ESAT 2026: Cambridge & Imperial Admissions Test Guide

ESAT 2026: the complete guide to the Cambridge and Imperial engineering and science admissions test

It is a Saturday morning in October, just before seven, and you are on your way to your nearest Pearson VUE centre. In your bag: nothing but a photo ID and your registration confirmation. In three hours you will answer 80 questions on mathematics and physics in 80 minutes, on a computer, with no calculator. The result goes straight to the Cambridge Admissions Office and to Imperial College London. This is the ESAT — the Engineering and Science Admissions Test — and if you are applying for engineering or natural sciences in the UK, it is currently the single gate you have to pass through.

The ESAT is a new exam: introduced in 2024, it replaced three older tests that defined STEM admissions at Cambridge for years — ENGAA, NSAA, and part of the role of BMAT for Veterinary Medicine. At the same time Imperial College London — which until 2023 used its own assessments or none at all — adopted the ESAT as a requirement for most of its Engineering courses.

For an international applicant this is good and bad news at once. Good: you no longer have to sit two or three different admissions tests. Bad: the ESAT is a timed, multiple-choice test in the British style, and most national school systems do not train you for it. You may have a strong grounding in maths and physics, but the ESAT demands a different craft — solving problems in 90 seconds, reading questions quickly in English, and managing time tightly between the two modules.

In this guide I will walk you through everything you need to know about the ESAT 2026: what it is and which tests it replaced, who requires it, what the format and registration look like, how to choose your modules, how to prepare effectively (and which past papers still work as a proxy), how your school qualification maps onto the ESAT level, and when you should be sitting STEP or MAT instead.

What is the ESAT, and which exam did it replace from 2024?

ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) is a standardised, computer-based admissions exam for applicants to engineering and natural-science courses at the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London. The exam is run by University Admissions Tests UK (UAT-UK) — a testing consortium set up by Cambridge — with technical delivery by Pearson VUE, the international test-centre operator (the same one that runs the GMAT, GRE Subject tests, and many IT certifications).

The ESAT debuted in autumn 2024 as the direct successor to three earlier Cambridge exams:

• ENGAA (Engineering Admissions Assessment) — used until 2023 for Engineering applicants at Cambridge. It tested advanced mathematics and physics. Format: two multiple-choice sections plus one advanced section.
• NSAA (Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment) — used until 2023 for Natural Sciences applicants, Chemical Engineering via NS, and Veterinary Medicine. It let you pick two subjects from biology, chemistry, and physics, plus mathematics.
• BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test) — historically required for Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge and several other medical schools. Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing retired BMAT after the 2023 session, and Cambridge moved Veterinary Medicine onto the ESAT.

For Imperial College London the ESAT is a newer requirement. Imperial previously accepted various routes (in some years no central test at all, in others its own assessment days or a mix of MAT/STEP). From autumn 2024 Imperial has required the ESAT for most of its Engineering courses, aligning its admissions with Cambridge — which means that, for an applicant, one good run at the ESAT covers your application to both universities.

Why did Cambridge make this reform? Three reasons, each one worth understanding to see how the exam is built:

1. Consolidation. Three separate tests (ENGAA, NSAA, BMAT) had different formats, dates, fees, and prep materials. The ESAT is one exam with a modular structure.
2. Simpler logistics. Since 2024 the exam has been fully computer-based at Pearson VUE centres, which removes the need to ship paper scripts to schools around the world and gives candidates access through local test centres almost anywhere.
3. Standardised modules. A university can require a specific combination of modules for each course (for example Mathematics 1 + Physics for Engineering) rather than running a separate exam tailored to each course.

In short: the ESAT tests the same kind of knowledge as ENGAA/NSAA, but in a new operational shell. That is why — as we will see below — ENGAA and NSAA past papers remain the single most important free preparation material.

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front). ESAT is a computer-based multiple-choice exam (2 modules × 40 min) introduced by Cambridge in 2024. It replaced ENGAA, NSAA, and part of BMAT. It is required for Engineering, Natural Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge, and for most Engineering courses at Imperial College London. Registration is through Pearson VUE, the session is in October, and the fee is about £75 in the lower fee band. A-level Mathematics and Physics cover most of the syllabus by design — the challenge is the pace and the multiple-choice format, not the range of topics.

Which UK universities and courses require the ESAT?

