Which Universities Need TMUA, STEP or ESAT? UK Admissions Guide

In short

For 2027 entry, UAT-UK runs three on-screen admissions tests: the TMUA for mathematics, computer science and economics, the ESAT for engineering and science, and the TARA, which Oxford and UCL use. Its course list names seven universities: Cambridge, Durham, Imperial, LSE, Oxford, UCL and Warwick. OCR runs STEP, which Cambridge, Warwick and Imperial use. Oxford's MAT ended after 2025; Oxford now uses the TMUA. Modern Age Coders teaches TMUA and STEP mathematics and A Level Computer Science live online, in groups or one-to-one.

Where to start

Three courses for a university applicant

The admissions tests, the A Level that most maths-heavy courses expect, and the computing A Level behind a computer science application.

UA / 01

TMUA and STEP preparation

Ages 16 to 18: TMUA logic and pacing in the autumn, then STEP 2 and 3 through to June.

Open the syllabus →

UA / 02

A Level Further Maths

STEP 3 assumes it, and Cambridge Computer Science asks for it where a school offers it.

Open the syllabus →

UA / 03

A Level Computer Science

AQA 7517 or OCR H446 papers, Python, and mentoring on how to run the project yourself.

Open the syllabus →

Every hurdle, one table

What are the UK maths and computing admissions tests, and who sets each one?

Four live tests and one retired one. UAT-UK delivers the TMUA, ESAT and TARA on screen at Pearson test centres; OCR sets STEP on paper in June; the Oxford MAT ran from 2007 to 2025.

UK admissions tests and computing qualifications for 2027 entry, as each owner states them (read 1 November 2026)
Hurdle	Run by	Used by, as stated	Format	When
TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission)	UAT-UK, on screen at Pearson test centres	Seven universities, for some mathematics, economics and computer science courses	Two papers of 20 multiple-choice questions, 75 minutes each; no calculator; one overall score from 1 to 9	12 to 16 October 2026 or 4 to 8 January 2027
ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test)	UAT-UK, on screen	Imperial, Cambridge, Oxford and UCL, for engineering and science courses	Five modules of 27 questions and 40 minutes; Mathematics 1 for all, usually plus two more; a score per module	Same two windows as the TMUA
TARA (Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions)	UAT-UK, on screen	Oxford and UCL, including UCL Computer Science	Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, 22 questions each, plus a Writing Task of up to 750 words; 40 minutes each	Same two windows
STEP 2 and STEP 3	OCR, written, at a registered STEP centre	Cambridge, Warwick and Imperial	Three hours each; 12 questions (8 pure, 2 mechanics, 2 probability and statistics); six highest-scoring answers count, each out of 20; grades S, 1, 2, 3, U	14 June 2027 (STEP 2) and 21 June 2027 (STEP 3)
Oxford MAT	Oxford Mathematical Institute	Nobody since 2025; Oxford now uses the TMUA	Retired	Not running
Oxbridge interviews	Oxford and Cambridge colleges	Shortlisted applicants: about three per place at Oxford Mathematics; historically 75% to 80% of Cambridge Mathematics applicants	Oxford Mathematics: online, about 25 minutes each; Cambridge: one or two interviews totalling 35 minutes to an hour for most	December 2026; Cambridge's main period is 7 to 18 December 2026
UCAS personal statement	UCAS	Every UCAS applicant	Three questions, at least 350 characters each, 4,000 characters in all	With the application; 15 October 2026 for Oxford
AQA A-level Computer Science 7517	AQA	Schools in England; not available to private candidates	Paper 1 on screen and Paper 2 written, 2 hours 30 minutes and 40% each; NEA 75 marks, 20%	Summer of Year 13; see AQA's timetable
OCR A Level Computer Science H446	OCR	Schools, and private candidates based in the UK	Components 01 and 02 written, 140 marks, 2 hours 30 minutes and 40% each, no calculators; project 70 marks, 20%	Summer of Year 13; see OCR's timetable
A Level Computer Science NEA	AQA or OCR, marked by the school	Every A Level Computer Science candidate	75 marks at AQA, 70 at OCR; 20% at both	Through Year 13, to school deadlines
EPQ (Extended Project Qualification)	AQA 7993, Pearson and others	Optional; UCAS names it as evidence for question 2	120 guided learning hours; an artefact plus a report of at least 1,000 words at AQA	Usually Year 12 into Year 13
BTEC IT Unit 4 Programming	Pearson	Students on the BTEC Level 3 Nationals in IT (2016)	Internally assessed, 90 guided learning hours, at most two summative assignments	Set by the college

