Standardised tests · Oxbridge & G5
Admissions-test coaching for Oxford, Cambridge and the G5.
Most competitive UK degrees sit an admissions test before interview. Hanlin coaches all ten of the major papers — STEP, MAT, PAT, TMUA, ESAT, TSA, LNAT, BMSAT, AHCAAT and UCAT — with tutors who sat these tests themselves, a one-stop academic-profile programme refined by the partner team, and full subject coverage so students can explore their future course with confidence.
Why Hanlin
Coaching built for the UK admissions round.
The four strengths presented on Hanlin's Chinese G5 page, for families weighing up a test-preparation partner.
An elite tutor team
Taught by tutors from Oxford, Cambridge and Ivy League universities — many of whom passed these very papers on their own way in.
Teaching that measures results
Every course starts from the student's own diagnostic profile and is adjusted to it — teaching to the student, not to a script.
190+ competitions behind it
Hanlin coaches more than 190 international competitions, so a G5 application can be reinforced with olympiad and contest credentials.
Service across the whole cycle
Progress is tracked before, during and after every stage of the course, with gaps found and closed along the way.
The ten tests
Which admissions test does your course sit?
Every major Oxbridge and G5 paper Hanlin coaches, grouped by subject. Formats follow the latest official arrangements — always confirm against the test board's calendar for your cycle.
STEP — Sixth Term Examination Paper
The paper Cambridge attaches to mathematics offers, testing whether an applicant is ready to read maths at degree level.
- Window
- June each year
- Papers
- STEP 2 and STEP 3 — 12 questions each: 8 pure, 2 mechanics, 2 probability/statistics
- Scoring
- 20 marks per question; the best 6 answers count, out of 120. Grades S, 1, 2, 3, U — offers normally ask for grade 2 or above
- Length
- 3 hours per paper. STEP 2 draws on A-Level Maths plus AS Further Maths; STEP 3 on the full Further Maths course
MAT — Mathematics Admissions Test
Oxford's test for Mathematics and Computer Science, set with Pearson VUE.
- Window
- Late October
- Format
- Computer-based at authorised test centres; 25 multiple-choice questions plus 2 typed short answers, 27 in all, every question compulsory
- Length
- 2 hours 30 minutes; no calculator
- Note
- Typed answers need only standard keyboard symbols — reasoning matters more than notation
TMUA — Test of Mathematics for University Admission
A mathematical-thinking test used by Cambridge and other universities for maths-based degrees, including economics and computer science.
- Window
- Two sittings: mid-October, and early-to-mid January. One sitting per cycle — Cambridge applicants must take October
- Format
- 40 multiple-choice questions over two papers, 20 questions and 75 minutes each, sat back to back
- Length
- 2 hours 30 minutes continuous; no calculator
PAT — Physics Admissions Test
Compulsory for applicants to Oxford physics, materials science and engineering degrees.
- Window
- Mid-to-late October
- Format
- Computer-based, now entirely multiple choice — 23 to 26 questions, 120 minutes. The on-screen calculator is allowed
- Syllabus
- GCSE and AS maths and physics, pushed to greater depth. Oxford confirms the syllabus is unchanged since the 2024 format switch, so past papers remain the best practice
ESAT — Engineering and Science Admissions Test
Cambridge's paper for engineering, natural sciences and related degrees.
- Window
- Two sittings: mid-October and January. One per cycle; Cambridge applicants take October
- Format
- Computer-based multiple choice in 40-minute modules of 27 questions, sat without breaks; 120 minutes in total for most applicants; no calculator
- Modules
- Mathematics 1 is compulsory for everyone. Engineering adds Mathematics 2 + Physics; Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine and Chemical Engineering add any two of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics 2
TSA — Thinking Skills Assessment
Oxford's reasoning test for courses such as Economics & Management, Experimental Psychology and PPE.
- Window
- Late October
- Section 1
- 50 multiple-choice questions — 25 problem-solving, 25 critical-thinking — in 90 minutes
- Section 2
- One essay from a choice of four, 30 minutes. Only PPE sits both sections; other courses sit Section 1 alone
LNAT — Law National Admissions Test
Developed by a consortium of UK universities to assess aptitude for law.
- Window
- Early September to late July
- Format
- 42 multiple-choice questions on 12 argument passages (3–4 questions each) in 95 minutes, then one essay from three titles in 40 minutes
- Note
- One attempt per application cycle (September–June); scores do not carry over to the next cycle
AHCAAT — Ancient History and Archaeology Admissions Test
Introduced for applicants to classical archaeology and ancient history.
