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The Ultimate Guide to Undergraduate Entrance Exams for UK Universities

Ultimate Guide to Undergraduate Entrance Exams for UK Universities Overview - The Red Pen

The UK is undoubtedly one of the most popular destinations for bachelor’s degree students. If you’re wondering what exams are required to pursue undergraduate studies in the UK, only a handful of highly selective universities and competitive courses require entrance tests in addition to your UCAS application. Broadly speaking, there are two types of UK entrance exams: subject-specific and university-specific. 

What are some of the subject-specific UK entrance exams?

Subject-specific exams allow admissions officers to gauge your ability to handle the academic rigour of a subject. Here are some of them:

1) Law – Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT)

The LNAT is a UK entrance exam that doesn’t test your law knowledge. Instead, it helps universities assess your aptitude and skills—verbal, inductive and deductive reasoning—required to study law.

The LNAT has two sections:

  • Section A: This computer-based, multiple-choice section asks you to read 12 argumentative passages and answer questions that test your understanding within 95 minutes. A computer checks your answers to determine your LNAT score based on 42 marks.
  • Section B: In this section, you must select and write one of three essay topics within 40 minutes. It allows you to showcase your ability to construct a compelling argument and reach a conclusion.

Universities that consider the LNAT:
Durham University, King’s College, London School of Economics and Political Science. University College London, University of Glasgow, University of Nottingham and University of Oxford. In 2022, the University of Cambridge discontinued the Cambridge Law Test and now requires law applicants to take the LNAT.

Universities that do not need the LNAT:
The University of Edinburgh, The University of Manchester, University of Aberdeen, University of Exeter, University of Leeds, University of Southampton and the University of Warwick. However, you must check their websites to ensure no other assessments are required.

Here are a few features of the LNAT: 

Duration140 minutes
RegistrationOpen on August 1. You will need an LNAT account
Exam datesUniversity of Oxford applicants –  on or before October 15London School of Economics applicants – on or before December 31.

All other LNAT university applicants – on or before January 25

PreparationRead quality English-language newspapers and reflect on assumptions and counterarguments. 
FrequencyOffered on multiple dates between September and June.
ValidityOne application cycle. Cannot be carried forward
CostIn the UK & EU: ≅ £75Outside UK & EU:  ≅ £120

*All details are subject to change each year. Please check the official website for updates.

2) Mathematics – Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP)

STEP tests your ability to handle the rigour of undergraduate-level mathematics. It’s typically required by the University of Cambridge and the University of Warwick. However, several other universities recommend it or will give you a reduced conditional offer if you take the exam. 

The STEP consists of two examinations: 

  • STEP 2: This UK entrance exam is based on A Level Mathematics and AS Level Further Mathematics. There are 12 questions—eight on pure maths, two on mechanics, and two on probability. 
  • STEP 3: This UK entrance exam is based on A Level Mathematics and A Level Further Mathematics in the same format as STEP 2. 

Note: The STEP 1 has been discontinued. 

Here are a few features of STEP: 

Duration180 minutes per section
RegistrationOpen between March 1 – May 25. Find an authorised test centre if you cannot take the test at your school or college and register there. 
Exam datesBoth STEP 2 and STEP 3 are in June. 
PreparationPractice with past papers 
ValidityOne application cycle. Cannot be carried forward
CostsIn the UK & EU: ≅ £75Outside UK:  ≅ £100

*All details are subject to change each year. Please check the official website for updates. 

3) Medicine – University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)

UCAT is a computer-based admissions entrance exam for UK universities used by a consortium of Universities for their medical and dental degree courses. It tests verbal reasoning, decision-making, quantitative reasoning, and abstract reasoning skills. It consists of five subsections containing several multiple-choice questions, each separately timed. 

Here are a few features of UCAT: 

Duration120 minutes
RegistrationAccount registration opens: May 24Test bookings open: June 20

Test bookings close: September 22

Exam datesJuly 11 – September 29
PreparationUse official practice tests and practice tips
FrequencyOffered multiple times a year
ValidityOne application cycle. Cannot be carried forward
CostIn the UK & EU: ≅ £75Outside UK & EU:  ≅ £120

*All details are subject to change each year. Please check the official website for updates. 