Sources: UAT-UK's TMUA, ESAT and TARA pages and key dates; OCR's STEP Mathematics pages; the Oxford Mathematical Institute MAT page; interview pages, UCAS and the four specifications, read 31 October and 1 November 2026. We are not connected with UAT-UK, OCR, AQA, Pearson, UCAS or any university.

By university, 2027 entry

Which universities need the TMUA, STEP or ESAT for 2027 entry?

UAT-UK's Course List for 2027 entry, updated April 2026, names seven universities. A test can be compulsory for one degree and only recommended for its neighbour, so the codes matter.

Which test each university lists, by course, from UAT-UK's Course List 2027 Entry and OCR's STEP pages
University	TMUA	ESAT	TARA	STEP
University of Cambridge (C05)	Compulsory: Computer Science G400, Economics L100, Mathematics G100	Compulsory: Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Engineering, Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine	Not listed	Normally part of the conditional offer for Mathematics; both papers usually asked for
University of Oxford (O33)	Compulsory: Computer Science, Computer Science and Philosophy, Mathematics and Computer Science, Mathematics and Philosophy, Mathematics	Compulsory: engineering, physics and biomedical courses	Compulsory: PPE, Economics and Management, Experimental Psychology and others	Not listed by OCR
Imperial College London (I50)	Compulsory: Computing courses, Mathematics courses, Mathematics and Computer Science, Economics, Finance and Data Science	Compulsory: engineering, physics and life sciences courses	Not listed	Named by OCR as a user; check Imperial's course page
University of Warwick (W20)	Compulsory except for contextual offers: Computer Science, Discrete Mathematics, Mathematics; recommended: Data Science, Economics, Mathematics and Statistics, MORSE and others	Not listed	Not listed	Warwick's own page: Mathematics applicants typically take TMUA or STEP
London School of Economics (L72)	Compulsory: Economics L101, Econometrics and Mathematical Economics L140; recommended for the other listed courses	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed by OCR
UCL (U80)	Compulsory: Economics L100 and L101	Compulsory: Electronic and Electrical Engineering H600, H601	Compulsory: Computer Science G400, G402, Computer Science and Mathematics G430, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence H700 and others	Not listed by OCR
Durham University (D86)	Recommended: Mathematics G100, G103, Mathematics and Statistics G111, G114	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed by OCR

Sources: UAT-UK, Course List 2027 Entry (PDF, April 2026); OCR's STEP student pages; the Cambridge undergraduate STEP page; the University of Warwick admissions tests page. "Not listed" means the list or OCR does not name it there; always check the course page.

Two surprises in the list

UCL Computer Science uses the TARA, a reasoning and writing test, not the TMUA. And Imperial lists eight Computing degrees separately, G400 to GG47, while Warwick leaves Computer Systems Engineering outside its TMUA rule: the code decides, not the department.

When two sources disagree

For Warwick Mathematics, UAT-UK's list says the TMUA is compulsory, yet Warwick's own page says applicants typically take TMUA or STEP, with offers to those without a TMUA score conditional on grade 2 in any STEP paper. Act on the university's page; it sets the offer.

Hub section one

Which admissions tests and interviews will a maths applicant face?

A Cambridge mathematics applicant can face all three stages: the TMUA in October, an interview in December and STEP in June. Oxford has the TMUA and interviews; engineers sit the ESAT. These five pages take each stage in depth.

The TMUA. Our TMUA preparation page is for any Year 13 student whose course list triggers the test, whatever the subject; most of it is about the logic paper, where strong A Level students often lose time.

