What is a good ESAT score?

The ESAT is scored differently from a single overall test. You sit several modules, and each one is scored on its own from 1.0 (low) to 9.0 (high), to one decimal place. There is no combined total and no single ESAT grade, so "a good score" really means a good score in each module your course requires.

Why there is no pass mark

UAT-UK does not set a pass mark for the ESAT and does not publish grade boundaries. The test is designed to spread out a strong, self-selecting field of applicants, not to sort them into pass and fail. That is also why the exam is deliberately time-pressured: answering every question is not the expectation.

Be wary of specific thresholds you may see quoted, such as "you need a 6 in Physics". Universities do not publish per-module cut-offs, so any exact number circulating online should be treated as unverified.

How universities use your scores

For 2027 entry the ESAT is required by Cambridge, Imperial, UCL and Oxford for a range of engineering and science courses. None of them applies a fixed score threshold. Your module scores are read alongside the rest of your application: your predicted grades, personal statement and reference, and at Cambridge your interview.

Because these are among the most competitive courses in the country, the practical goal is straightforward. Aim to score as high as you can in each required module, since a higher score can only strengthen your application. You can see which modules your course needs on our requirements pages and in our guide to which ESAT modules you need.

Turning this into a target

Since there is no published cut-off, set your target by the standard of the course rather than a rumoured number. Every module is worth aiming to the top of the scale, and the difference between a middling and a strong score usually comes down to two things: how solid your content is, and how well you pace yourself across 27 questions in 40 minutes.

The most reliable way to raise a module score is timed practice followed by careful review. Work through the past papers, close the gaps you find with the topic-by-topic textbook, and follow the full plan in how to prepare for the ESAT.

Official ESAT resources

The scoring details above come from UAT-UK, which sets and runs the ESAT. Its pages are the authoritative source, and the practice tools on esat.fyi are supplementary to them.

• ESAT test, format and scoring, UAT-UK
• ESAT preparation materials and subject guides, UAT-UK
• Course requirements from the source: Cambridge, Imperial and UCL