What are some of the University-Specific UK Entrance Exams? 

University-specific exams are for certain courses offered at specified institutions. Here are some of them:

1) University of Oxford — HAT (History Aptitude Test)

Applicants pursuing degree courses involving history at the University of Oxford must take the HAT. This entrance exam is challenging and assesses skills such as critical reading, analytical approach, clarity in writing,  precision in handling concepts, selection of evidence and historical imagination. The HAT comprises a single question based on an extract from a primary source. You are supposed to thoughtfully interpret the source without knowing the context. 

Here are a few features of the HAT:

Duration60 minutes 
RegistrationOpen between September 1 – September 30. Find an authorised test centre if you cannot take the test at your school or college and register there
Exam datesNovember 2
PreparationPractise with past papers available on the  Faculty of History website
FrequencyOffered once per admission cycle
ValidityOne application cycle. Cannot be carried forward
CostNo registration fee. However, some centres might charge an administration fee

*All details are subject to change yearly. Please check the official website for updates.

2) Imperial College London, University of Oxford, University of Warwick — MAT (Mathematics Admission Test)

You will have to sit the MAT If you are applying for mathematics-related courses, such as Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Philosophy, Mathematics and Computer Science, Mathematics and Computer Science and Philosophy. It evaluates the depth of a student’s mathematical understanding in the fourth term of their A Levels (or equivalent). 

Here are a few features of the MAT:

Duration150 minutes 
RegistrationOpen between September 1 – September 30. Find an authorised test centre if you cannot take the test at your school or college and register there. 
Exam datesNovember 2
PreparationYou will find test guides, videos and practice questions on the Oxford Mathematical Institute website.
FrequencyOffered once per admission cycle
ValidityOne application cycle. Cannot be carried forward
CostNo registration fee. However, some centres might charge an administration fee.

*All details are subject to change each year. Please check this website for updates. 

3) University of Oxford – TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment)

TSA assesses essential study skills, such as problem-solving, numerical reasoning, and critical thinking. It evaluates your potential for various degree courses in engineering, economics, politics and psychology. 

The TSA test comprises two parts: 

  • Section 1: This part includes 50 multiple-choice questions, which you must complete within 90 minutes 
  • Section  2: This a writing task, which you must complete in 30 minutes.

TSA Oxford is needed to study  Economics and Management, Experimental Psychology, Human Sciences, Philosophy and Linguistics, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Psychology and Linguistics, and Psychology and Philosophy, History and Economics. You may skip Section 2 of the test if you apply for  History and Economics (LV11). 

Here are a few features of TSA Oxford: 

Duration120 minutes 90 minutes for History and Economics applicants
RegistrationOpen between September 1 – September 30. Find an authorised test centre if you cannot take the test at your school or college and register there
Exam datesNovember 2
PreparationYou will find test guides, videos and practice questions here
FrequencyOffered once per admission cycle
CostNo registration fee. However, some centres might charge an administration fee

What changes can I expect in UK entrance exams? 

UK universities tend to introduce reforms to their entrance exams. For instance, Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing has introduced several reforms and will  withdraw a series of university entrance tests with effect from 2024-5. These tests will be the BMAT (medicine), ENGAA (engineering), NSAA (natural sciences) and TMUA (mathematical skills) tests. Always check with the university or a UK admissions consultant about exams that applicable to you. 

How many intakes are in the UK and do they impact entrance exams? 

There are two popular intakes for undergraduate admissions in the UK 

  • The Fall intake: September/October
  • The Winter intake: January/February 

Some universities also offer summer intakes for selective courses. But rest assured that your entrance exams are not intake-specific. However, they are course-specific but must be taken during the year of your application.

Here are nine compelling reasons to study in the UK and application requirements by UK universities for international students. However, if you want more details on undergraduate entrance exams in the UK or need assistance with any aspect of your application, please get in touch with us. Our UK specialists look forward to helping you. 

