Is the PAT still used? Oxford replaced it with the ESAT
No. Oxford uses the ESAT instead from 2027 entry, so applicants for Oxford Physics, Physics and Philosophy and Engineering Science sit the ESAT's Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics modules, and the PAT is no longer sat.
Oxford courses that moved from the PAT to the ESAT
The ESAT is computer-based multiple choice, with 27 questions in 40 minutes per module, each scored from 1.0 to 9.0.
| Engineering Science | Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
|---|---|
| Physics | Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Physics and Philosophy | Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
Updated 5 November 2026 · Source: Oxford Physics: ESAT ↗
PAT questions, answered
Is the PAT still running?
No. From 2027 entry Oxford uses the ESAT instead. Oxford's physics department says everyone applying for Physics or Physics and Philosophy, without exception, must take the ESAT, and it now calls the PAT its previous admissions test. Source: Oxford Physics: ESAT ↗
Which ESAT modules do Oxford physics and engineering applicants sit?
Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics, on the UAT-UK Course List 2027 Entry (April 2026), for Physics, Physics and Philosophy and Engineering Science. Source: UAT-UK Course List 2027 Entry ↗
Are PAT past papers still useful?
Oxford keeps them online and says resources about the PAT may be useful if you are preparing for interviews. For the test itself, prepare with UAT-UK's ESAT materials. Source: Oxford Physics: PAT past papers ↗
Do I need a tutor who has personally taken the PAT?
No. What matters now is the ESAT and the physics and maths behind it. Our tutors are active physicists who teach the underlying ideas first.
Prepare for the ESAT with a research physicist
One to one, online or in London, by the session.