Test Finder Free Tool
Which UK admissions test do you need?
Pick your course and target university to see which admissions tests are required, the typical offer level, when the test is sat, and how to prepare.
5 courses
11 universities
2026-2027 entry cycle
What are UK university admissions tests?
Most STEM courses at top UK universities now require a pre-application admissions test alongside your UCAS form, predicted grades, and personal statement. The test is used to shortlist candidates for interview (at Cambridge / Oxford) or directly for an offer (everywhere else). For Mathematics offers at Cambridge, Warwick, and Imperial, there is also a separate post-offer test (STEP) sat with your final exams. The major UK university admissions tests for STEM:
TMUA
Maths, Computer Science, Economics. Cambridge / Oxford / LSE / Warwick / Durham.
ESAT
Engineering, Physics, Chemistry. Cambridge / Imperial / Oxford.
STEP
Maths offers at Cambridge, Warwick, Imperial. Sat with A-Levels in June.
MAT (archive)
Retired in 2026, replaced by TMUA. 19 years of papers remain useful for prep.
PAT (archive)
Retired in 2026, replaced by ESAT. 19 years of papers remain useful for prep.
TARA
Academic reasoning. Oxford TSA replacement from 2026, plus UCL.
How to use the test finder
- 1.Pick your course from the first dropdown (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or Engineering).
- 2.Pick your target university from the second dropdown. We cover the 11 most-asked-about universities for these STEM courses.
- 3.The result panel shows the required admissions tests with sitting dates, the typical offer level, university-specific notes, and direct links to our test pages for prep resources.
- 4.Scroll past the result to the full matrix below if you want to compare every course / university combination at a glance.
You can also share or bookmark a specific combination using URL parameters, e.g.
?course=maths&uni=cambridge.
Pick your combination
Select a course and a university above to see what is required.
All combinations at a glance
Every course / university pairing currently supported. Where the cell is empty, the course is either not offered at that university or is sufficiently niche that we have not yet profiled it. The 2026-2027 entry requirements shown — always verify with the university directly.
Mathematics
Full subject guide →| University | Course at this university | Admissions tests | Typical offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | Mathematics (Tripos) | A*A*A (Maths, Further Maths + 1 other) + 1,1 in STEP 2 and STEP 3. Some colleges accept A*A*A* with grade 1 in one STEP paper (both must still be taken). | |
| Oxford | Mathematics; Maths & Statistics; Maths & CS; Maths & Philosophy | A*A*A with A* in Maths and A* in Further Maths (if available), and A in any third subject | |
| Imperial | Mathematics (BSc / MSci); Maths & CS; Maths & Statistics | A*A*A (3 A-Levels) or A*A*AA (4 A-Levels), with A* in Maths, A* in Further Maths, A in another subject | |
| Warwick | Mathematics (BSc / MMath); MORSE | A*A* in Maths and Further Maths, plus A in a third subject (A*A*A overall) | |
| LSE | Mathematics and Economics; Maths with Economics | A*AA with A* in Mathematics. Further Maths expected (grade A) where the school offers it. Alternative: A* in Further Maths + A in Maths. | |
| Durham | Mathematics (BSc G100 / MMath) | A*A*A with A*A* in Maths and Further Maths (no test required) OR A*AA with A*A in Maths and Further Maths + strong performance in an accepted maths test (e.g. TMUA) | |
| UCL | Mathematics; Maths with Economics; Maths with Management | No admissions test | A*A*A including A* in Maths and Further Maths |
| Bath | Mathematics (BSc / MMath) | No admissions test | A*AA with A* in Maths |
| Bristol | Mathematics (BSc / MSci) | No admissions test | A*A*A with A* in Maths and Further Maths |
| Manchester | Mathematics (BSc / MMath) | No admissions test | A*AA with A* in Maths |
| Edinburgh | Mathematics (BSc / MA) | No admissions test | AAA with A in Maths |
Physics
Full subject guide →| University | Course at this university | Admissions tests | Typical offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | Natural Sciences (Physical) — choose Physics from Year 2 | A*A*A with A* in Physics and Maths | |
| Oxford | Physics; Physics & Philosophy | A*A*A with A* in Physics and Maths | |
| Imperial | Physics; Physics with Theoretical Physics | A*A*A or A*A*A* | |
| UCL | Physics; Theoretical Physics; Astrophysics | No admissions test | A*AA with A in Maths and Physics |
| Durham | Physics; Theoretical Physics | No admissions test | A*AA with A* in Physics, A in Maths |
| Manchester | Physics; Physics with Astrophysics | No admissions test | AAA with A in Physics and Maths |