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Corporate Office: Suite #311, Prasad Chambers, Tata Rd No 2, Charni Road East, Opera House, Girgaon, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400004 | Number: +91 98204 91179

Anusha Bhagat

Chief Operating Officer

PGDM, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad;
B.A in Economics, Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University

Anusha Bhagat is a growth strategist and operations expert with 15 years of
securities-industry leadership across Hong Kong, India and Singapore.
At UBS she served as Chief Operating Officer – Equities & Investment Banking, India,
transforming an at-risk equities franchise with legacy infrastructure into a
robust, growth-ready platform and rolling out new products under enhanced
governance.

She has launched cash-equity, equity-derivatives and prime-broking businesses in
multiple Asian markets and sat on the deal-closing teams for UBS’s
acquisition of ABN Amro’s global F&O business (2006) and the GS-JB Were
Australia joint venture (2003).
Her track record spans in-house M&A, technology turnarounds,
process re-engineering and enterprise-wide risk remediation.

Known for a collaborative, cross-functional working style, Anusha combines
front-office product insight with settlement, control, technology and
regulatory frameworks to deliver end-to-end solutions. She derives energy from
tackling challenging build-outs and supporting teams in achieving
their growth and career goals.

If Anusha weren’t a COO, she would be …
helping early-stage founders scale up as a full-time venture advisor.

The question she’s asked most often …
“How do we turn this legacy process into a competitive advantage?”

Kavita Sonawala

Chief Marketing Officer

MBA in Marketing Strategy & International Marketing – Purdue University Masters of Commerce and Bachelor of Commerce – University of Mumbai

Kavita has 20+ years of experience in marketing and communications at large companies and start-ups in the Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. She has held leadership roles at the Royal Bank of Scotland as the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer – India, J.P. Morgan as the Country Head of Marketing, Corporate Communications & CSR Programmes, India, and most recently at HSBC as Country Head of Corporate Communications. Kavita has lived in the US, working at Silicon Valley technology companies such as Symantec, IronPort Systems, McAfee Inc., Della & James.com, and Apple Computer. She has won the Top 25 CMO award from the Global CMO Council 2014, the Global Women Leadership Award, and the World Women Leadership Congress & Awards 2014. Kavita has also co-authored and published an exclusive coffee table book with Sachin Tendulkar for the Royal Bank of Scotland. At The Red Pen, she leads the marketing team, bringing her expertise in corporate communications, media outreach, internal communications, digital marketing and growth strategy. Kavita isn’t churning out marketing strategies, she is… A meditation coach, an artist and a mom of two teens. If Kavita could give one piece of advice to students, it would be… Do not give up on your passion while choosing your academic path.

Shikha Dhar

Associate Director, Institutional Services

PGD in Tourism Management, IMS Ghaziabad;
PGD in Marketing Management, NMIMS;
BA in Psychology, University of Delhi;
Welham Girls’ School, Dehradun

Having studied psychology at the undergraduate level and management for her postgraduate studies, Shikha Dhar is an expert at 1-1 communication. An academic gold medalist herself, she understands the importance of creative pursuits and hobbies such as music, art, dance.

Shikha specialises in helping students apply to all majors and liberal arts universities in India and Singapore, Canada, Europe, the UK AND US. She has also served as the University Counselor for The British School Caracas (Venezuela), where in addition to helping students with their applications to countries all over the world and guiding their letters of recommendation, she worked extensively on improving the school’s processes. She is currently the Head University Counsellor at DSB International School, Mumbai. Having worked with a diverse student body comprising 20 nationalities and 200 students, Shikha has guided around 2,000+ applications, all of which have got admits from their top 5 choices.

Shikha has travelled to Doha (invited by Northwestern Qatar) and attended both virtual and in-person IACAC conferences, webinars and online sessions hosted by over 100 colleges and universities.

If Shikha wasn’t an academic counsellor, she would be…
an agony aunt.

The weirdest question she’s been asked as a college counsellor?
“Will I be happy?”

