Geography Admissions Test (GAT) Guide

How to register for the GAT

WHEN IS THE GAT IN 2023?

The test date for the GAT in 2023 is the 19th of October, meaning that all applicants will have to sit the test on this exact day. 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 GAT, like many Oxford Admissions Tests, requires applicants to register in advance of sitting the test. 2023 applicants will have to register between the 1st and 29th of September to be able to sit the test.

An applicant cannot register themselves for the test, but must be registered through an official test centre. For most candidates this will be their school or college, but if not it can be done through an open test centre. We recommend reading the Oxford University GAT page for more details on how to register. However you register, make sure that you have submitted all your details to the test centre and have received your candidate entry number as proof of entry by midnight on the 29th of September. 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 GAT?

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 Geographer

HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR THE GAT?

1. Understand the Format:
   Familiarise yourself with the GAT format and structure by reviewing this guide, researching the course on the university website, and looking through sample materials. Although this is a new test so there is not the usual wealth of past papers available, the University have published sample papers to allow students an accurate idea of what the real test will look like. This will help you become comfortable with the type of questions and tasks you'll encounter on the test day.
2. Work on you Analytical and Critical Thinking Skills:
   Work on improving your analytical and critical thinking abilities, since these are key to the GAT test. Practice analysing data, interpreting maps, and drawing logical conclusions from different sources. This skill will be invaluable in the first two sections of the GAT.
3. Strengthen Your Geography Knowledge:
   Enhance your geographical knowledge by engaging in wide-ranging reading and research. Pay particular attention to current affairs, as well as contemporary environmental and social issues, to strengthen your grasp on relevant topics. Although the test itself is more skills-based than content-based (no specific content knowledge is required), engaging with new concepts and practising applying your knowledge to them is a good way of preparing for the data/texts you will be presented with in the exam.
4. Practice Time Management:
   Time is of the essence during the GAT. Practice answering questions under timed conditions to improve your time management skills. Being able to efficiently allocate time to each section will maximise your chances of completing the test successfully. Use the guides recommended by the university for each section of the test (30 minutes, 30 minutes, and 45 minutes respectively) as indicators of how you should be splitting your time.
5. Hone Your Essay Writing:
   Enhance your essay writing skills by regularly composing essays on various geographical topics. Focus on constructing coherent arguments, using evidence to support your points, and refining your writing style.
6. 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 Geographers, 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 geographer!

GAT PREPARATION MATERIALS

In addition to official GAT 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 GAT papers can be found here and are included with our admissions test tuition. All of our GAT tutors are highly-trained Oxbridge 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 STUD GUIDE FOR THE GAT? 

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 GAT?

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

Most students who don’t make it through the interview stages and feel their admissions test 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 given paper.

START EARLY

Since no specific subject knowledge is required for the GAT, 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 GAT, since you all have varying abilities. Try to identify which parts of the paper you find easier and which you find more difficult; this should help you strategically plan your preparation.

DON'T RESTRICT YOUR PRACTICE MATERIALS

Don’t restrict your practice materials: Once you have tried all of the sample papers from the university, and have moved on to additional materials like our bespoke GAT papers, you should then look wider at similar materials. For example, take a look at data analysis 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.

COLLABORATION 

Work with a friend or teacher to discuss questions and identify your own personal revision goals. Working with others can be a huge motivation and keep you on track in the weeks and months leading up to the test. We have specialist GAT tutors who can work with you one-to-one to refine your test technique.