ESAT Specification
The ESAT specification is the official list of what the five modules can assess. Mathematics 1 is compulsory, and most candidates sit two further modules. This page is the readable topic list. The official PDF is the document the test is built from.
Download the official materials
These files are published free by UAT-UK. This page links to them and does not rehost them.
- ESAT content specification (PDF) — the official syllabus.
- ESAT guide: Mathematics 1 (PDF)
- ESAT guide: Biology (PDF)
- ESAT guide: Chemistry (PDF)
- ESAT guide: Physics (PDF)
- ESAT guide: Mathematics 2 (PDF) — the same file as the TMUA Notes on Mathematics.
- Specimen and practice tests — open in the Pearson player, on a desktop.
- ENGAA and NSAA papers, 2016–2023 — the archive UAT-UK publishes for ESAT preparation. There is no ESAT past paper.
The five modules
| Module | Place in the test | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics 1 | Every candidate sits this module. | Official guide |
| Mathematics 2 | Its guide is the same file as the TMUA Notes on Mathematics. | Official guide |
| Physics | Often paired with Mathematics 1 and Mathematics 2 for engineering and physical sciences. | Official guide |
| Chemistry | Often paired with Mathematics 1 and Biology for chemistry and some bioscience courses. | Official guide |
| Biology | Often paired with Mathematics 1 and Chemistry for life-science courses. | Official guide |
Most candidates sit three modules, 120 minutes in total. Confirm the combination on the course list for 2027 entry. Scores are reported per module. See how an ESAT score is reported.
Topics by module
Names and codes below are the first-level topics from the specification. A practice link appears only where an original question is already loaded. The ENGAA and NSAA papers are not split by these topics on this site yet; open the archive and skip questions the paper marks as outside the specification.
| Code | Topic | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| M1 | Units | Still being written |
| M2 | Number | Still being written |
| M3 | Ratio and proportion | Practise this topic |
| M4 | Algebra | Still being written |
| M5 | Geometry | Still being written |
| M6 | Statistics | Still being written |
| M7 | Probability | Practise this topic |
| Code | Topic | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| M1 | Units | Still being written |
| M2 | Number | Still being written |
| M3 | Ratio and proportion | Still being written |
| M4 | Algebra | Still being written |
| M5 | Geometry | Still being written |
| M6 | Statistics | Still being written |
| M7 | Probability | Still being written |
| MM1 | Algebra and functions | Still being written |
| MM2 | Sequences and series | Still being written |
| MM3 | Coordinate geometry | Practise this topic |
| MM4 | Trigonometry | Still being written |
| MM5 | Exponentials and logarithms | Practise this topic |
| MM6 | Differentiation | Still being written |
| MM7 | Integration | Still being written |
| MM8 | Graphs of functions | Still being written |
| Code | Topic | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| P1 | Electricity | Still being written |
| P2 | Magnetism | Still being written |
| P3 | Mechanics | Practise this topic |
| P4 | Thermal physics | Still being written |
| P5 | Matter | Still being written |
| P6 | Waves | Practise this topic |
| P7 | Radioactivity | Still being written |
| M1 | Units | Still being written |
| M2 | Number | Still being written |
| M3 | Ratio and proportion | Still being written |
| M4 | Algebra | Still being written |
| M5 | Geometry | Still being written |
| M6 | Statistics | Still being written |
| M7 | Probability | Still being written |
| Code | Topic | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Atomic structure | Still being written |
| C2 | The Periodic Table | Still being written |
| C3 | Chemical reactions, formulae and equations | Still being written |
| C4 | Quantitative chemistry | Practise this topic |
| C5 | Oxidation, reduction and redox | Still being written |
| C6 | Chemical bonding, structure and properties | Still being written |
| C7 | Group chemistry | Still being written |
| C8 | Separation techniques | Still being written |
| C9 | Acids, bases and salts | Still being written |
| C10 | Rates of reaction | Still being written |
| C11 | Energetics | Still being written |
| C12 | Electrolysis | Still being written |
| C13 | Carbon and organic chemistry | Still being written |
| C14 | Metals | Still being written |
| C15 | Kinetic and particle theory | Still being written |
| C16 | Chemical tests | Still being written |
| C17 | Air and water | Still being written |
| M1 | Units | Still being written |
| M2 | Number | Still being written |
| M3 | Ratio and proportion | Still being written |
| M4 | Algebra | Still being written |
| M5 | Geometry | Still being written |
| M6 | Statistics | Still being written |
| M7 | Probability | Still being written |
| Code | Topic | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| B1 | Cells | Still being written |
| B2 | Movement across membranes | Still being written |
| B3 | Cell division and sex determination | Still being written |
| B4 | Inheritance | Practise this topic |
| B5 | DNA | Still being written |
| B6 | Gene technologies | Still being written |
| B7 | Variation | Still being written |
| B8 | Enzymes | Still being written |
| B9 | Animal physiology | Still being written |
| B10 | Ecosystems | Still being written |
| B11 | Plant physiology | Still being written |
| M1 | Units | Still being written |
| M2 | Number | Still being written |
| M3 | Ratio and proportion | Still being written |
| M4 | Algebra | Still being written |
| M5 | Geometry | Still being written |
| M6 | Statistics | Still being written |
| M7 | Probability | Still being written |
ENGAA and NSAA papers
UAT-UK keeps the ENGAA and NSAA archives because they contain questions of the type found in the ESAT. Each paper indicates where a question is not in the current specification. Use that marking. The archive is extra practice, not a replacement for the topic list above.
How to use this list
- Confirm your three modules on the course list.
- Read the guide for each module before you start a paper.
- Work the ENGAA or NSAA paper that matches those sciences, and skip anything marked outside the specification.
- Use a practice link where one is listed. The diagnostic on the practice page is an indicative band for that short set, not a predicted module score.
Common questions
What is the ESAT specification?
It is UAT-UK’s list of every topic the ESAT can cover. This page follows that list for Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The official PDF is the full statement.
Which modules do I sit?
Mathematics 1 is compulsory. Most candidates sit two further modules chosen to match the course. The combination is set by the course and cannot be changed at the test centre. Check the official course list before you book.
How long is the ESAT?
Each module is 40 minutes and 27 multiple-choice questions. Most candidates sit three modules, so 120 minutes. Each module is scored separately from 1.0 to 9.0.
Are the ENGAA and NSAA papers still relevant?
UAT-UK keeps them because they contain questions of the type found in the ESAT, and the papers mark questions that are outside the current specification. Skip those questions. The ESAT itself has no released past papers.
Is an ESAT guide the same as the specification?
No. The specification is the topic list. Each guide explains one module. The Mathematics 2 guide is the TMUA Notes on Mathematics.