Nainika Ajani

Associate Director, Partner Relations

BSc in Business Management, Cass Business School

Nainika has spent most of her career at The Red Pen and has grown to head the Pre-College Advising service line. Over the last five years, Nainika has created a global network of 150+ partners and student forums ranging in programmes for coding to art, dance, skiing and even summer schools at top global colleges and boarding schools. In 2020 she introduced our flagship Summer Programs Fair, which brought together over 35 Indian and global institutions, with over 800 attendees. In 2021, the fair was virtual with 2,000+ registrations and 30+ partner institutions.

As a mentor, Nainika guides students from grade 8 onwards on building their profile in their formative years and works closely with them to understand their passions, interests and academic inclinations. She offers them a wide variety of enrichment options, allowing students to be robust applicants when applying to university. She has advised a diverse group of students from 25+ countries and has helped with applications to the US, UK, Europe and Southeast Asia.

Nainika has assisted 500+ students through The Red Pen’s exclusive mentorship programme, and all of them have been admitted to leading global universities. She actively volunteered for Akanksha and Senior Citizen Care Taker Services and completed internships at Alvarez and Marshal, and Percept.

The question Nainika is asked most often as a counsellor…
“How can I build my profile to be a competitive applicant to top global universities?”

Her students love her because…
she’s accessible and listens.

Aneri Shah

Manager, Boarding School Admissions

Bachelor of Banking and Insurance
University of Mumbai

Aneri is a seasoned education consultant with extensive experience working with students from diverse regions such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and the Philippines. She brings a unique blend of insight and expertise to The Red Pen. While Aneri was the Human Resource Manager at The Akanksha Foundation, she worked in the selection team at Teach For India, evaluating applications for their prestigious fellowship programmes. She also completed the two-year Teach For India Fellowship Programme.

Aneri excels in identifying the ideal courses for students, using her expertise in candidate assessment and selection. Her ability to match students with the ‘best-fit’ schools that align with their academic aspirations and future goals makes her a valuable asset to The Red Pen. With a certification in risk management from the Institute of Risk Management (IRM), London, Aneri provides holistic guidance, ensuring students make well-rounded decisions about their educational paths.

Her impressive track record includes successful student placements at prestigious institutions such as Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Millfield, Marlborough, Charterhouse, Rugby, Malvern, Haileybury, Lancing College, Aiglon, Cushing School, and Northfield Mount Hermon, among others.

Driven by a passion for helping students achieve their full potential, Aneri believes there is a right school for every child. She encourages students to push their boundaries and explore new possibilities, empowering them to discover their unique strengths and capabilities.

Mehnaz Jaffer

Associate Director, Sales, Business Development and Marketing, Undergraduate Applications and Preparation

BS in Management Science, The University of Manchester;
A-levels, Kirby Lodge, Cambridge

Mehnaz Jaffer grew up in the United Kingdom and worked as a college counsellor for a British firm. She successfully went through the entire application process with her son, who is currently studying at Carnegie Mellon University, before joining The Red Pen. This gave her the experience required to navigate the admissions process, the ability to understand the importance of choosing the right college and the empathy to help each student with the challenges of admissions.

Under Mehnaz’s guidance at The Red Pen, more than 500 students have gained admits to some of the most prestigious colleges globally. She has also visited over 40 colleges in the US, Netherlands & UK and has successfully worked on applications to over 120 unique colleges.

Understanding each student’s journey and helping them carve the right career path gives Mehnaz a sense of fulfilment. She is committed to her students’ success; compassionate not only about their thoughts, feelings, and emotions, but also about their actions and solutions.

Mehnaz is…
influenced by The Aga Khan’s teachings that focus on the importance of education.

She thinks college is for…
helping students become citizens of the world.

Aarti Anand

Associate Director, Client Servicing, Undergraduate Preparation

MBA, University of Mumbai;
BA in Economics, University of Mumbai

With over a decade of experience in career counselling, Aarti Anand draws on her background of working as a counsellor for Childline, UK and her vast experience as a corporate trainer to help applicants explore their calibre on their own terms. Aarti is also a certified trainer for psychometric tools such as MBTI and FIRO-B. Previously, she has worked as a banker at ANZ Grindlays Bank and founded a career planning venture, CompassOne.

