ESAT Past Papers
The ESAT has no past papers of its own. It launched in 2024, and everything sat since then was computer-based and not released. What UAT-UK does publish is the archive of the two tests it replaced: the ENGAA and the NSAA, from 2016 to 2023. Those papers include questions the specification no longer covers, and UAT-UK marks them on the paper.
- 5 modulesMost candidates sit three
- 27 questions40 minutes per module
- 1.0–9.0A separate score per module
- 120 minutesFor a typical three-module sitting
Which papers should you use?
UAT-UK says the historic ENGAA and NSAA papers contain questions of the type found in the ESAT, and that each paper indicates where a question is not in the ESAT specification. Check that marking before you spend time on a question. The archive is not a substitute for the specification.
Module choice is course-specific. Imperial’s published combinations include Mathematics 1 with Mathematics 2 and Physics for aeronautical, civil, electrical, mechanical, and physics courses, and Mathematics 1 with Chemistry and Biology for biochemistry and biological sciences. Design Engineering on that list is Mathematics 1 plus Mathematics 2 only. Cambridge, Oxford, and UCL also use the ESAT for some courses. The full list is the official PDF, not this paragraph.
ESAT past paper archives
ENGAA past papers
| Paper | Question paper | Answer key |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2023 Open | 2023 Open |
| 2022 | 2022 Open | 2022 Open |
| 2021 | 2021 Open | 2021 Open |
| 2020 | 2020 Open | 2020 Open |
| 2019 | 2019 Open | 2019 Open |
| 2018 | 2018 Open | 2018 Open |
| 2017 | 2017 Open | 2017 Open |
| 2016 | 2016 Open | 2016 Open |
NSAA past papers
| Paper | Question paper | Answer key |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2023 Open | 2023 Open |
| 2022 | 2022 Open | 2022 Open |
| 2021 | 2021 Open | 2021 Open |
| 2020 | 2020 Open | 2020 Open |
| 2019 | 2019 Open | 2019 Open |
| 2018 | 2018 Open | 2018 Open |
| 2017 | 2017 Open | 2017 Open |
| 2016 | 2016 Open | 2016 Open |
These files are hosted by UAT-UK. SummitPapers links to the current official copy and does not re-host the PDFs. ESAT preparation materials
ESAT modules and format
| Module | Who sits it | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics 1 | Every candidate | 27 multiple choice | 40 minutes |
| Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics 2 | Most candidates sit two of these | 27 multiple choice each | 40 minutes each |
Mathematics 1 assumes the topics labelled M. Mathematics 2 also assumes the MM topics. Biology, Chemistry, and Physics assume their own topics plus Mathematics 1.
How to prepare
- Read the specification for the modules your course requires.
- Use the ESAT guide for those modules, and the Pearson specimen test on a desktop, not a phone.
- Work the ENGAA or NSAA paper that matches your sciences, skipping questions marked as outside the specification.
- UAT-UK warns that candidates should not expect to score as highly as they do in school exams. The sample tests do not award a score on purpose.
Free official ESAT resources
- ESAT specification, topic by topic
- ESAT content specification (PDF)
- ESAT guide: Mathematics 1
- ESAT guide: Biology
- ESAT guide: Chemistry
- ESAT guide: Physics
- ESAT guide: Mathematics 2
- Specimen and practice tests (Pearson)
- Explanation of Results, October 2025 and January 2026
Mathematics applicants may also need the TMUA. The two tests share a 1.0–9.0 reporting scale and are still separate scores.
Common questions
Are there any ESAT past papers?
Not of the ESAT itself. It launched in 2024 and live papers are not released. UAT-UK publishes the ENGAA and NSAA archives from 2016 to 2023, and marks questions that are outside the ESAT specification.
What is a good ESAT score?
There is no pass mark. Each module is scored from 1.0 to 9.0. The explanation of results says a typical candidate scores around 4.5, and about 10% score above 7.0. See the ESAT scores page.
How long is the ESAT?
Each module is 40 minutes and 27 multiple-choice questions. Most candidates sit three modules, so 120 minutes. All candidates sit Mathematics 1.
Which modules do I need?
The combination is set by the course and cannot be changed at the test centre. Imperial’s April 2026 list, for example, uses Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, and Physics for several engineering courses, and Mathematics 1, Chemistry, and Biology for several bioscience courses. Check the course list for yours.
Can I use a calculator?
No. Calculators and dictionaries are not permitted, and there is no negative marking.
When do ESAT results come out?
About four weeks after the sitting, in your UAT-UK account, and they are sent to the universities whose courses require the ESAT.