The ESAT is an exam for two universities. That distinction matters, because other leading UK engineering schools (UCL, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol) do not require the ESAT — they rely on A-levels or equivalents plus references. The list of courses that require the ESAT is fairly narrow, but it covers the most selective STEM programmes in the UK.

Cambridge

At Cambridge the ESAT is required for the following courses (as of the 2025/26 cycle — always verify on cam.ac.uk/admissions, as the list is occasionally adjusted):

• Engineering — the full four-year MEng programme covering all specialisms (mechanical, civil, electrical, information, manufacturing, aerospace). Required module combination: Mathematics 1 + Physics.
• Natural Sciences — a six-discipline programme covering biology, chemistry, physics, geology, materials, and systems sciences. Students specialise as they go. Combination: two of {Biology, Chemistry, Physics} + Mathematics 1.
• Chemical Engineering via Engineering — first year shared with Engineering, then a chemical specialism. Combination as for Engineering: Mathematics 1 + Physics.
• Chemical Engineering via Natural Sciences — an alternative route. Combination as for Natural Sciences.
• Veterinary Medicine — a six-year clinical programme. Combination: Biology + Chemistry.

Cambridge does not require the ESAT for Computer Science (separate requirements, including TMUA), Mathematics (requires STEP), Medicine (requires the UCAT from 2024 — previously BMAT), or Architecture (portfolio and its own assessment).

I cover the detailed requirements in the context of the whole application in the guide on how to get into Cambridge: admissions and the interview 2026, and the course profiles in the best courses at Cambridge: Natural Sciences and Engineering 2026.

Imperial College London

Imperial requires the ESAT for most of its Engineering programmes, including (2025/26 list — check imperial.ac.uk):

• Aeronautical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)
• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Engineering
• Bioengineering
• Earth Science and Engineering
• Design Engineering

The most common required combination at Imperial is Mathematics 1 + Physics, with exceptions for Bioengineering (where Biology is sometimes allowed) and Design Engineering. Computing at Imperial does not require the ESAT — it has its own test (TMUA for some applicants). Mathematics at Imperial requires the MAT, not the ESAT.

You will find a full overview of Imperial’s courses in the article studying at Imperial College London: a complete guide, and the admissions details in how to get into Imperial: Engineering and Medicine admissions 2026.

What about other universities?

As of 2026, the ESAT is specific to Cambridge and Imperial. UCL, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, Warwick, Sheffield, and Southampton do not require the ESAT for engineering — they make conditional offers based on A-levels (or recognised equivalents, where they typically expect top grades in maths and physics) plus references. If your shortlist does not include Cambridge or Imperial, you most likely do not need to sit the ESAT.

This is a key strategic decision for any applicant: if the ESAT is a risk for you (say, your physics is weaker than your maths), you can skip Cambridge and Imperial and apply to excellent engineering programmes at UCL, Warwick, or Edinburgh — with no extra exam. That is not a failure; it is a rational allocation of your energy.

What does the ESAT 2026 format look like?

Since 2024 the ESAT has been a fully computer-based test (CBT), taken at Pearson VUE centres. There are no more paper scripts and no sitting it at school — you are in a test booth with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and you check in at the centre’s reception (passport or photo ID).

Exam structure

Each candidate takes two modules, 40 minutes each. The two modules are independent of each other — there is a short technical break between them (usually 5-10 minutes to reset the workstation). The total time at the centre, including check-in and instructions: about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Every question is multiple choice with five options (A-E) and exactly one correct answer. The format will be familiar to anyone who has sat standardised tests — but the pace is far quicker than most national school exams. You have about 90 seconds per question on average, which is tight when a maths question needs working done in your head.

Scoring

The ESAT has no penalty for wrong answers. Every correct answer is +1, and a wrong or blank answer is 0. The strategy is therefore simple: always mark something, even if you are guessing at random (with five options you have a 20% chance of a point instead of a guaranteed zero). This is an important difference from the IMAT exam for medicine in Italy, where penalties for wrong answers force a hold-back strategy.

The score for each module is reported as a scaled score of roughly 1.0-9.0 (Cambridge does not publish precise cut-offs — the university uses the score as one element of a holistic assessment of your application). From the ENGAA/NSAA context (which used a similar scale), a typical informal threshold for an interview invitation at Cambridge was around 6.0-7.0 per module, but the interview decides the offer, not the ESAT alone.