Having navigated the UK boarding school application space with her son, who graduated from Sevenoaks School, Aarti also gained a lot of hands-on experience with the UK undergraduate admissions process when her sons applied and secured admits to The London School of Economics and Imperial College London.

Aarti truly believes that there is a ‘right fit’ boarding school for everyone and uses this philosophy to help each applicant. Her unique ability to connect with applicants and families on a personal level is what allows her to understand where they would thrive, setting her apart from the rest.

Aarti would tell her student self…
to explore and be brave!

Aarti would like to save the world by …
creating equality.

Sheetal Vora

Associate Director, Client Servicing, Undergraduate Applications

Certified College Consultant & Independent Education Consultant, UCLA Extension;
Diploma in Interior Design, Sophia Polytechnic College;
BCom in Economics and Entrepreneurship, University of Mumbai

With over a decade of experience as an entrepreneur and an interior designer, Sheetal Vora applies her problem-solving and design thinking approach to find innovative ways to help students plan their education.

Sheetal leads the undergraduate team at The Red Pen and has visited over 50 global university and boarding school campuses, while also networking with admission officers. Sheetal has worked with families from the US, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Pakistan, India and more and has assisted with over 1,500 university applications globally. Even in the pandemic, she and her team experienced one of the most successful acceptance rates with over INR 50 crores in scholarships and financial aid. Additionally, as Sheetal has navigated the application process as a parent herself (her son is currently pursuing his undergraduate studies at Claremont Mckenna College), she strongly resonates with the importance of identifying the ‘best-fit’ university for her students.

Sheetal believes that every student has a unique narrative and works with them to present the best version of themselves in their university applications. She regularly connects with other counsellors and student forums to guide multiple education topics and trains new counsellors so they can inspire their students to make better choices.

Sheetal would tell her student self….
to keep experimenting, nurture your drive and develop a lifelong learning mindset.

She thinks….
adaptable is the new “cool.”

Tripti Singh

Associate Director, Postgraduate Services

MA in Counselling Psychology, University of Mumbai;
BA in Psychology, Sophia College

Tripti Singh is an educational psychologist with 14+ years of experience in counselling and career guidance. Tripti has extensive knowledge of the liberal arts higher education landscape within India and specialises in supporting master’s and PhD applications to leading universities globally.

Tripti has guided over 1,700 students, which has enabled her to develop some unique and invaluable insights She specialises in developing a detailed education roadmap for high school and college students. With numerous university visits over the years and a seat at IECA’s Global Committee, US, she is constantly updated with the changes in international education.

She often conducts workshops as a subject area expert, along with panel discussions. One of these was a panel of coveted social science experts from various parts of the world to discuss the future of social sciences with an engaged Mumbai audience. She has also been invited to speak on career opportunities at prestigious colleges such St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, NMIMS, Sophia College for Women and a government-run school aided by the Myna Mahila Foundation.

If Tripti could invent a major, it would be….
Parenting 101 (with a thesis required to graduate).

The question she gets the most as a counsellor…
“Will I get a job after I study XXXXX?”

Natasha Mankikar

Manager, MBA services

Manager of MBA Services
M.A (Organizational Psychology), SNDT University;
B.A (Psychology), Mumbai University

Natasha has worked with MBA applicants from diverse fields- consulting, social impact, healthcare, scientific research, marketing, technology development, edtech, fintech, private equity, and entrepreneurship. She draws on 16 years of experience developing human capital at leading Indian and multinational firms to help applicants create compelling narratives for admission to top global business programs, including the M7 schools, INSEAD and LBS.

Natasha’s core talent acquisition and development skills have contributed to her understanding of aspirants and her collaborative approach to helping them discover their unique selves and building an authentic voice to articulate their goals.

Passionate about inclusion and gender diversity, she has spearheaded campaigns to create policies for more equitable workplaces.

