 (the ESAT)
• 16 and 17 October 2024 (the TMUA) 

The second sitting is in January 2025 (not available for Cambridge applicants). Register online between 24 October and 9 December 2024 (21 November 2024 for candidates requiring access arrangements):

• 7 and 8 January 2025 (the ESAT) 
• 8 and 9 January 2025 (the TMUA) 

While Imperial applicants can register for either sitting, we strongly recommend registering for October. This means that students will have the widest possible choice of timeslots and venues for their tests.

Want to learn more?

The UAT-UK website houses a huge range of information and resources to help applicants navigate the process. This includes guidance on the bursary voucher scheme,  applying for access arrangements, practice tests and key dates and deadlines. 

To get started, we first recommend that all students create a UAT-UK account with Pearson VUE.