- Window
- Late October
- Format
- Online, computer-based; mostly multiple choice
- Content
- Applied knowledge across the classical world — history, culture and archaeology
UCAT — University Clinical Aptitude Test
The clinical-aptitude test used by UK medical and dental schools.
- Window
- Late July to late September
- Sections
- Verbal Reasoning · Decision Making · Quantitative Reasoning · Abstract Reasoning · Situational Judgement
- Length
- About 2 hours, each section separately timed with its own question style
BMSAT — Biomedical Sciences Admissions Test
For applicants to biomedical sciences.
- Window
- Mid-to-late October
- Format
- 80 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, machine-marked
- Content
- 20 questions each in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics, pitched at higher-GCSE level
2026–27 season
Test windows at a glance.
Registration for most October papers closes weeks earlier — build the calendar backwards from the sitting. Dates below are the standard windows; confirm each cycle against the official boards.
| Test | Course focus | Usual window | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCAT | Medicine and dentistry | Late July – late September | ~2 h |
| LNAT | Law | Early September – late July | 2 h 15 min |
| TMUA | Maths-based degrees | Mid-October, or early-to-mid January | 2 h 30 min |
| ESAT | Engineering and sciences | Mid-October, or January | 2 h |
| PAT | Oxford physics and engineering | Mid-to-late October | 2 h |
| BMSAT | Biomedical sciences | Mid-to-late October | 1 h 30 min |
| MAT | Oxford maths and CS | Late October | 2 h 30 min |
| TSA | Oxford E&M, PPE, psychology | Late October | Up to 2 h |
| AHCAAT | Ancient history and archaeology | Late October | Online sitting |
| STEP | Cambridge mathematics offers | June | 3 h per paper |
Hanlin selects
Free Oxbridge test past papers.
Curated past-paper sets and marking guidance for the papers above, free through the Hanlin resource centre.
Past-paper sets
Question sets for STEP, MAT, PAT, TMUA, ESAT and TSA — the fastest way to learn what each paper rewards.
Admissions guides
Course-by-course notes on which test to sit, when to register and how offers use the scores.
Worked solutions
Selected papers with tutor-written solutions that show the method, not just the answer.
Course services
How the coaching runs.
Six services wrap every Oxbridge test course, from the first diagnostic to the final mock.
Pre-course diagnostic
A placement assessment pins down the starting level and shapes a personal study path.
Interactive teaching
Lessons run on questioning and discussion — the same habits the interviews later demand.
VIP one-to-one option
Fully customised tuition for students who need a bespoke syllabus or schedule.
After-class reports
Feedback after every lesson keeps parents current on progress and next steps.
Dedicated teaching assistant
A named assistant supervises homework, answers questions and keeps revision on track.
Staged assessment
Regular mocks measure teaching quality and readiness against the real paper.
Tutor team
Coached by people who sat these papers.
The six tutors presented on Hanlin's Chinese G5 page.
Zhang
Mathematics graduate of UCL with a master's in financial modelling and optimisation from Edinburgh. Took A-Levels at A*A*A with full marks in Maths and 98% in Further Maths, and passed the Oxford MAT. President of UCL's mathematics volunteering society; specialises in MAT, TMUA, STEP and AMC.
Tao
Bachelor's and master's in physics from Oxford, specialising in condensed matter and quantum computing. Studied IB at an Australian independent school and was selected for Australia's national physics-olympiad summer camp. Teaches with a light touch that builds long-term confidence.
Lu
Astrophysics master's graduate of UCL. Five-plus years of teaching and more than a hundred students across subject and language training; IELTS 8.0 with 7.5 in writing. Teaches fully in English for international-school, UK and US high-school students.
Sun
Physics bachelor's and master's in physics and theoretical physics from Imperial College London, supervised by Stephen Hawking Fellowship holder Martin O. Archer. Educated at Ashbourne College; winner of the CFIE Maths & Science Award, BPhO Gold and BAAO Silver.
Wang
First-class master's graduate in financial statistics from LSE and a Peking University graduate, with two years of overseas industry experience. First prizes in competitions including the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad and Hua Luogeng Cup, and first place in the Allianz data-analysis competition.
Li
Integrated bachelor's and master's in applied medical sciences at UCL; attended a UK independent school on a full scholarship and spent seven years studying and working in Britain, focusing on virology and infectious disease. Deep experience across international curricula and competition syllabuses.
Results
Where Hanlin students were admitted, 2020–24.
Offer counts from Hanlin's published 2020–2024 admissions lists, led by the five G5 universities.