What you can bring with you

• ID document (passport or photo ID — check the requirements on your registration confirmation).
• Nothing else. Pencils, calculators, phones, watches, water bottles, smartwatches — all of it goes in a locker at the centre.

No calculator. This is crucial. You must do every calculation in your head or on the on-screen scratch pad (whiteboard) available in the test interface. Training mental arithmetic (multiplying fractions, base-10 logarithms, square roots of numbers from 1-200) is a non-obvious but very real part of preparation.

How do you register for the ESAT?

ESAT registration is fully online and runs through a Pearson VUE account. The process is operationally simple, but it has hard deadlines — missing one costs you an academic year.

2026 session calendar

The ESAT is held once a year, in October (usually two dates to choose from, one or two weeks apart). The exact dates for the 2026 session are published on admissionstesting.org in spring/summer 2026, but the historical pattern is:

• Registration opens: late August / early September
• Registration deadline: end of September (firm, no extensions)
• Exam dates: two Saturdays in October
• Results: late November / early December, sent automatically to Cambridge and Imperial

Your UCAS application deadline for Cambridge and Imperial is 15 October — usually after the first but before the second ESAT date. You apply through UCAS first and sit the ESAT later; you do not need a result at the moment you submit your UCAS application.

Step by step

1. Create a Pearson VUE account at pearsonvue.com/uk/uat-uk. You need an active email address and the details from the ID document you will use to enter the exam (these two must match letter for letter — otherwise the centre will not admit you).
2. Choose a test centre. Pearson VUE operates centres in most countries worldwide; pick the one nearest you. Centres fill up quickly, especially in major cities, where slots can sell out in the first week of registration.
3. Choose your modules. This is not something you can decide on a whim in the registration panel — you must know the Cambridge/Imperial course requirements BEFORE registering, because the system asks for your module choices at sign-up (see section 5).
4. Pay. The fee is about £75 for candidates in the lower fee band, and around £130 for the international band. Credit and debit cards are accepted.
5. You receive an email confirmation with the exact centre address, day, time, and required documents. Print the confirmation and keep it with you on exam day — some centres ask for a paper copy.

Budgeting from an international applicant’s perspective

Beyond the exam fee itself, build in travel and possibly accommodation if your chosen centre is in another city. For many international candidates this is modest, but it is worth putting in the budget — and worth booking the nearest available centre early, before the convenient slots are gone. Either way the ESAT remains far cheaper than the cost of the UCAS application and interview preparation that follow.

For comparison: registering for the IMAT (medicine in Italy) is around €130 plus travel to a test city, and the SAT is around $100 plus travel. The ESAT is one of the cheapest admissions exams available for applicants to top-tier UK universities.

If you miss the deadline

There is no second chance. The ESAT runs once a year, the registration deadline is firm, and neither Cambridge nor Imperial has an alternative route for candidates without an ESAT score. Missing registration means you drop out of Cambridge and Imperial Engineering for that admissions cycle — unless you salvage your application at a university (UCL, Edinburgh, Manchester) that does not require the ESAT.

This is one reason you register the moment registration opens, rather than leaving it to the last week. Popular centres fill up within 7-10 days.

Which ESAT modules should you choose for your course?

Choosing your modules is the single most important tactical decision of the ESAT. Each candidate picks two of five modules (Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, Biology, Chemistry, Physics). Cambridge and Imperial publish the required (or permitted) combinations for each course — and these requirements are firm: if you apply for Engineering at Cambridge and chose Biology instead of Physics, your application is formally incomplete.

Module map by course

Note: the table above is indicative. Always verify on the specific course page in the Cambridge or Imperial catalogue — requirements can change year to year and some courses accept alternatives (for example Mathematics 2 instead of Physics for certain Imperial Engineering courses).

Mathematics 1 vs Mathematics 2 — which to choose?

This question trips up many applicants. Mathematics 1 corresponds to AS-level / the first year of A-level Mathematics — algebra, functions, trigonometry, sequences and series, the basics of differential and integral calculus, coordinate geometry, and elementary logic. This sits at roughly A-level Mathematics level, with perhaps 10-20% of material beyond a typical national curriculum.

