UAT-UK has not published ESAT past papers. Its official practice is a specimen test and a sample test for each module on Pearson VUE, plus the 2016–2023 ENGAA and NSAA papers on its ESAT preparation materials page, which it says contain questions of the type found in the ESAT and are marked where questions fall outside the ESAT specification.
Are there ESAT past papers?
Not in the usual sense. The ESAT is a new test: UAT-UK says the ESAT and TMUA were first offered in October 2024. Its ESAT preparation materials page lists no ESAT papers from 2024 or 2025. What you get instead is:
- Official ESAT practice tests on Pearson VUE: a specimen test and a sample test for each of the five modules (Pearson VUE).
- The ESAT Guide: a revision guide for each module (UAT-UK).
- Historic ENGAA and NSAA papers from 2016 to 2023, with answer keys (UAT-UK).
- The ESAT content specification, linked from UAT-UK's Prepare page.
So if you search for "ESAT past papers maths 1" or "ESAT past papers physics", the official answer is the ESAT module practice tests first, then the matching parts of the older ENGAA and NSAA papers.
The official ESAT practice tests, module by module
Pearson VUE hosts two free practice tests for each module, split up so you can practise only the subjects you will take. On test day your chosen modules are combined into one test of, typically, three separately timed parts.
| Module | Specimen test (explained answers) | Sample test (review your answers) |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics 1 | Yes | Yes |
| Mathematics 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Physics | Yes | Yes |
| Chemistry | Yes | Yes |
| Biology | Yes | Yes |
In the specimen tests, each question comes with an explained answer; in the sample tests, you can see which questions you got right at the end of each part. UAT-UK says these practice tests replicate the test system you will see on the day. They are designed for a desktop screen rather than a phone.
Don't expect a scaled score from them. UAT-UK says its practice tests deliberately do not award a score, because each year's scale depends on that year's candidates. Our ESAT scores explained guide covers how real scores work.
ENGAA and NSAA papers: which parts match each ESAT module
UAT-UK says the historic Engineering Admissions Assessment (ENGAA) and Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment (NSAA) papers contain questions of the type found in the ESAT, and that it has indicated in the papers where questions are not in the ESAT specification. The archive has the Section 1 multiple-choice paper and answer key for each year from 2016 to 2023; each paper itself says it is Section 1 of 2, and the other section is not in the archive.
UAT-UK does not publish a module-by-module map, but the parts of each paper are labelled by subject on the cover. The table below is our own reading of how those labelled parts line up with the ESAT modules:
| ESAT module | NSAA 2016–2019 | NSAA 2020–2023 | ENGAA 2016–2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics 1 | Part A Mathematics | Part A Mathematics | Maths questions in Part A (Mathematics and Physics) |
| Mathematics 2 | Maths questions in Part E (Advanced Mathematics and Advanced Physics) | None | Maths questions in Part B (Advanced Mathematics and Advanced Physics) |
| Physics | Part B Physics, plus physics questions in Part E | Part B Physics | Physics questions in Parts A and B |
| Chemistry | Part C Chemistry | Part C Chemistry | None |
| Biology | Part D Biology | Part D Biology | None |
The part structure comes from the papers themselves: for example, the 2016 NSAA has five parts of 18 questions, including Part E Advanced Mathematics and Advanced Physics, while the 2020 NSAA has four parts of 20 questions (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology). The 2016 ENGAA has 28 Part A and 26 Part B questions in 80 minutes (as do 2017 and 2018); from 2019 the ENGAA has 20 in each part in 60 minutes, as in the 2023 ENGAA.
In the ENGAA papers (Part B) and the 2016–2019 NSAA papers (Part E), a note at the start of the advanced part says questions not covered by the ESAT content specification are marked with a cross through the question number. Skip those, or treat them as stretch practice only, and check other parts against the specification yourself.