Neil Maheshwari

CFO & COO, U.S. News
& World Report,

MBA in Finance, Illinois State University;
Chartered Accountant; CPA; Bachelor’s in Accounting

Neil Maheshwari is CFO & COO of the U.S. News & World Report, L.P. He has overall responsibility for financial strategy, capital allocation, business operations and strategic investments.

He has over 30 years of experience in the media business, especially related to corporate finance, business operations, taxes and digital strategy. He was a key member of the team that led the digital transformation of U.S. News in 2010.

Neil’s career began at the New York Daily News in 1993, following its acquisition by Mort Zuckerman. Over the years his responsibilities have encompassed budgeting, contract negotiations, tax management and IT operations for the New York Daily News, U.S. News & World Report and other media entities under the family’s ownership.

As a member of the executive committee, Neil participates in crucial business-strategy decisions and their implementation. He is also deeply involved in evaluating all potential acquisition and divestiture opportunities for the media companies owned by Mort Zuckerman. His prior experience includes leading the sale of Fast Company to G & J in December 2000, as well as the sales of Atlantic Monthly, Radar magazine, Applied Printing Technologies and, most recently, the New York Daily News to Tribune Publishing in 2017.

Before joining the Daily News and U.S. News, Neil spent over four years with a mid-town CPA firm, specialising in audits and mergers & acquisitions for publishing clients. He also gained experience at the India offices of Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young.

Namita Mehta

President

M.Biochem in Biochemistry, University of Oxford;
A-levels, Charterhouse

Namita established and led the University Guidance Counseling Department at B.D. Somani International School, Mumbai. At The Red Pen, Namita assists students in planning their educational journey, while also building a talented team and evaluating quality partners to expand our reach for students. She also specialises in training applicants for the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge interview process. Namita currently resides in Mumbai and has lived in Hong Kong, the UK and Germany.

Namita believes education creates impactful change and global citizens who appreciate different cultures. While she works with plenty of Ivy League and Oxbridge admits, her goal is to guide students to find their best-fit institution so that they are happy, thrive and achieve their long-term goals.

As a thought leader, Namita has spoken on several panels, including those organised by HSBC, Ashoka University, O.P. Jindal Global University, International Career & College Counselling (IC3) Network and more. She shares her expertise through a column in the Mid-Day and has been a featured writer for ET Panache, Hindustan Times, The Mint, Mumbai Mirror, HT Brunch, Indian Express, The Tribune, Businessworld and others.

If Namita wasn’t an academic counsellor, she would be …
a biochemist, discovering the cure for COVID-19!

Namita thinks college is for …
growing, learning and forging lifelong friendships.

Namita would like to save the world by …
impacting education policy, such that the future of the country cares about the environment, is less selfish and has an increased civic sense.

Dr. Kimberly Dixit

CEO & Co-founder of
The Red Pen

PhD in Anthropology, Duke University;
BA in Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara

Kim has over a decade of experience as an independent education consultant. Her belief, that there is a perfect college out there for every student, guides the ethos and culture at The Red Pen. She has formerly taught anthropology and writing courses at Duke University, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai and Stanford University. Originally from California’s Central Valley, Kim has also lived in San Francisco, New York and now calls Mumbai home.

Kim’s area of expertise is advisory services for boarding school, undergraduate and MBA applicants aspiring to study in the US, UK and Canada. She guides them on admissions strategy and application components using a structured yet flexible client-centric approach to help define and achieve personal success. She is a member of the International Association of College Admission Counseling (Int’ ACAC), Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC) and a professional member of the Independent Education Consultants Association (IECA).

Kim has co-authored the book Acing Admissions: The International Student’s Comprehensive Guide to U.S. College Admissions, the second version published in 2020. She has also been a featured writer for ET Panache, Hindustan Times, Mumbai Mirror, HT Brunch, The Mint, Indian Express and more.

If Kim weren’t an academic counsellor, she would be …
a social worker or humanitarian aid worker.

If she could invent a major, it would be …
Human Connections (an interdisciplinary subject between history, literature, psychology, anthropology).

If Kim wrote her autobiography, it would be titled …
Lessons on Blooming Where You’re Planted