Your complete guide to the HAT test

Your complete guide to the History Aptitude Test (HAT)

Everything you should know before taking the HAT test and how to be successful!

WHAT IS THE HAT?

The History Aptitude Test (HAT) is a 60-minute examination designed to benchmark applicants to History courses at the University of Oxford.

Source analysis

There is just one section for the HAT: an unseen source analysis. You will be given a documentary source from a period or region you probably won’t have studied before, with some explanatory notes, and a general question for you to respond to.

Quick Tip

The HAT is a test of historical skill not historical knowledge. The sources used in the HAT are deliberately obscure so you should you read, read, and read again to make sure you’ve understood the source and what the question is asking!

Find out more answers to commonly asked questions about the HAT here.

HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR THE HAT?

Training for the HAT successfully requires student to begin early, practise often and work smart. By the time of the real HAT, students should have covered as many practice papers as they can to familiarise themselves with the test. Our students begin with a 33% advantage over their competitors, by using real past papers as well as our specially-written mock papers. Our HAT tutors then guide them through additional sources to hone their skills. Since the HAT is cleverly designed to test historical skill rather than historical knowledge, there is no way to cram or memorise your way to a good score – rather, you have to practise and develop your analytical prowess.

Read our advice on how to beat the odds and get through the HAT to interview, by a successful Oxford History applicant, here.

HOW DO I SIT THE HAT?

Find out how to sit the HAT and make all the necessary arrangements here.

IS THIS THE BEST STUDY GUIDE FOR THE HAT?

We certainly hope so! 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.