How the older papers differ from the ESAT
The ESAT has 27 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes per module, taken on computer at a Pearson VUE test centre, with no calculator. Most candidates sit Mathematics 1 plus two other modules, 120 minutes in total. The older papers were pencil-and-paper tests with a separate answer sheet, and the timing differs:
| Paper | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| ESAT, per module (UAT-UK) | 27 | 40 minutes |
| NSAA 2020–2023 (2020 paper) | 20 in Mathematics plus 20 in one other part | 60 minutes |
| NSAA 2016–2019 (2016 paper) | 18 in Mathematics plus 18 in each of two other parts | 80 minutes |
| ENGAA 2016–2018 (2016 paper) | 28 in Part A plus 26 in Part B | 80 minutes |
| ENGAA 2019–2023 (2023 paper) | 20 in Part A plus 20 in Part B | 60 minutes |
The ESAT works out at just under 90 seconds a question, so when you sit a single part of an older paper, give yourself about 30 minutes for 20 questions or 27 minutes for 18. Calculators weren't allowed on the older papers either.
Which modules do you need?
Your course decides your modules, so check before you choose which papers to practise. Cambridge, for example, asks Engineering applicants for Mathematics 1, Physics and Mathematics 2, while Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Natural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine applicants take Mathematics 1 plus two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2. Our TMUA vs ESAT vs TARA guide explains which test each course uses.
A study plan using ESAT practice and past papers
UAT-UK's own advice is to read the specification for topics you need to revise and then answer the specimen test under timed conditions. A plan built on that:
- Check the content. Read the ESAT specification and the ESAT Guide for each of your modules: Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
- Do the specimen test for each module. Read the explained answers to learn the question style and the on-screen layout.
- Work through the matching older parts. Start with the 2016–2019 papers, timed at about 90 seconds a question, and skip anything crossed out or outside the specification.
- Drill weak topics. Use our free practice for ESAT Maths 1, Maths 2, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
- Rehearse the real test. In the final weeks, sit your three Pearson sample tests back to back at 40 minutes each, then the 2022 and 2023 papers.
When you want a fresh mixed set, try our free ESAT practice test. For key dates, see our UAT-UK test dates guide.
Free practice tests
Complete, timed, in the official format, with a worked solution for every question. No account needed.
Frequently asked questions
Are there official ESAT past papers?
No full ESAT past papers have been published. UAT-UK offers a specimen test and a sample test for each ESAT module on Pearson VUE, plus 2016–2023 ENGAA and NSAA papers with answer keys.
Where can I find ESAT past papers for Maths 1?
Use the official ESAT Mathematics 1 specimen and sample tests on Pearson VUE, then the Part A Mathematics sections of the 2016–2023 NSAA papers and the maths questions in ENGAA Part A.
Which old papers are best for ESAT Physics?
Part B Physics in the NSAA papers, and the physics questions in ENGAA Parts A and B. Skip ENGAA questions with a crossed-out number, as those are outside the ESAT specification.
Do ESAT practice tests give you a score?
No. UAT-UK says its practice tests deliberately do not award a score, because the score scale each year depends on that year's candidates. The sample tests do show which answers you got right.
Next steps
Link to this guide
Using these figures on your site or in class? You're welcome to quote them with a link back:
<a href="https://www.keiko.study/blog/esat-past-papers">ESAT Past Papers: Official Practice and ENGAA/NSAA by Module</a>
Sources
Every source below was accessed on the listed date. Pages — especially department admissions pages — change without notice; the links go to the live versions.
- Prepare — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- ESAT Preparation Materials — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- ESAT – Engineering and Science Admissions Test — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- About UAT-UK — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Test Results — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- FAQs — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- UAT-UK University Admission Tests: specimen and sample tests — Pearson VUE. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT) — University of Cambridge. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- ESAT Content Specification — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- ESAT Guide: Mathematics 1 — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Notes on Mathematics for TMUA Paper 1 and ESAT Mathematics 2 — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- ESAT Guide: Physics — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- ESAT Guide: Chemistry — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- ESAT Guide: Biology — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- NSAA 2016 Section 1 question paper — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- NSAA 2020 Section 1 question paper — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- ENGAA 2016 Section 1 question paper — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- ENGAA 2023 Section 1 question paper — UAT-UK. Accessed 2026-10-01.
Related guides
Sources and corrections
Sources last checked 2026-10-01Every source cited on this page was checked on the date shown, and we update the page when a source changes. If something looks wrong, tell us and we'll recheck it.