STEP. The STEP 2 and STEP 3 guide suits a student holding, or expecting, a Cambridge or Warwick offer that names a STEP grade. It is unlike the on-screen tests: long written answers, a June date and a grade from S to U.

The ESAT. Engineers, physicists and natural scientists need the ESAT maths page, which covers the two mathematics modules and how to book the right modules.

The retired MAT. Anyone searching for the Oxford test will find on the Oxford MAT page what replaced it and whether the old papers still repay the effort.

Interviews. The Oxbridge maths interview page is about speaking mathematics aloud: it is for shortlisted applicants in November and December, and it practises taking a hint rather than reciting technique.

How the tests compare in time pressure, our arithmetic from the published formats
Test	Questions you answer	Time	Time per question (ours)	What that pace rewards
TMUA, each paper	20	75 minutes	3 minutes 45 seconds	Precise reading and quick structure-spotting
ESAT, each module	27	40 minutes	About 1 minute 29 seconds	Fluent arithmetic without a calculator
TARA, each multiple-choice module	22	40 minutes	About 1 minute 49 seconds	Reasoning in words rather than symbols
STEP, each paper	6 count, out of 12 set	180 minutes	30 minutes	Stamina and complete, correct arguments

Same mathematics, rising depth. UAT-UK says the TMUA draws on Higher GCSE and AS level mathematics; Cambridge says STEP 2 is based on A Level Mathematics and AS Further Mathematics, and STEP 3 on a typical Further Mathematics A Level syllabus. As the content climbs, the pace falls, so STEP is never just a slower TMUA. Interviews test something else again: Cambridge's mathematics faculty says there are no trick questions, though some problems are meant to leave you stuck for a while.

Formats from UAT-UK's test pages and OCR's STEP scoring page; Cambridge's STEP content summary from the Faculty of Mathematics STEP page; interview statements from the Oxford Mathematical Institute TMUA page and the Cambridge Faculty of Mathematics. Time per question is our division, not a published figure.

The 2026 to 2027 calendar

When are the UK admissions tests in 2026 and 2027?

The on-screen tests run from 12 to 16 October 2026 and from 4 to 8 January 2027; Oxford and Cambridge applicants must use October. Interviews follow in December. STEP 2 is on 14 June 2027 and STEP 3 on 21 June 2027.

Admissions calendar for 2027 entry, from UAT-UK key dates, OCR STEP key dates and university pages
Date	What happens	Source
1 June 2026	UAT-UK accounts, bursary and access arrangement requests open	UAT-UK
20 July 2026	Booking opens for the October sitting	UAT-UK
28 September 2026, 6pm UK time	October booking closes	UAT-UK
12 to 16 October 2026	TMUA, ESAT and TARA window 1	UAT-UK
15 October 2026, 6pm UK time	UCAS deadline for Oxford	Oxford Mathematical Institute
28 October 2026	Booking opens for the January sitting	UAT-UK
16 November 2026	October results to candidates	UAT-UK
December 2026	Oxford Mathematics interviews, online	Oxford Mathematical Institute
7 to 18 December 2026	Cambridge main interview period	University of Cambridge
21 December 2026	January booking closes	UAT-UK
4 to 8 January 2027	Window 2, not for most Oxford or Cambridge applicants	UAT-UK
8 February 2027	January results to candidates	UAT-UK
1 March to 4 May 2027	STEP registration, by a STEP centre	OCR
14 June 2027 and 21 June 2027	STEP 2, then STEP 3	OCR
12 August 2027	STEP results	OCR

From UAT-UK's Key Dates and Deadlines for 2027 Entry, OCR's STEP key dates, the Oxford Mathematical Institute TMUA page and the Cambridge interviews page, read 1 November 2026. Candidates in China, Hong Kong and Macau sit on fixed days inside each window; UAT-UK lists them. Fees are set by UAT-UK and OCR and are not printed here.

One sitting per cycle. UAT-UK says there is no advantage to either session, but a candidate can sit only once within an admissions cycle, and Imperial adds that only the first score is considered. For a student applying to neither Oxford nor Cambridge, January buys an extra term of A Level teaching before the test.

Hub section two

What does a computer science application need besides an admissions test?

