Admission Tests for Competitive Universities
There are tests that designed to assess not just academic knowledge but also critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
Top universities use these tests to ensure applicants are well-prepared for the academic rigors of their courses.
What are these tests?
These admissions exams, such as the UCAT, BMAT, TSA, and GAMSAT, are designed to assess specific skills that go beyond standard academic qualifications like A-Levels, IB, or the SAT. Universities use these tests to evaluate critical thinking, problem-solving, and other aptitudes essential for fields like medicine, law, or engineering. For example, the UCAT and BMAT focus on reasoning and scientific knowledge for medical applicants, while the LNAT assesses analytical skills for law students. These exams ensure candidates have both academic knowledge and the practical skills needed for their chosen field.
Unlike general qualifications such as A-Levels, IB, or the SAT, which cover a broad range of subjects, these admissions tests are much more specialized. They are tailored to specific course requirements and assess skills like decision-making, data interpretation, and reasoning that may not be covered in regular curricula. This helps universities fairly compare applicants, especially international students, by using a standardized method to gauge their suitability for the program.
Breakdown of key admissions tests
Undergraduate Qualification
LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test)
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Structure: Two parts—multiple-choice reading comprehension and an essay.
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Courses: Law programs.
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Universities: University of Oxford, UCL, King’s College London, University of Glasgow, and others.
MAT (Mathematics Admissions Test)
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Structure: A 2-hour paper-based exam with multiple-choice and long-form math problems.
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Courses: Mathematics, Computer Science, Joint Degrees involving math.
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Universities: University of Oxford, Imperial College London.
BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test)
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Structure: Three sections—problem-solving, scientific knowledge (GCSE level), and a writing task.
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Courses: Medicine, Dentistry, Biomedical Sciences.
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Universities: University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, Brighton & Sussex Medical School.
TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment)
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Structure: Two sections—critical thinking, problem-solving, and essay writing.
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Courses: PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics), Human Sciences, and other related disciplines.
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Universities: University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of London (some colleges).
PAT (Physics Aptitude Test)
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Structure: 2-hour test covering both mathematics and physics.
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Courses: Physics, Engineering, and related physical science programs.
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Universities: University of Oxford.
STEP (Sixth Term Examination Paper)
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Structure: Three papers testing advanced mathematical reasoning.
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Courses: Mathematics and sometimes Engineering.
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Universities: University of Cambridge, University of Warwick.
HAT (History Aptitude Test)
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Structure: One-hour exam with an essay based on an unseen historical extract.
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Courses: History, Ancient and Modern History, and related programs.
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Universities: University of Oxford.
TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission)
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Structure: Two sections—mathematical reasoning and mathematical problem-solving.
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Courses: Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, and related courses.
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Universities: University of Cambridge, London School of Economics (LSE), University of Warwick, and other top UK universities.
Postgraduate Qualificatons
GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test)
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Structure: Three sections—reasoning in humanities, written communication, and biological/physical sciences.
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Courses: Graduate-entry Medicine.
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Universities: University of Nottingham, University of Exeter, St. George’s University, University of St. Andrews, and other medical schools in the UK, Ireland, and Australia.
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
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Structure: Four sections—analytical writing, integrated reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning.
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Courses: MBA (Master of Business Administration) and other business-related postgraduate degrees.
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Universities: Required by most top business schools worldwide, including Harvard, Stanford, INSEAD, and London Business School.
GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
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Structure: Three sections—verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing.
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Courses: A wide range of postgraduate programs, including science, engineering, social sciences, and humanities.
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Universities: Accepted by many universities worldwide, including Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, and Cambridge for certain programs.
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