Oxford Physics 2024 The Student Room

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 1, 2025, 8:41 PM

Which university admissions tests do you need to take? A guide to the Oxbridge application process Bmat: when it is, what it costs and how to prepare To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group. Everyone who applies to study physics or physics and philosophy at Oxford, without exception, must take the Physics Aptitude Test (PAT), a two-hour test that evaluates a student’s ability in both physics and maths.

The date of the next PAT will be 22 and 23 October 2025. Registration information for the PAT can be found here. From 2024, the PAT will be online and delivered via Pearson VUE’s established network of test centres. It remains the case that in 2025 there will be no charge for candidates to register for Oxford's own admissions tests. The PAT is a mixture of both physics and maths questions and you have to complete a lot of questions in only 2 hours. From 2024, all questions will be delivered online and will be multiple choice.

Please note that formula sheets, tables and data books are not permitted. A digital calculator will be included as part of the online interface for the PAT from October 2023 onwards. Candidates must use this and may NOT bring their own calculators, of any description, into the exam. There are no recommended text books for the PAT. As well as the information you can find here on the Department of Physics website, there is also information on the University of Oxford website. We do not generally provide solutions to the past papers; when marking the PAT, all suitable methods for solving the questions are allowed and we would not want you to feel only one specific...

We have however published sample solutions to the 2009 and 2010 papers and our Access team has created unofficial sample solutions for the 2019 paper; these can all be found on the PAT past... info@oxfordtutors.com +44 (0)1865 655660 © 2025 Oxford Tutors. All Rights Reserved. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site.

Not consenting may adversely affect certain features and functions. The Physics Aptitude Test (PAT) is a crucial part of the application process for anyone aspiring to study physics or physics and philosophy at Oxford University. Without exception, every applicant must take this two-hour test, which evaluates a student's abilities in both physics and maths. The PAT is a blend of physics and maths questions, and the challenge lies not only in the content but also in the volume of questions to be completed within the limited time frame. As of October 2023, the PAT has transitioned to an online format, with a digital calculator included as part of the interface. This means candidates are no longer allowed to bring their own calculators into the exam.

While there are no recommended textbooks for the PAT, preparation can be effectively done by familiarising oneself with the format and content through past papers. It's also important to note that the average score in most years is between 50-60%, so don't be disheartened if you don't get everything correct. In the following sections, we'll delve deeper into the purpose of the PAT, its format and structure, the syllabus, and more. The PAT serves as a subject-specific admissions test for several courses at Oxford University, including Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, and Physics and Philosophy. The test, which lasts for two hours, is designed for candidates who have studied the first year of A-level or IB DP Maths and Physics. Which university admissions tests do you need to take?

To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group. © Copyright The Student Room 2025 all rights reserved The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. The Physics Aptitude Test (PAT) is the admissions test used by the University of Oxford for entry into their Physics, Physics and Philosophy, Engineering Science, and Materials Science courses. With the 2024 exam date set for Monday 28th October, it’s important to be aware of the three key updates to the test format, location and administration.

This article will guide you through these changes to ensure you are ready to navigate the updated PAT and tackle it with confidence. If you are already familiar with these updates and are seeking general information and advice from an expert PAT tutor, check out Oxford PAT: Syllabus, exam tips, and calculator guide. Oxford University has announced that the 2024 PAT exam will consist entirely of multiple-choice questions, marking a significant change in format. You will be provided with a whiteboard for rough working and written notes, but these will be erased and returned at the end of the exam. This means only the selected answers will be graded. The exam will be scored out of 100 marks.

Although the exact number of questions and the allocation of marks have not been officially disclosed, the 2024 PAT practice paper may offer some insight. It features 40 questions, interspersing maths and physics problems, with each question worth between 2 to 4 marks. Since the PAT is positively marked (i.e. there are no penalties for incorrect answers) and only the final answers are graded, it’s crucial to put an answer down for every question. If you’re unsure, make an educated guess, flag it using the exam software (keep reading for information on using the digital interface), and move on. If you are applying for one of the following courses you will be required to sit the Physics Admissions Test (PAT) - formerly known as the Physics Aptitude Test - as part of the...

The PAT is a subject-specific admissions test, lasting for 2 hours and sat under test conditions. This year, the test will consist entirely of multiple choice questions. The PAT is designed for candidates who have studied the first year of A-level (or equivalent) Maths and Physics, and covers similar material to that of the GCSE and A-level syllabus. However, please make sure to go through the PAT syllabus carefully as you may find there are a few topics that you haven’t yet covered in school. If this is the case, we recommend talking to your teacher about how best to tackle these subjects before the test date.This may require you to do some independent study by reading through your... We also provide resources to help you prepare on the Test preparation and practice materials tab of this webpage.

This Oxford admissions test is now computer-based, and you will need to arrange to take it at a Pearson VUE authorised test centre. Instructions on how to do this can be found under the How do I register and book? tab on this page. Which university admissions tests do you need to take? To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group.

© Copyright The Student Room 2025 all rights reserved The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. You can find past papers, examiner reports and model solutions for the Oxford Physics Aptitude Test (PAT) on this page. Please note: Oxford is no longer releasing past papers now that the test is administered online. The 2024 paper is the only one available in the new multiple-choice format. As of 2024, the Oxford PAT has moved online and now follows a fully multiple-choice format.

The exam is delivered via Pearson’s online assessment platform, and candidates must use the inbuilt digital calculator provided during the test. This updated format was first introduced in the 2024 exam. Although no longer in the current format, older papers are still a valuable resource. They can help you practise applying your knowledge, develop problem-solving skills, and get a sense of the PAT’s difficulty level. Just be aware that past papers include long-answer questions and open-ended reasoning, which are not part of the current multiple-choice test.

Oxford Physics 2024 The Student Room

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