Mathematics first, then evidence of computing. Cambridge's Computer Science department puts its main weight on Mathematics and Further Mathematics and calls A Level Computer Science valuable where offered. These seven pages cover the rest.

Something to write about. The personal statement projects page helps a Year 12 student who has nothing to put in UCAS question 1 yet; it proposes small, measurable builds and a log, and it never touches the statement itself.

Choosing the A Level. Start with the A level Computer Science tutor page if you do not yet know your board, or you study at home, since whether you can sit as a private candidate decides between the two main specifications.

AQA 7517. Students at an AQA school should read the AQA 7517 page, which is built around the on-screen Paper 1 and the program AQA releases before it.

OCR H446. The OCR H446 page is its opposite number: two handwritten papers with no calculator, and the only coding done in a project of the student's choosing.

The project. For the coursework on either board, the A-level Computer Science NEA page sets out how the marks divide and what each board allows on AI help.

An EPQ artefact. A student who wants a computing project outside the A Level, such as an app or a model, should open the EPQ computer science page, which is clear about where a mentor must stop.

The vocational route. The BTEC IT programming page is for college students on Unit 4, whose assignments are assessed internally under strict authenticity rules.

The personal statement in 2026

UCAS now asks three questions instead of one essay: at least 350 characters each, 4,000 characters in all, spaces included. Applicants must also declare the statement was not copied or provided from another source, artificial intelligence software included.

Our line on coursework and statements

We teach computing and the method of running a project on practice material of our own. We never write, edit or rewrite a student's NEA, EPQ, BTEC assignment or personal statement. Cambridge applicants to Peterhouse or Trinity also sit the Computer Sciences Aptitude Test (CSAT).

From UCAS list to test list

How do you work out which admissions tests you need?

Write out your five UCAS choices with their course codes and look each one up. Five steps, then two worked plans of our own.

List the five codes. Take each course's UCAS code from the university's course page, for example G400 or GG14, not just the subject name.
Look each code up in UAT-UK's course list. Note TMUA, ESAT or TARA, whether it is compulsory or recommended, and for the ESAT the exact modules.
Read each course page. UAT-UK says this is your responsibility; STEP requirements, college tests such as the CSAT and later changes appear there.
Choose the window. An Oxford or Cambridge choice fixes October; otherwise pick either, once per cycle.
Book by the deadline, after any bursary or access request. January booking closes on 21 December 2026 at 6pm UK time.

Worked plan A, ours: a computer science list run against UAT-UK's 2027 course list
Choice (illustrative)	Code	Test it triggers	Status
Cambridge Computer Science	G400	TMUA (plus CSAT at Peterhouse or Trinity)	Compulsory; October
Imperial Computing	G400	TMUA	Compulsory
Warwick Computer Science	G400	TMUA	Compulsory unless eligible for a contextual offer
UCL Computer Science	G400	TARA	Compulsory
Durham Computer Science	Not in the list	None listed	Check Durham's course page

What plan A comes to

Two different tests, the TMUA for three choices and the TARA for UCL, both in October because of Cambridge: one account, two bookings. Durham is in our example because the list is silent on it, which means its course page decides, not that there is no test.

Worked plan B, ours: mathematics

Cambridge, Warwick, Imperial and Durham Mathematics (all G100) plus LSE Mathematics with Economics G1L1. The list makes the TMUA compulsory for the first three and recommended for Durham and LSE, so one October TMUA serves all five. A Cambridge offer would then normally add STEP 2 and STEP 3 in June 2027.

Plans A and B are ours, written on 1 November 2026 from UAT-UK's Course List 2027 Entry, Cambridge's Computer Science and STEP pages and Warwick's admissions tests page. They are not a recommendation of any university or any combination of choices.

Honest about preparation

Do you need a tutor for the TMUA, ESAT or STEP?

Not necessarily, and the test owners say so. UAT-UK writes that "the best way to prepare is to familiarise yourself with the test format and style of questions", and publishes free materials for every test.

What is free

UAT-UK specifications, Notes on Logic and Proof and practice tests; OCR's STEP past papers and examiner reports; Cambridge's STEP Support programme.

