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MAT (Mathematics Admissions Test)

What is the MAT?

If you are applying for one of the following courses you will be required to sit the MAT: 

The Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) is a subject-specific admissions test, lasting 2 hours and 30 minutes and sat under timed conditions.

The MAT is designed to be approachable for all students, including those without Further Mathematics A-level or equivalent. It aims to test the depth of mathematical understanding of a student rather than a breadth of knowledge. The mathematical knowledge and techniques required to do the questions are taken from a syllabus roughly corresponding to AS-level Maths, with a few extra topics from A-level Maths. If you're unsure what this covers, you can find the full MAT syllabus on the practice materials tab on this page.

Which questions you answer in the test depends on the course you are applying for. Details of precisely which questions you should attempt are given below. (Don't worry, you can also find these details in the instructions on the front page of the test, and throughout the paper.)

  • Mathematics, Mathematics and Statistics, and Mathematics and Philosophy applicants should attempt questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
  • Mathematics and Computer Science applicants should attempt questions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
  • Computer Science and Computer Science and Philosophy applicants should attempt questions 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
  • Oxford applicants who are also applying to courses at Imperial College London and/or the University of Warwick should attempt the questions required by the Oxford course they are applying for.

The first question on the test is multiple choice and contains ten parts, each worth four marks. Marks are given solely for the correct answers, though you are encouraged to show any working out. Questions 2–7 are longer questions, each worth 15 marks, and again, you will need to show your working. Part marks are available for the longer questions. You should attempt four questions from 2–7, the selection depending on the degree for which you are applying as above.

Please be aware that no calculators, formula sheets or dictionaries are permitted during the test. There are spare blank pages at the end of the test paper. Answers on extra paper should be securely attached to the booklet. Further credit cannot be gained by attempting questions other than those appropriate to the degree applied for.

Why do I have to take a test?

Most applicants to Oxford University have great personal statements, excellent references, and are also predicted top grades. It can therefore be difficult for us to choose between so many well-qualified candidates, especially as applicants come from all over the world and take different qualifications.

Tests give us an extra piece of information for every student who has applied for a given course, wherever they are from. Considered together with the other elements of the application, this helps us to identify the very best candidates. However, there is no specific mark that will guarantee your application will be shortlisted. The tests vary each year, and your test score will be considered alongside the scores of other students who apply for your course.

Do I have to pay?

We do not charge candidates to take this test. However, please be aware that some independent test centres do charge an administration fee to candidates; you should contact your centre for details.

How are the tests designed and reviewed?

When a department wishes to introduce a new admissions test for their course, there is a substantial consultation process within the University, including a pilot testing phase, designed to ensure that the test is suitable. Where appropriate, subject departments are encouraged to share common tests, or elements of tests, to ease the process of application for the student and administration for the school or college. Use of the tests is carefully reviewed and we undertake substantial statistical evaluation of each test.

How do I register?

More information on how to register for this admissions test will be available here shortly. The deadline for registering will be 29 September.

Can I apply for access arrangements?

Your test centre will be able to apply for access arrangements for you if you have a permanent or long-term disability which might affect your performance such as a sight impairment, dyslexia or cerebral palsy. You may also be eligible for access arrangements if you have a short-term difficulty, such as a broken arm.

The access arrangements you are eligible for will depend on the exact nature of your condition and most often will be the same as those you would get while taking a public examination at your school. These could include modified materials (i.e. large print or braille exam papers), extra time, or the use of a laptop.

You should let your school or test centre know of any requirements you may have as early as you can and provide them with medical evidence to support your application. The deadlines for applying for modified papers and requesting access arrangements will be available soon.

When do I take the test?

Depending on which test is being taken, this will be on one of the two dates given below, so a few weeks after the test registration deadline of 29 September.

2023 test dates:
19 October: CAT, ELAT, GAT, MAT and AMELAT
20 October: HAT, MLAT, PAT and Philosophy Test

We are aware that sometimes tests fall during school half terms which vary by region reach year. Unfortunately, due to the tight timeframes for processing applications, it is not possible to avoid this but we hope by giving you considerable notice of test dates, schools will be able to make plans for their students to sit tests either at their school or at an alternative test centre, and candidates will make sure they are available to take the necessary test(s).

It is not possible to re-sit a test. If you feel you did badly due to extenuating circumstances, for example: if you were ill on the day of the test or if there was some form of disruption at your test centre, it will be possible for the centre or yourself to submit a form reporting these circumstances in order for you to be considered for special consideration. Further details on how to do this will be available here shortly.

