ESAT vs ENGAA and NSAA — Which Old Past Papers Still Work for 2026 Preparation?

What ENGAA and NSAA Were

The most useful old past papers for ESAT preparation are ENGAA Section 1 (all years) and NSAA Section 1 (all years) — these are the closest structural match to ESAT, with the same multiple-choice format, same subject content, and same 40-minute module timing. PAT papers from 2019 to 2024 are directly useful for the ESAT Physics module, with one important caveat: the PAT allowed a calculator from 2023 onwards and ESAT does not. ENGAA and NSAA Section 2 written questions do not map to ESAT format and are not worth using. Both were run by Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing (CAAT), which was dissolved in 2023 when UAT-UK took over Cambridge's admissions testing under a new Pearson VUE partnership.

Both tests last ran in October 2023. From 2024, all their functions were assumed by the ESAT. The tests cover similar subject content at similar difficulty levels, which is why their past papers remain useful — but they are not identical.

The Three Key Structural Differences

Which ENGAA Past Paper Sections Are Useful for ESAT

ENGAA Section	Relevant ESAT Module	Usefulness	Notes
Section 1 Part A (Maths)	Maths 1 / Maths 2	High	AS-level maths content, multiple choice, no calculator — directly comparable
Section 1 Part B (Physics and Advanced Maths)	Physics / Maths 2	High	The physics content and style is the closest existing resource to ESAT Physics module
Section 2 (Written Physics/Maths)	None	None	ESAT has no written section. Section 2 is not useful for ESAT exam technique

Which NSAA Past Paper Sections Are Useful for ESAT

NSAA Section	Relevant ESAT Module	Usefulness	Notes
Section 1 Mathematics A	Maths 1	High	Core A-level maths content, directly useful
Section 1 Mathematics B	Maths 2	High	Advanced maths content overlaps well with ESAT Maths 2
Section 1 Physics	Physics	High	Multiple choice physics questions — highly relevant to ESAT Physics module
Section 1 Chemistry	Chemistry	High	Directly useful for ESAT Chemistry module
Section 1 Biology	Biology	High	Directly useful for ESAT Biology module
Section 2 (Written)	None	None	Written format is not used in ESAT at all

Which PAT Past Papers Are Useful for Oxford ESAT Preparation

From 2027 entry (2026 admissions cycle), Oxford Engineering and Physics applicants sit ESAT instead of PAT. PAT (Physics Aptitude Test) past papers are still available and partially useful.

PAT Content	Relevant ESAT Module	Usefulness	Notes
Mathematics questions (all years)	Maths 1 / Maths 2	High	PAT maths content is at A-level level — comparable to ESAT Maths modules
Physics questions (2023 and later)	Physics	High	PAT from 2023 was multiple choice with no calculator — identical format to ESAT
Physics questions (pre-2023)	Physics	Partial	Pre-2023 PAT had calculator access and written answers. Content is still useful but exam technique is not directly transferable

How to Combine Old Resources with Official ESAT Materials

Priority 1: Official ESAT past papers and specimen tests

UAT-UK has published ESAT past papers from the 2024 and 2025 cycles, plus specimen tests for each module. These are the only materials that exactly replicate the ESAT format — 40 minutes, 27 questions, no calculator, on the Pearson VUE platform. Start here. Use them under timed conditions before using any supplementary resources.

Priority 2: ENGAA Section 1 (for Engineering applicants)

ENGAA Section 1 provides roughly 10 past papers worth of multiple-choice content at the correct difficulty level for Maths 1, Maths 2, and Physics. After exhausting official ESAT materials, work through ENGAA Section 1 questions by module. Do not attempt ENGAA Section 2 — the written format is not useful.

Priority 3: NSAA Section 1 (for Natural Sciences and Chemistry applicants)

NSAA Section 1 provides multiple years of past paper material for all five modules — Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics A, and Mathematics B. For Natural Sciences and Chemical Engineering applicants who need Chemistry and Biology alongside Physics and Maths, NSAA Section 1 is the most useful supplementary resource available.

Priority 4: Isaac Physics (free, online)

Isaac Physics provides an extensive bank of free physics questions tagged to A-level topics. These are not in ESAT format but build the underlying physics knowledge and problem-solving skills needed for high ESAT Physics scores. Particularly useful for students whose school physics curriculum has gaps relative to the ESAT specification.

What Has Changed in Content Between ENGAA/NSAA and ESAT

The subject content covered is largely the same — A-level Mathematics and the three sciences at A-level or AS-level difficulty. There are some structural differences to be aware of.

ESAT Maths 1 is specifically designed to be accessible to all candidates regardless of whether they have taken Further Mathematics. It covers core A-level and GCSE mathematics content. ENGAA Section 1 Part A was slightly more advanced in some question types, drawing more heavily on A-level Year 2 content. This means some ENGAA Maths questions are more difficult than typical ESAT Maths 1 questions — which is useful as stretch practice but should not worry you if they feel harder than the official ESAT materials.

ESAT Physics, Chemistry, and Biology modules are all at A-level rather than Further level. NSAA Section 1 questions are at the same level. The question style in ESAT tends to involve slightly more multi-step reasoning in a single 40-minute block — NSAA questions sometimes feel slightly more direct. Both are valid practice.

Summary

ENGAA and NSAA Section 1 multiple-choice questions are directly useful for ESAT preparation in the corresponding modules. Their Section 2 written questions are not useful because ESAT has no written component. PAT papers from 2023 onwards are fully comparable to ESAT in format and are the best resource for Oxford Physics and Engineering applicants. Start with official ESAT materials, use ENGAA/NSAA as supplementary resources once official papers are exhausted. Do all practice without a calculator — ESAT permits none.