For maths, engineering, science and economics, the leading UK universities now share a small set of tests, and Oxford dropped the MAT, PAT and TSA for 2027 entry. Here is which course needs which test, how each test works, the dates, and what IB Maths students should prepare.
From 2027 entry, Oxford maths and computer science use the TMUA, physics and engineering the ESAT, and economics and management and PPE the TARA. The MAT, PAT and TSA are no longer used.
Oxford and Cambridge applicants must sit in October. The January sitting suits other universities whose deadlines allow it, and each test can be taken only once per cycle.
STEP 2 and 3 are taken in June as part of offers for Cambridge Mathematics, and in some offers at Warwick, Imperial and UCL.
None of these tests allows one, and TMUA Paper 2 tests logic, such as necessary and sufficient conditions, that is not part of the IB syllabus.
Oxford’s Mathematics Admissions Test was last taken in October 2025. Oxford now uses the TMUA, and Imperial no longer uses the MAT.
Oxford physics and engineering now use the ESAT.
Oxford’s economics and management, PPE and related courses now list the TARA.
Medicine uses the UCAT, a separate test taken in the summer, which is not covered here.
2027 entry, from the UAT-UK course list and each university’s pages. Select a course to open the official page.
| Course | Test | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| University of Cambridge | ||
| Mathematics | TMUA requiredSTEP in the offer | STEP 2 and 3 are part of almost all offers (minimum grade 1). |
| Computer Science | TMUA required | Peterhouse and Trinity also set the CSAT. |
| Economics | TMUA required | – |
| Engineering | ESAT required | Maths 1, Maths 2 and Physics. |
| Natural Sciences; Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology; Veterinary Medicine | ESAT required | Maths 1 and two further modules. |
| Medicine | UCAT required | – |
| University of Oxford | ||
| Mathematics; Mathematics and Statistics; Mathematics and Philosophy | TMUA required | Replaces the MAT, which ended in 2025. |
| Computer Science; Mathematics and Computer Science; Computer Science and Philosophy | TMUA required | – |
| Physics; Physics and Philosophy; Engineering Science | ESAT required | Maths 1, Maths 2 and Physics. Replaces the PAT. |
| Biomedical Sciences | ESAT required | Maths 1 and two further modules. |
| Economics and Management; PPE | TARA required | Also History and Economics, Experimental Psychology, Human Sciences and other courses. |
| Chemistry; Materials Science | no test | No written test. |
| Medicine | UCAT required | – |
| Imperial College London | ||
| Mathematics | TMUA requiredSTEP in the offer | Applicants after 21 Dec 2026 without a TMUA score usually get a STEP condition. |
| Computing; Mathematics and Computer Science; Economics, Finance and Data Science | TMUA required | – |
| Engineering (Aeronautics, Chemical, Civil, Design, Electrical, Mechanical); Physics | ESAT required | Modules are set by each department. |
| London School of Economics (LSE) | ||
| Economics; Econometrics and Mathematical Economics | TMUA required | – |
| Mathematics and Economics, Data Science, Actuarial Science and five other maths programmes | TMUA recommended | A good score may make an application more competitive. |
| University College London (UCL) | ||
| Economics | TMUA required | – |
| Computer Science; Computer Science and Mathematics; Robotics and AI | TARA required | – |
| Mechanical Engineering | TARA required | New requirement for 2027 entry. |
| Electronic and Electrical Engineering | ESAT required | Maths 1 and two further modules. |
| Mathematics | STEP alternative offer | With grade 2 in any STEP paper, the IB offer is 39 instead of 40. |
| University of Warwick | ||
| Mathematics | TMUA requiredSTEP alternative offer | TMUA or STEP is required unless eligible for a contextual offer. Most offers in the last cycle went to TMUA scores of 5.0 or above; without TMUA, STEP grade 2 is in the offer. |
| Computer Science; Discrete Mathematics | TMUA required | Not needed for contextual offers. |
| Economics | TMUA optional | The highest scorers may get a reduced offer. |
| MORSE; Mathematics and Statistics; Data Science | TMUA alternative offerSTEP alternative offer | TMUA 5.0 or STEP grade 2 opens an alternative offer. |
| Durham University | ||
| Mathematics; Mathematics and Statistics | TMUA recommended | A score of 5.0 or above (or STEP grade 2) is considered for a reduced offer. |
Elsewhere, STEP can lower a maths offer at Bristol and Southampton and earns extra consideration at Sheffield; Bath and King’s College London use it only for applicants with AS Further Maths. These options are written for A-level applicants. Edinburgh, Nottingham and Lancaster do not use these tests.
The UAT-UK tests (TMUA, ESAT, TARA) run in two sittings. STEP follows the June exam season.
For 2028 entry, expect the same pattern a year later and check the UAT-UK dates from June 2027. UAT-UK scores go to the universities that require them automatically.
IB Paper 2 and Paper 3 are taken with a graphic calculator; these tests are not. Practise arithmetic, surds, logarithms and sketching graphs by hand.
The TMUA assumes Higher GCSE and AS-level pure maths. Check the specification against what your school will have taught by October of Grade 12.
Paper 2 asks about if–then statements, necessary and sufficient conditions and errors in proofs. UAT-UK publishes free notes on logic and proof.
Each course fixes its modules: engineering and physics need Maths 1, Maths 2 and Physics. Choosing the wrong modules means cancelling and rebooking.
Long, open questions over three hours. STEP 3 assumes A Level Further Maths, which goes beyond IB AA HL in places, so extra topics and long-question practice are needed well before June.
There is no pass mark, and only a few universities publish figures.
Most offers in the last cycle went to applicants with a TMUA score of 5.0 or above.
A TMUA score of 5.0, or STEP grade 2, opens an alternative offer.
A TMUA score of 5.0 or above is considered for a reduced offer.
No score thresholds are published.
All pages checked on 12 October 2026. Course rows link to each university’s own page.
In the IB Pathway Diagnostic, we check which tests the student’s target courses need, and plan HL subjects and preparation around them.
A summary of UAT-UK, OCR and university pages for 2027 entry, checked 12 October 2026. Tests and requirements change each cycle, so check the official pages before booking. Not affiliated with UAT-UK, OCR or any university.
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