Mathematics 2 is the advanced exam, corresponding to the second year of A-level Further Mathematics — complex numbers, matrices, differential equations, vectors in 3D, proof, induction, and more advanced integral calculus. Mathematics 2 is significantly harder than standard A-level Mathematics.

Most Engineering courses at Cambridge and Imperial require Mathematics 1 (not Mathematics 2) plus Physics. Mathematics 2 appears rarely — mainly as an alternative to Physics on selected Imperial courses. If you are unsure, the default is Mathematics 1 + Physics, checked against your specific course.

Trying to “show off” by taking Mathematics 2 when your course does not require it is a strategic mistake: a harder exam does not improve your application, and it can lower your score (Mathematics 2 is simply harder to convert into a high scaled score).

Preparation strategy — how to approach the ESAT effectively

Preparation for the ESAT has three phases, usually started 9-12 months before the exam (so January-February of the year you apply). The phases are different enough that overlapping them in time tends to produce a poor result.

Phase 1: build the subject foundation (February-June)

This phase overlaps with normal study toward your school-leaving qualification. If you are at a school with strong maths and physics teaching, you are already doing it. Concrete additions, relative to a typical national curriculum:

• Mathematics: add A-level integral calculus (British notation, integration by substitution, integration by parts), sequences and series (sigma notation), trigonometry (radians, A-level identities), and logarithms to any base with change of base. A good resource: CGP A-level Mathematics, a cheap book (~£15) written in a style close to the ESAT.
• Physics: add the A-level Physics topics that some national curricula do not cover in detail: thermal physics (kinetic theory of gases), momentum in 2D, simple harmonic motion in full mathematical form, capacitors, magnetic fields. Resource: CGP A-level Physics or Hodder Physics for A-level.
• Chemistry (if you choose it): stoichiometry with exact calculations, kinetics, thermochemistry (enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs energy), electrochemistry, and organic chemistry to A-level (SN1/SN2 mechanisms, electrophilic addition).
• Biology (if you choose it): cell biology in detail (membrane, membrane transport, mitosis/meiosis), molecular genetics, physiology (circulatory, respiratory, nervous systems), ecology.

Phase 2: ENGAA and NSAA past papers (June-August)

This is the most important phase, and here is the good news: all the ENGAA (2016-2023) and NSAA (2017-2023) past papers are free on admissionstesting.org. Together that is about 15 papers × 60-80 questions = roughly 1,000 questions in a style and at a level identical to the ESAT.

Strategy:

1. Start with one paper under timed conditions, with no materials to hand. See your raw score. Most candidates get 40-50% the first time — that is normal, do not panic.
2. Analyse every question you got wrong or guessed. Understand why the answer is A and not B. A mark scheme is available for every paper.
3. Do one paper a week under timed conditions. After 3-4 papers you will notice patterns — Cambridge reuses question types (mass ratios in stoichiometry, circular motion, trigonometric equations in a specific form).
4. Final month: do papers under simulation conditions — sitting at a computer, with a timer, no calculator, and your watch out of sight (to get used to losing time looking at the screen).

ESAT specimen papers (from 2024) and the first post-2024 past papers are also published on admissionstesting.org — they supplement the ENGAA/NSAA bank, but there are still few of them. Treat ENGAA/NSAA as 80% of your material and the ESAT specimens as 20%.

Phase 3: speed and mental maths (August-October)

The final 6-8 weeks are about pace, not new material. Most candidates who come unstuck on the ESAT do not fail on knowledge — they fail on time. Twenty-seven questions in 40 minutes is 89 seconds per question, including reading the text in English and checking your answer. It is a sport.

Concretely:

• Mental-maths training: 10-15 minutes a day on calculations in your head. Square roots of numbers from 1-200, multiplying fractions, powers of 2 up to 2¹⁰, basic logarithms (log 2 ≈ 0.301, log 3 ≈ 0.477).
• A shortcut for physics questions: orders of magnitude. If the answers are 3·10², 3·10⁵, 3·10⁸, 3·10¹¹ — you can often eliminate three of four without calculating.
• Skip the questions that cut you. Cambridge never requires every question. If a task is taking you more than 2 minutes, mark a guessed answer and move on. Come back at the end if there is time left. No penalty for wrong = always mark something.

