Oxford is Replacing the PAT with ESAT — What Engineering and Physics Applicants Need to Know for 2027 Entry

The PAT Has Been Scrapped. Here Is What Is Replacing It.

Oxford has permanently replaced the PAT with ESAT for Engineering Science, Physics, and Physics and Philosophy applicants, and has replaced the BMSAT with ESAT for Biomedical Sciences. The PAT ran its final sitting in October 2025. From October 2026, all four courses sit ESAT instead. The three structural differences that matter most: ESAT is three separate 40-minute modules rather than a single 2-hour paper, no calculator is permitted in any module (the PAT allowed one from 2023), and Materials Science — which previously required the PAT — now requires no admissions test at all.

Oxford also ran the Biomedical Sciences Admissions Test (BMSAT) as a separate test for Biomedical Sciences applicants. That test has also been scrapped, with no separate replacement — Biomedical Sciences applicants now sit ESAT alongside Engineering and Physics applicants.

From October 2026, all Engineering Science, Physics, Physics and Philosophy, and Biomedical Sciences applicants at Oxford sit the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT). This is the same test that Cambridge has required for Engineering and Natural Sciences applicants since 2024 and that Imperial requires for its Engineering courses.

Which Oxford Courses Now Require ESAT

Oxford Course	Test from 2027	Test until 2026
Engineering Science	ESAT	PAT
Physics	ESAT	PAT
Physics and Philosophy	ESAT	PAT
Biomedical Sciences	ESAT	BMSAT
Materials Science	None required	PAT

ESAT Module Structure — What You Actually Sit

This is where ESAT is most different from the PAT. The PAT was one unified paper — two hours, maths and physics mixed together. ESAT is three separate, independently timed modules. Mathematics 1 is compulsory for every ESAT candidate. The two additional modules depend on your course.

Oxford Course	Module 1	Module 2	Module 3
Engineering Science	Maths 1	Maths 2	Physics
Physics	Maths 1	Maths 2	Physics
Physics and Philosophy	Maths 1	Maths 2	Physics
Biomedical Sciences	Maths 1	Biology	Chemistry

Each module is 40 minutes, 27 multiple-choice questions. You cannot carry time over between modules — if you finish Maths 1 early, you cannot use that time in the Physics module. This modular structure is a real change from the PAT, where time allocation across maths and physics questions was your own strategic decision.

How ESAT Differs from PAT — The Changes That Actually Affect Preparation

What Resources Are Actually Useful for ESAT Preparation

The ESAT is newer than the PAT and has far fewer past papers available. UAT-UK does not release papers from recent sittings. Here is a realistic assessment of every resource that is genuinely useful.

Resource	Useful for ESAT?	Which module
PAT past papers 2023–2024	Yes — directly	Physics, Maths (no calculator)
PAT past papers 2019–2022	Yes	Physics, Maths 1, Maths 2
PAT past papers pre-2019	Partially	Physics content, format differs
ENGAA Section 1 (all years)	Yes — directly	Maths 1, Maths 2, Physics
NSAA Section 1 (all years)	Yes	Maths 1, Biology, Chemistry, Physics
ENGAA/NSAA Section 2	No	Written format, not relevant
BMSAT past papers	Yes	Biology, Chemistry (Biomedical)
ESAT specimen papers (UAT-UK)	Yes — best available	All modules
TMUA Paper 1 past papers	Partially	Maths 1 content overlap

The most underused resource is Cambridge's ENGAA, which was retired in 2024 when Cambridge moved to ESAT. ENGAA Section 1 is multiple-choice, timed, no calculator, and covers the same Maths and Physics content as ESAT. Years of ENGAA papers are available on the UAT-UK website and they are as close to a direct ESAT practice resource as exists outside of official ESAT specimen papers.

What a Competitive ESAT Score Looks Like for Oxford

ESAT scores run on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale. Oxford uses ESAT scores primarily for interview shortlisting — it is one of several factors alongside GCSE grades, predicted A-levels, school context, and the personal statement.

ESAT Score	Approximate Percentile	Context for Oxford
7.5 – 9.0	Top 5–10%	Very strong interview position at Oxford and Cambridge.
6.5 – 7.5	Top 15–25%	Competitive. Likely to reach Oxford interview with a solid application.
5.5 – 6.5	Top 30–40%	Possible. Depends heavily on the rest of the application.
Below 5.5	Below 40th percentile	Unlikely to reach Oxford interview shortlist for Engineering or Physics.

Cambridge Engineering interviews approximately 70% of applicants — a relatively high proportion. Oxford Engineering interviews approximately 38%. This means the ESAT score is a more decisive filter at Oxford than at Cambridge. A student who would get a Cambridge interview on a 6.0 might not get an Oxford interview on the same score.

One Test for Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial

Under the old system, a student applying to Oxford Engineering (PAT), Cambridge Engineering (ESAT), and Imperial Mechanical Engineering (ESAT) was doing two different tests. From 2026, all three require ESAT. You sit it once in October, and that single score is shared across every university in your UCAS application that uses ESAT.

This is a real reduction in preparation workload for students applying across multiple institutions. The preparation track is single — ESAT — rather than split between PAT and ESAT. Register for ESAT once. Sit it once. Done.

It also means your score is now benchmarked against the full national ESAT cohort rather than against an Oxford-specific group. Admissions tutors at Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial all see your score relative to the same national distribution.

Key Dates for the 2026 Testing Cycle (for 2027 Oxford Entry)

Summary

Oxford has replaced the PAT and BMSAT with ESAT for all Engineering Science, Physics, Physics and Philosophy, and Biomedical Sciences applicants. The change takes effect for the October 2026 sitting. Materials Science now requires no admissions test. The key structural differences from the PAT are the modular format (three 40-minute modules with independent timing), the removal of the calculator in all modules, and the expanded scoring pool that now includes all Cambridge and Imperial ESAT candidates. PAT papers from 2023 onwards and Cambridge's ENGAA Section 1 papers are the best available preparation resources. Register for the October sitting as soon as registration opens — Pearson VUE test centres fill quickly and missing October means Oxford cannot receive your score.