What a class adds

A timetable, a teacher who marks working, and a group to compare wrong answers with. It helps most when logic, proof or Further Maths is new.

What nobody can add

Cambridge says interview preparation companies are not endorsed and have no exclusive information. The same holds for every test here: there are no secret questions, and we promise no score, grade, interview or offer.

A two-year route

From Year 12 to results day: the order we suggest

Our suggested sequence for a mathematics or computer science applicant. Each stage ends with something the student can show.

Our admissions route, Year 12 to Year 13
When	Stage	Sign it is done
Year 12, autumn and spring	1. A Level pure secure, Further Maths begun	Algebra, sequences and calculus no longer need notes
Year 12, summer	2. Tests identified, logic learned, a project started	Five course codes looked up; a working program with a log
Year 13, September to October	3. TMUA, ESAT or TARA booked and sat	Both papers finished in time with nothing left blank
Year 13, November to December	4. Interview practice, if shortlisted	Can talk through a stuck problem and use a hint
Year 13, January to June	5. STEP, if an offer names it	Six full answers in three hours on an old paper

If the plan is computer science

Stage 2 carries more weight: the summer project feeds UCAS question 1. Keep it separate from the NEA, which must be new work done under the school's supervision.

If the plan is mathematics at Cambridge

All five stages apply. Cambridge says STEP is aimed at roughly the top 5% of A Level mathematics candidates, so slow early progress on old papers is normal.

The full list

What we teach university applicants

Grouped by the part of the application each course supports.

I

Admissions tests

TMUA, STEP, harder problems

UA / T / 01

TMUA and STEP preparation

Both stages, autumn to June.

Open the syllabus

UA / T / 02

Olympiad and competition maths

Problems that reward persistence.

Open the syllabus

UA / T / 03

Problem solving and algorithms

Logic and reasoning about code.

Open the syllabus

II

Sixth-form mathematics

A Level and IB

UA / M / 01

A Level Maths

The content under every test.

Open the syllabus

UA / M / 02

A Level Further Maths

Assumed by STEP 3.

Open the syllabus

UA / M / 03

IB Mathematics

For Diploma students applying to UK courses.

Open the syllabus

III

Computing

A Level and beyond

UA / C / 01

A Level Computer Science

AQA 7517 and OCR H446.

Open the syllabus

UA / C / 02

Cambridge International 9618

For international schools.

Open the syllabus

UA / C / 03

Competitive programming

Timed problems in code.

Open the syllabus

How lessons run

Live admissions classes, timed to the application year

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Weekday evenings

Content and logic, after school.

Weekend mornings

Full timed papers and long questions.

1-on-1

One applicant, one course list.

Codes before classes

The first lesson maps the student's UCAS codes to the tests they trigger.

Two speeds

Short timed items for the on-screen tests; slow, complete write-ups for STEP.

Working shown

Every answer, even a multiple-choice one, is explained aloud or on paper.

Groups of 15 to 20

Comparing different routes to one answer is how reasoning gets sharper.

Practice of our own

Lessons use questions we wrote; official papers stay with the student.

No outcomes promised

We promise no score, grade, interview or offer from any university.

Student work

What our students build

Projects our students have published in maths, programming and machine learning, some of them the kind a computer science applicant can describe in UCAS question 1. More in the student labs.

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Admissions questions

What applicants and parents ask about UK admissions tests

Which universities use the TMUA?

UAT-UK's course list for 2027 entry names seven: Cambridge, Durham, Imperial, LSE, Oxford, UCL and Warwick. It is compulsory for some courses, such as LSE Economics, and only recommended for others, such as Durham Mathematics.

Which universities require STEP?

OCR says STEP is used by the University of Cambridge, the University of Warwick and Imperial College London. At Cambridge it normally forms part of the conditional offer for Mathematics, and Warwick accepts it as an alternative to the TMUA for Mathematics.

What is the difference between the TMUA and STEP?

The TMUA is an on-screen multiple-choice test in October or January, two 75-minute papers with one overall score. STEP is a written OCR exam in June, three hours a paper, where you choose six of twelve questions and receive a grade from S to U.

Does Oxford still use the MAT?