National subject olympiads — in physics, maths, or chemistry — are an excellent form of parallel training for the ESAT (and a strong signal on your UCAS application). More in the guide on subject olympiads and applications abroad.

How does your school qualification map onto the ESAT level?

This is the question most applicants ask. The short answer: the ESAT is calibrated to A-level, so the cleanest way to gauge your readiness is to benchmark your highest-level maths and physics against A-level — whatever national system you come from.

A-level Mathematics vs ESAT Mathematics 1

Coverage: essentially complete by design. A-level Mathematics covers algebra, functions, sequences, trigonometry (in radians), differential and integral calculus, coordinate geometry, and the basics of 3D geometry — and ESAT Mathematics 1 was built to sit at this level. IB Higher Level Mathematics is close. If you are on another national system, ESAT Mathematics 1 typically asks for the following beyond a standard upper-secondary curriculum:

• Radians (some systems teach degrees; the ESAT works in radians)
• Logarithms at the ESAT’s depth (change of base, logarithmic equations)
• Indefinite and definite integration — broader than many national curricula
• Sigma notation for series
• Integration by substitution

Practical distance: a strong student who is comfortable at A-level standard needs little extra; a student from a different system typically needs 2-3 months of additional work to reach A-level Mathematics, which is the ESAT Math 1 level.

A-level Physics vs ESAT Physics

Coverage: A-level Physics covers most of it. A typical national curriculum has solid mechanics, electricity, magnetism, thermodynamics, and optics. Relative to a non-A-level system, ESAT Physics adds:

• More developed orbital mechanics (Kepler, gravitational potential energy in a varying field)
• Simple harmonic motion in mathematical form (second-order differential equations)
• Capacitors in RC circuits (charging/discharging)
• Magnetic fields at A-level depth (Lorentz force quantitatively, magnetic flux)
• Molecular thermodynamics (kinetic theory of gases, the Boltzmann relation)

If your physics stops short of A-level, it will not be enough without topping up — the distance to ESAT Physics is about 3-4 months of systematic work with an A-level Physics course.

A-level Chemistry/Biology vs ESAT Chemistry/Biology

Coverage: A-level covers it well, with the ESAT leaning a little harder on certain topics. Strong upper-secondary chemistry and biology programmes are content-rich — organic chemistry in particular often covers A-level Chemistry to a high degree. The main gaps to watch for if you are not on A-level:

• Chemistry: thermochemistry with Gibbs energy (not always in a national curriculum, sometimes on the ESAT), electrochemistry in a more developed form, second-order kinetics.
• Biology: molecular biology (replication, transcription, translation in mechanistic detail), more advanced physiology.

Distance to close: 2-3 months with an A-level Chemistry / Biology course.

What about GPA and grade conversion?

A school-leaving qualification does not map 1:1 onto a UK admissions assessment — Cambridge and Imperial treat your national qualification as an equivalent of A-levels, with required thresholds in specific subjects. The ESAT is an independent signal on top of your grades. If you want to estimate your profile against the US GPA scale (useful if you are also considering the US), use our GPA calculator — it converts national grading systems onto the 4.0 GPA scale and shows the conversion for the most common systems.

ESAT vs STEP vs MAT — which exam for which course?

The UK admissions system uses three main STEM exams for its most selective courses: ESAT, STEP, and MAT. The choice between them is a function of your course, not your preference. Matching the wrong exam to your course means your application is formally incomplete.

Quick summary

ESAT — when?

Your course is engineering or natural / physical sciences at Cambridge or Imperial. Or Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge. The ESAT tests “applied maths + science” in a test format — solid fundamentals, but quickly and under time pressure.

STEP — when?

Your course is Mathematics (pure mathematics) at Cambridge, Warwick, or Imperial Mathematics. STEP (the Sixth Term Examination Paper) is an open-response exam, far harder mathematically than the ESAT — it demands proofs, extended solutions, and creative mathematical thinking. If you are sitting Mathematics at Cambridge, you sit STEP, not the ESAT. In difficulty it is closer to a national mathematics olympiad than to a school-leaving exam.

MAT — when?

Your course is Mathematics or Computer Science at Oxford, or Mathematics at Imperial. MAT (the Mathematics Admissions Test) is a hybrid of multiple choice plus longer open-response questions. Difficulty between the ESAT and STEP. It compares to a hard, second/third-round national mathematics olympiad.