Remember to ensure you register for the test by 29 September, even if you feel exceptional circumstances may mean there is a risk you will not able take it. Our admissions tests are an important part of our assessment process for candidates and in order to make sure your application is as competitive as possible, we strongly advise that you make every effort to sit the test. We are aware that there may be extra difficulties for some candidates this year but we do expect the vast majority of candidates to be able to sit tests as planned. If you experience exceptional circumstances beyond your control which prevent this, please alert the college you have applied to as soon as possible. If you have made an open application, please contact us using our contact form. In this case your application will be considered using the other information you give us as part of your UCAS form and alongside other candidates applying for your subject.

What if I am sitting the TMUA?

Please note, the Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA) is used by several universities, but is not used by Oxford. We recommend that you check the course pages of the other universities you plan to apply to. As both the MAT and the TMUA test problem-solving skills in maths, it is likely that your preparation for both will overlap.

 

How do I get my results?         

Admissions tutors will receive the results of all tests directly in time to make their shortlisting decisions in November, so candidates do not need to send their results to us separately.

MAT scores will be automatically distributed to all applicants shortly after college decision letters are sent. Applicants will still be able to write to their college to request feedback.

Practice materials

Taking any type of test or exam can be stressful, but you can help build your confidence by doing a bit of preparation ahead of time. You may also do better in the real test if you've had a chance to practise some sample or past papers, and got used to the format and timings of the admissions test you have to take. Here are our top tips for preparing for the MAT:

  1. Review the past papers for the MAT. This will help you to feel familiar with the test paper and know what to expect.
  2. Sit at least one past paper in test conditions. This is really important as it will help you get used to the questions you are required to attempt, how much time to allocate to each question and how to keep within the overall time limit.
  3. Check the syllabus: we strongly recommend that you check the details and ensure that you have covered the relevant material. Please note, the syllabus for the MAT changed in October 2018 in line with A-level reform: please view the relevant section on this page for further information.
  4. Read through the further resources provided on this page and practise doing the problems provided there. This will help you to develop your problem-solving skills and expand your mathematical knowledge.
  5. Watch this video produced by the Mathematics department on How to prepare for the MAT.
  6. Watch the Mathematics department's MAT livestream. This year's livestream runs from early August until November, but you can also access recordings of previous events.  

Don't worry if you find the past or specimen papers very difficult – they're supposed to be! All our tests are designed to stretch you further than you have been stretched before – most candidates will find them really hard.

You can find the solutions with the papers in the list in this section.

MAT advice video

Our Mathematics Outreach Officer explains how to prepare for the MAT

Past and specimen papers

Past papers 

The University does not endorse or allow use of its tests that are protected by copyright for commercial use

Specimen papers

The University does not endorse or allow use of its tests that are protected by copyright for commercial use

MAT syllabus

In order to reflect the new syllabus of AS-level Mathematics, we removed the following topics from 2018 onwards: the remainder theorem, radians, and the trapezium rule. We have added the following topics to the syllabus: combinations and binomial probabilities, derivative of ekx, differentiation from first principles, graphs of loga (x). Please note that we will continue to include sequences and series on the MAT syllabus, including arithmetic and geometric progressions and their sums, and the convergence condition for infinite geometric progressions.

View the the updated MAT syllabus for 2018.

Further resources

You may wish to take a look at the following online resources to help expand your mathematical knowledge. Please note that candidates are not required to take STEP, but may find it useful in helping them prepare for the MAT (although the questions are quite different in style.)

General admissions statistics

These reports provide summaries of the admissions process for the subjects of Mathematics, Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Philosophy and Mathematics and Computer Science:

These reports provide summaries of the admissions process for the subjects of Mathematics and Computer Science, Computer Science and Computer Science and Philosophy.

The following report provides a summary of the admissions process for the subjects of Mathematics, Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Philosophy, Computer Science and Mathematics and Computer Science:

For test administrators

Guidance for administering Oxford tests

Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing's information on:

YOU MUST TAKE THE MAT IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR:

Computer Science
Computer Science and Philosophy
Mathematics
Mathematics and Computer Science
Mathematics and Philosophy
Mathematics and Statistics

Oxford only admissions tests:

AMELAT (formerly the OLAT)
CAT
ELAT
GAT
HAT
MAT
MLAT
PAT
Philosophy test

CAAT tests also used by other universities:

BMAT
TSA

LNAT:

LNAT