The G5 · 120 offers
| University | Offers |
|---|---|
| Cambridge | 35 |
| Imperial College | 30 |
| UCL | 27 |
| Oxford | 26 |
| LSE | 2 |
Elsewhere in the UK
| University | Offers |
|---|---|
| Manchester | 9 |
| King's College London | 6 |
| Edinburgh | 5 |
| Bristol · Warwick · Birmingham | 3 each |
| Durham | 2 |
Beyond the UK, 2020–23
| University | Offers |
|---|---|
| Toronto | 16 |
| University of Hong Kong | 5 |
| Melbourne | 4 |
| McGill | 1 |
| HKUST | 1 |
United States admissions, 2020–24 44 institutions
- Cornell · 25
- Carnegie Mellon · 25
- WashU St Louis · 18
- UC Berkeley · 18
- UCLA · 17
- UPenn · 16
- MIT · 14
- Johns Hopkins · 14
- Rice · 12
- UNC Chapel Hill · 11
- Stanford · 10
- UChicago · 10
- NYU · 10
- Northwestern · 9
- Duke · 9
- Harvard · 8 (incl. 1 master's)
- Yale · 8
- Emory · 8
- USC · 8
- UC San Diego · 8
- UC Davis · 8
- Princeton · 6
- Caltech · 6
- Columbia · 5
- Dartmouth · 3
- Brown · 3
- Rochester · 3
- Florida · 3
- Michigan · 2
- UCSB · 2
- Pomona · 2
- Georgetown · 1
- UVA · 1
- Boston College · 1
- UC Irvine · 1
- Georgia Tech · 1
- Amherst · 1
- Middlebury · 1
- Barnard · 1
- Harvey Mudd · 1
- Grinnell · 1
- Claremont McKenna · 1
- Smith · 1
- Davidson
On the day
Test-day checklist.
Seven rules every candidate should have settled before the morning of the paper.
Bring valid ID
Carry the original identity document matching your registration form and confirmation letter — without it you may not be admitted.
Arrive 30 minutes early
Reach the test centre at least half an hour before the start time.
Own stationery only
Bring the permitted stationery and instruments yourself, plus water in a clear, label-free bottle.
No electronics
Phones and watches of any kind stay outside the test room.
Nothing leaves the room
Question papers, answer sheets and rough work must not be taken out.
Under-18 arrangements
Minors report to the invigilator on arrival; a parent or guardian collecting them afterwards brings ID to the designated point.
Watch for updates
Any changes before the test arrive through the email address or phone number used at registration.
Guides
Latest Oxbridge & G5 reading.
Six guides from the Hanlin editorial desk — the news section will carry the full library.
Talk to an advisor
Ask which of these tests the course actually requires.
STEP, MAT, PAT, TMUA, ESAT, TSA, LNAT, UCAT. Name the course and an advisor will tell you which paper, and when.
Scan to add an advisor
Say which competition or course you are asking about. Replies in Chinese or English.
Or call +86 21 6352 6630FAQ
Oxbridge & G5 tests, briefly answered.
The questions families ask most when planning the UK admissions round.
What are the G5 universities?
The informal "G5" groups five of the UK's most selective institutions: Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, LSE and UCL. Most of their competitive courses use an admissions test before or alongside interview.
Which test does my course need?
It depends on course and university: STEP for Cambridge maths offers; MAT for Oxford maths and computer science; TMUA for maths-based degrees; PAT for Oxford physics and engineering; ESAT for Cambridge engineering and sciences; TSA for several Oxford social-science courses; LNAT for law; UCAT for medicine; BMSAT for biomedical sciences; AHCAAT for ancient history and archaeology. Always confirm on the course page for your cycle.
When are the tests sat?
Most papers sit in October, before interviews. UCAT runs from late July to late September, LNAT from early September, and STEP in June after offers. TMUA and ESAT offer an October and a January sitting.
Can a student sit TMUA or ESAT twice in one cycle?
No. Each test allows one sitting per admissions cycle, and Cambridge applicants must take the October sitting. LNAT is likewise once per cycle, and scores do not carry into the next year.
How does Hanlin coach these papers?
Every course opens with a diagnostic, then runs as small-group or one-to-one tuition with after-class reports, a dedicated teaching assistant and staged mocks. Tutors are Oxbridge, Imperial, UCL and LSE graduates — several passed these exact papers as applicants.
Are these tests the whole application?
No — they sit alongside predicted grades, the personal statement, references and interviews. Hanlin's wider programmes cover A-Level tutoring, 190+ competitions and academic-profile planning, so the test score lands inside a coherent application.
Oxbridge & G5 enquiries
Plan the admissions round with Hanlin.
Tell us the target course and current year group, and an advisor will map the right test, registration deadlines and a preparation route for the 2026–27 cycle.