Plan B — what if the ESAT goes badly?

A realistic Plan B for an applicant who has applied to Cambridge/Imperial and is sitting the ESAT:

1. A UCAS application across five universities. Cambridge OR Oxford (not both — UCAS forces the choice), Imperial, plus three universities with no ESAT requirement (UCL, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, Warwick). If Cambridge/Imperial reject you after the ESAT, you still have offers from three other top-tier universities.
2. A second attempt next year. You can sit the ESAT again the following year if you take a gap year. Some applicants deliberately apply a year later to give themselves a full year for the ESAT.
3. Study at home with a transfer. Strong engineering schools in your own country for the first year, then an attempt to transfer into the second year in the UK once you have the test behind you. It is a rare route, but it works.
4. Germany or the Netherlands. TU Delft, ETH Zurich (separate test), TU München — top-class engineering programmes with no ESAT requirement, admitting on your school-leaving qualification in maths and physics.

Plan B is not a failure — it is rational risk hedging. Cambridge admits roughly 18-22% of Engineering applicants, and Imperial is similar. Statistically, most applicants receive a rejection, and good alternatives are less selective and lead to an equally strong engineering degree.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can you sit the ESAT twice? Not in one cycle — you can sit it each year, but you get only one attempt in a given cycle.

Will I show the university my ESAT score? The score goes automatically to Cambridge and Imperial through Pearson VUE and UAT-UK. You receive it by email in November / early December.

What if I am ill on exam day? Pearson VUE accepts requests for medical mitigation with medical documentation — contact UAT-UK and the Admissions Office immediately. No guarantee of a resit.

Is the ESAT required for international applicants? Yes, for all candidates (UK, EU, international). Your fee band depends on your fee status.

Can I use extra time? Yes — extended time is available for documented dyslexia, dyscalculia, or other access arrangements. You submit the request with documentation during registration.

Do I need IELTS/TOEFL alongside the ESAT? Yes, separately. Cambridge requires IELTS Academic 7.5, Imperial 7.0 (min. 6.5 in each component). The ESAT does not replace a language certificate.

Sources and methodology

This guide was prepared from the publicly available examination and administrative documentation of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and the ESAT operators.

Main sources:

• admissionstesting.org (Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing → University Admissions Tests UK from 2024) — the official ESAT operator: exam format, ENGAA and NSAA past papers, ESAT specimen papers, module syllabuses.
• University of Cambridge Admissions (cam.ac.uk/admissions) — requirements for Engineering, Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Chemical Engineering. Exam policies and deadlines.
• Imperial College London (imperial.ac.uk) — requirements for Engineering courses, module combinations, access-arrangements policy.
• Pearson VUE (pearsonvue.com/uk/uat-uk) — test-centre operator, registration, fee policy, centre locations.

Methodology:

All information about the format, modules, and course requirements was verified against the official pages of Cambridge, Imperial, and UAT-UK for the 2025/26 admissions cycle. Historical information about ENGAA, NSAA, and BMAT comes from the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing archive. The dates for the introduction of the ESAT (2024) and the retirement of ENGAA/NSAA (2023) are publicly documented by Cambridge.

Limitations:

Course requirements at Cambridge and Imperial are updated annually. The specific module combinations per course should always be verified on the relevant course page in the university catalogue — this guide gives the position as of the 2025/26 cycle and an indicative picture, not the final source. Exam fees and the 2026 session dates are published by UAT-UK and Pearson VUE in spring/summer 2026 — check admissionstesting.org for the latest figures. Cambridge does not publish score thresholds officially, and the values given here are drawn from an analysis of Cambridge’s public annual reports.

In the event of any discrepancy between this guide and the official materials of Cambridge, Imperial, or UAT-UK — the official sources always prevail.

Next steps:

• Read studying at Cambridge: a complete guide and studying at Imperial College London to understand the context of the whole application, not just the exam.
• If you are weighing up a specific course at Cambridge: the best courses at Cambridge: Natural Sciences and Engineering 2026.
• On admissions strategy and the interview: how to get into Cambridge: admissions and the interview 2026 and how to get into Imperial: Engineering and Medicine admissions 2026.
• Check how your school-leaving qualification converts to a GPA: GPA calculator.
• If you are considering olympiads to support your application: subject olympiads and applications abroad.