No. Oxford's Mathematical Institute says the MAT was used from 2007 to 2025 and will not take place again. Applicants for Mathematics, Computer Science and the joint honours courses now take the TMUA in the October sitting.

Do all computer science courses need the TMUA?

No. Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial and Warwick use it for computer science, but UAT-UK lists the TARA, not the TMUA, for UCL Computer Science. Universities outside UAT-UK's list of seven do not appear in it at all, so each course page is the authority.

When are the admissions tests for 2027 entry?

UAT-UK runs the TMUA, ESAT and TARA from 12 to 16 October 2026 and from 4 to 8 January 2027. OCR sets STEP 2 on 14 June 2027 and STEP 3 on 21 June 2027.

Do I need a tutor for university admissions tests?

UAT-UK says familiarity with the format and question style is the main preparation, and its materials are free. A class helps when logic, proof or Further Maths is new; it guarantees no result.

Will you write or check my personal statement or NEA?

No. We teach computing and project method on our own practice material, but never write, edit or rewrite a statement, NEA, EPQ or BTEC assignment: UCAS and the boards require your own work.

What days are classes on?

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Are you connected with UAT-UK, OCR or any university?

No. We are an independent teaching company with no link to UAT-UK, OCR, AQA, Pearson, UCAS or any university. Students register and book their own tests.

Related pages

Beyond admissions tests

The school courses these tests sit on, and enrichment that strengthens a mathematics or computing application.

Further Maths tuition online

The A Level that STEP 3 takes for granted.

A Level Maths tuition online

Pure, mechanics and statistics for Years 12 and 13.

British Mathematical Olympiad

Proof-writing practice that carries over to long STEP answers.

British Informatics Olympiad

A timed programming contest for computing applicants.

IB Extended Essay mentoring

The IB counterpart of an EPQ in maths or computing.

Every page in this guide

Admissions tests and interviews

Computer science applications

More guides: UK maths exam boards and specification codes · UK maths year by year, Reception to Year 11 · UK selective school maths tests: 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+ · UK maths enrichment, competitions and able pupils

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Three courses for a university applicant

TMUA and STEP preparation

A Level Further Maths

A Level Computer Science

What are the UK maths and computing admissions tests, and who sets each one?

Which universities need the TMUA, STEP or ESAT for 2027 entry?

Two surprises in the list

When two sources disagree

Which admissions tests and interviews will a maths applicant face?

When are the UK admissions tests in 2026 and 2027?

What does a computer science application need besides an admissions test?

The personal statement in 2026

Our line on coursework and statements

How do you work out which admissions tests you need?

What plan A comes to

Worked plan B, ours: mathematics

Do you need a tutor for the TMUA, ESAT or STEP?

What is free

What a class adds

What nobody can add

From Year 12 to results day: the order we suggest

If the plan is computer science

If the plan is mathematics at Cambridge

What we teach university applicants

Admissions tests

TMUA and STEP preparation

Olympiad and competition maths

Problem solving and algorithms

Sixth-form mathematics

A Level Maths

A Level Further Maths

IB Mathematics

Computing

A Level Computer Science

Cambridge International 9618

Competitive programming

Live admissions classes, timed to the application year

Codes before classes

Two speeds

Working shown

Groups of 15 to 20

Practice of our own

No outcomes promised

What our students build

NutriLife

Misti

GuardianX

SkyCast

Fees

Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews

What applicants and parents ask about UK admissions tests

Which universities use the TMUA?

Which universities require STEP?

What is the difference between the TMUA and STEP?

Does Oxford still use the MAT?

Do all computer science courses need the TMUA?

When are the admissions tests for 2027 entry?

Do I need a tutor for university admissions tests?

Will you write or check my personal statement or NEA?

What days are classes on?

Are you connected with UAT-UK, OCR or any university?

Beyond admissions tests

Further Maths tuition online

A Level Maths tuition online

British Mathematical Olympiad

British Informatics Olympiad

IB Extended Essay mentoring

Every page in this guide

Admissions tests and interviews

Computer science applications

Book a free admissions class

Want a class sooner? Book a priority demo

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