Top 6 Tips to Ace the ESAT

The ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) is a computer-based assessment used by Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial and UCL to differentiate between highly qualified applicants for science and engineering courses. With competitive courses like Computer Science at Cambridge offering just a 7% offer rate, a strong ESAT score can make a real difference to your application. Here are six tips to help you perform at your best.

3. Sharpen your mental maths

You will not be allowed to use a calculator, and you won't have access to a periodic table, equation booklet, or data sheet. That means you need strong mental arithmetic, confident unit conversions, and reliable recall of key formulae from GCSE and A Level. Start practising non-calculator work early, because the more fluent you are with the basics, the more time and headspace you'll free up for the harder questions.

4. Practise under timed conditions

Time pressure is one of the biggest challenges of the ESAT. With just 40 minutes per module, you have roughly 90 seconds per question, which leaves very little room for getting stuck. Once you're comfortable with the content, start sitting full modules under strict timed conditions to build the pace and stamina you'll need on the day. Use scrap paper just as you would in the real test, and resist the temptation to pause or check your notes.

6. Don't leave anything blank

There's no negative marking, which means you should never leave a question blank. If you're stuck, use the process of elimination to rule out as many options as you can, then make your best guess and move on. Keep a close eye on the clock, don't spend too long on any single question, and be prepared to skip and come back. Read each question carefully, some are designed to be misleading, and several answer options might look plausible at first glance.