| Edinburgh | Physics; Mathematical Physics; Astrophysics | No admissions test | AAA with A in Maths and Physics |
| Bristol | Physics (BSc / MSci); Physics with Astrophysics | No admissions test | A*AA with A* in Physics, A in Maths |
| Bath | Physics (BSc / MPhys) | No admissions test | A*AA |
Chemistry
Full subject guide →| University | Course at this university | Admissions tests | Typical offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | Natural Sciences (Physical or Biological) — Chemistry from Year 2 | A*A*A with A* in Chemistry | |
| Oxford | Chemistry (4-year MChem) | No admissions test | A*A*A with A* in Chemistry and one of Maths / Physics / Biology |
| Imperial | Chemistry (BSc / MSci) | No admissions test | A*A*A |
| UCL | Chemistry; Chemistry with Mathematics | No admissions test | A*AA with A* in Chemistry |
| Bristol | Chemistry (BSc / MSci); Chemical Physics | No admissions test | AAA with A in Chemistry and Maths |
| Edinburgh | Chemistry (4-year MChem) | No admissions test | AAB with A in Chemistry and Maths |
| Durham | Chemistry (BSc / MChem) | No admissions test | A*AA with A* in Chemistry, A in Maths |
| Manchester | Chemistry (BSc / MChem) | No admissions test | AAA with A in Chemistry and Maths |
| Bath | Chemistry (BSc / MChem) | No admissions test | A*AA with A in Chemistry and Maths |
Computer Science
Full subject guide →| University | Course at this university | Admissions tests | Typical offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | Computer Science (Tripos) | A*A*A with A* in Maths | |
| Oxford | Computer Science; Maths & CS; CS & Philosophy | A*AA with A* in Maths | |
| Imperial | Computing; Computing with Mathematics / AI / Software Engineering / Security | No admissions test | A*A*A with A* in Maths |
| UCL | Computer Science; Maths and CS; CS with Year in Industry | No admissions test | A*A*A with A* in Maths |
| Warwick | Computer Science; Discrete Mathematics; CS with Business Studies | A*A*A with A* in Maths | |
| Edinburgh | Computer Science (4-year MInf); AI; Cognitive Science | No admissions test | AAA with A in Maths |
| Manchester | Computer Science; Software Engineering; CS & Maths | No admissions test | A*AA with A* in Maths |
| Durham | Computer Science (BSc / MEng) | No admissions test | A*AA with A* in Maths |
| Bristol | Computer Science (BSc / MEng) | No admissions test | A*AA with A* in Maths |
| LSE | Data Science (and related) | A*AA |
Engineering
Full subject guide →| University | Course at this university | Admissions tests | Typical offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | Engineering (general 4-year MEng Tripos) | A*A*A with A* in Maths and Physics | |
| Oxford | Engineering Science (4-year MEng) | A*A*A with A* in Maths and Physics | |
| Imperial | Aeronautical / Mechanical / Civil / Chemical / Electrical / Materials | A*A*A or A*A*A* (varies by course) | |
| UCL | Mechanical / Civil / Electrical / Chemical / Biochemical / Biomedical | No admissions test | A*AA with A* in Maths or Physics (the other at A); a third A-Level required |
| Bristol | Aerospace / Mechanical / Civil / Electrical / CS Engineering | No admissions test | A*AA with A* in Maths and A in Physics |
| Bath | Mechanical / Electrical / Civil / Chemical / Aerospace | No admissions test | A*AA with A* in Maths |
| Manchester | Aerospace / Mechanical / Electrical / Chemical / Civil / Biomedical | No admissions test | A*AA with A in Maths and Physics |
| Durham | General Engineering (4-year MEng) | No admissions test | A*A*A with A* in Maths and Physics |
| Edinburgh | Mechanical / Electrical / Civil / Chemical / Computer Engineering | No admissions test | AAA with A in Maths and Physics |
How to use this
- ●Pre-application tests (TMUA, ESAT, TARA) are sat in October of Year 13. The deadline for the October sitting closes in late September. Cambridge and Oxford accept only the October score; some other universities accept the January resit.
- ●Post-offer tests (STEP) are sat in June of Year 13 alongside A-Level exams. The STEP grade forms part of the conditional offer at Cambridge / Warwick / Imperial Maths.
- ●Typical offer is the standard published requirement; actual offers vary by candidate. Verify with the university for the latest exact wording.
- ●No admissions test does not mean an easy admission — these universities decide on UCAS application alone, so predicted grades and the personal statement carry more weight.
Related on LumiExams
Typical offers and admissions-test requirements current as of the 2026-2027 UK admissions cycle.
Verify with each university directly and with UCAS.
LumiExams is not affiliated with UCAS, UAT-UK, or any university.