Admissions tests
Important notice:
We understand the difficulty and disappointment some of our applicants will have experienced through technical problems with their online tests this year. Statements from departments following issues with the MAT, GAT, CAT and ELAT can be found on the individual test pages. Please also read the message which Oxford has sent to the test centres and candidates affected.
The deadline for submitting requests for special consideration has now passed but if test centres or candidates would like to share their general feedback on Oxford's admissions test this year, please complete our feedback form before 20 November.
Statement from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
We delivered admission tests for 8 subjects, across 2200+ schools in 107 countries between 19th and 20th October 2023. While the tests were successfully administered in other countries, there were technical difficulties faced by the students taking some of the tests in the UK. It is upsetting for all, that this disruption has been caused to these students and test centres. We are sorry that the experience did not meet your expectations.
Many of our courses require applicants to take an admissions test. We use these tests to help us choose between all the excellent candidates who apply to study at Oxford. To make your application as competitive as possible it's very important that you register for and take any admissions tests that are required for your course. Registration isn't automatic and just completing your UCAS application won't register you for the test so please make sure you follow the process carefully. Most candidates are expected to take their test at their own school or college but if this isn't possible, you can find an open centre to take your test.
You can be registered for your test by your test centre anytime between 1 and 29 September (except for the LNAT) - so before our UCAS deadline of 16 October. You do not have to have submitted your UCAS form before being registered for an admissions test. Registered candidates will be sent confirmation of their test registration. Make sure you have received this email with your test registration ID and instructions before registrations close on 29 September.
Start by using the dropdown menu below to check whether your course requires you to take a test or tests and then follow the link to the relevant test/s webpage.
2023 dates for Oxford's own admissions tests run by TCS are as follows:
- 19 October: CAT, ELAT, GAT and MAT
- 20 October: HAT, MLAT, PAT and Philosophy test
This year, there will be a new test for Geography applicants.
Schools and colleges will need to apply for authorisation to become Oxford test centres (even if they are already Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing centres) before being able to register applicants for Oxford's own tests. Applying to become a test centre via Oxford's test centre portal should be quick and straightforward, particularly if the school or college are used to running public examinations. Schools and colleges are strongly advised to apply for authorisation as soon as possible so they are ready to begin registering their Oxford applicants as soon as the test registration window opens on 1 September. A test centre timeline provides an overview of key dates.
The TSA and BMAT tests will be taken by candidates on 18 October. Any questions regarding either of these tests should be directed to Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing (CAAT). CAAT recently announced its decision to withdraw from delivering its admissions testing services over the next two years. In 2023, they will deliver paper-based TSA and BMAT tests for the final time but will not be delivering Oxford's own tests.
Further information on arrangements for Oxford's admissions tests for 2024-entry is available on individual test pages (see menu below). This includes extensive guidance on test preparation, access to past papers and other practice materials and resources. Evidence suggests that people who have researched and practised their test do better. We strongly recommend that all candidates taking one of Oxford's own tests have a go at the online practice test (in most cases the 2022 past paper) available on their test page. This will allow you not only to familiarise yourself with the structure and content of your test but also to learn to navigate the digital test platform and practise using the tools available to support you. On your test day, you will then be able to focus fully on the content of your answers.
Arrangements for the LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law) will be the same as in previous years and details of the timeline will be available shortly on the LNAT website.
