Classics Admissions Test (CAT) Guide

How to register for the CAT

WHEN IS THE CAT IN 2025?

The test date for the CAT in 2025 is Wednesday the 22nd, Thursday the 23rd, and Friday the 24th of October, meaning that all applicants will have to sit the test on these days. This may be during half term, but with plenty of advanced notice this hopefully shouldn’t prevent your school or college from holding the test. Be aware that if you miss this date for whatever reason you will not be able to take the test on another day and your application will not be considered.

WHEN IS THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION?

The CAT, like many Oxford Admissions Tests, requires applicants to register in advance of sitting the test. The registration deadline for Oxford admissions tests in 2025 is Friday the 19th of September at 6pm BST.

Candidates can register for themselves via the online registration portal. We recommend reading the Oxford University CAT page for more details on how to register; the university will be releasing further information in due course. Once registered, applicants will then be able to book their place at a Pearson VUE test centre. We recommend booking as soon as possible so that you can secure a place at the most convenient test centre for you.

Once registered, make sure that you have received an email stating your test centre location, and the date, time, and duration of the test. Make sure that this is done well in advance of the deadline. If you have extenuating circumstances (i.e. a situation beyond your control) that prevented you from registering on time, get in touch with the Oxford college you applied to immediately and alert them of your situation.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TAKE THE CAT?

Oxford University does not charge applicants a registration fee. However, independent test centres do sometimes charge an administration fee for candidates to cover costs such as room hire and invigilation. Get in touch with your chosen test centre to clarify if this cost will apply to you.

Tips from a Successful Oxford Classics Student

HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR THE CAT?

1. Watch CAT Workshops: The University of Oxford publishes workshops on their CAT webpage in which university professors explain the different CAT papers and how they measure an applicant’s skills. Watching these will serve as a good introduction to the CAT and your preparation journey.
2. Practice Translating Texts: Regularly practise close reading and translation of Latin or Greek texts (if sitting one or both Translation papers), both going over the set texts from your school classes as well as unseen text practice.
3. Go Over Vocabulary and Grammar: Spend some time going back through the Latin or Greek vocabulary and grammar you have covered in class so as to give you the headstart on your unseen Latin or Greek text translations.
4. Seek Feedback: Request feedback on your practice essays and responses from teachers, mentors, or peers. Constructive criticism will help you identify areas for improvement and refine your approach. Previous Oxford Classics Students, such as our mentors here at Oxbridge Applications, are also a great source of knowledge to draw on, as they can give you an accurate picture of what it means to perform like a real Oxford Classics student. Get in touch with one of our mentors today as part of an Admissions Test Tuition course.
5. Time Management: During preparation, practise undertaking translations or completing language grammar puzzles under timed conditions to improve your ability to manage time effectively during the CAT.

CAT PREPARATION MATERIALS

In addition to official CAT past and specimen papers on the Oxford Website, we at Oxbridge Applications have written a series of additional mock papers. Our students have 33% more questions to practise with. Our mock CAT papers are included with our CAT admissions test tuition course. All of our ELAT tutors are highly-trained Classics graduates who can share their personally insights of having sat the test. You can contact our Oxbridge-graduate Consultants on +44 (0) 20 7499 2394 or email [email protected] to discuss which of our test training would suit you best. We also have an online testing portal for students who want to sit the exam in timed, test conditions.

WHAT IS THE BEST STUDY GUIDE FOR THE CAT? 

At Oxbridge Applications, we pride ourselves in providing up-to-date advice and unrivalled expertise. As well as collating information from publicly available sources, we also conduct our own research into the application process; for example, by surveying the thousands of students we support each year. Speak to an Oxbridge Applications expert today for advice on your specific situation!

How to Pass the CAT

The best advice we can offer to succeed the CAT exam is to begin exam preparation early and practise often.

Most students who don’t make it through the interview stages and feel their CAT results let them down tell us that they didn’t spend enough time practising with unseen materials and working to the specific timings and requirements of the relevant CAT paper.

START EARLY

Since no specific subject knowledge is required for the CAT, challenge yourself to begin working through past papers and familiarising yourself with the questions as soon as possible.

REFLECTION

Reflect on your personal strengths and weaknesses. No two students should have the same revision strategy for the CAT, since you all have varying abilities. Try to identify which text forms you get on well with best, as well as how you fare in engaging with new texts and translating rapidly or, in the case of the CLAT, how quickly you can adapt to a new language system.

DON'T RESTRICT YOUR PRACTICE MATERIALS

Don’t restrict your practice materials: Once you have tried all of the real past papers, and have moved on to additional materials like our bespoke CAT papers, you should then look wider at similar materials. For example, if taking Latin or Greek Translation papers, take a look at unseen text questions for other A-level exam boards or other exam systems, such as the IB. This could offer you a wider array of practice material and help train your flexibility to unseen materials.