MAT (Mathematics Admissions Test)

2025 MAT test dates: 22 & 23 October

What is the MAT?

If you are applying for one of the following courses you will be required to sit the MAT: 

The Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) is a subject-specific admissions test, lasting 2 hours and 30 minutes and sat under test conditions.

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.

The MAT is designed to be approachable for all students, including those without Further Mathematics A-level or equivalent. It aims to test the depth of mathematical understanding of a student rather than a breadth of knowledge. The mathematical knowledge and techniques required to do the questions are taken from a syllabus roughly corresponding to AS-level Maths, with a few extra topics from A-level Maths. If you're unsure what this covers, you can find the full MAT syllabus on the Test preparation and practice materials tab on this page.

All Mathematics and Computer Science applicants, regardless of the course you are applying for, should answer all of the questions.

The format for this year’s test is similar to previous years, but with a different number of questions. In 2024, the test consists of 27 questions. Of these, 25 are multiple-choice questions of a similar style to multiple-choice MAT questions from previous years. There are two longer questions, for which candidates will type responses. Candidates are not expected to type complex mathematical expressions or use any symbols beyond those included on a standard keyboard (alphanumeric characters, + - =, and similar). As with long MAT questions from previous years, candidates should expect to justify their answers or explain their reasoning for these long questions.

All applicants taking this test will be invited to practise taking a sample paper online in advance of test day. We also strongly recommend that you explore all the past papers and resources available under the Test preparation and practice materials tab. Please note that while the structure of this test does differ from previous years, all the existing resources and past papers available are still valuable preparation and we strongly recommend exploring these. 

Please be aware that no calculators, formula sheets or dictionaries are permitted during the test. 

How do I register and book?

Step 1: Check out our comprehensive guidance

Depending on whether you will be requesting access arrangements, please start by reading our guidance for candidates:

  1. Test registration and booking guidance for candidates
  2. Test registration and booking guidance for candidates requesting access arrangements

We also strongly recommend that you watch the corresponding 'Registering for and booking your admissions test' video, which you can find below.

Step 2: Register for your test – 18 June to 19 September (6pm BST)

Any time between 18 June and 19 September (6pm BST), go to the Oxford Admissions Test Registration portal and follow the instructions to create your own user account profile and register for your test. It will be easier to do this if you know your course code:

Note: you will be asked for your UCAS ID and you will not be able to register without it. So long as you have started a UCAS application, you will have a UCAS ID number. You do not have to submit your application to receive this. Your UCAS ID is a mandatory part of registration because otherwise we will not be able to match your test registration and booking with your UCAS application to Oxford.

As part of registration, you will be able to request access arrangements so long as you are able to upload sufficient evidence from a medical or educational specialist to support this request. You must upload this at the time of registering. Should you not have evidence, please delay registration until you have suitable documented evidence of the arrangement/s you require. Read our Admissions Test Access Arrangement Policy carefully to ensure your evidence is suitable.

If you require access arrangements, we strongly recommend that you register and submit your evidence for approval as soon as possible. It can take five days for standard arrangements and more than ten days for non-standard arrangements to be approved. Getting the approval in place will mean that you are able to book your test early and ideally as soon as booking opens on 18 August.

For all candidates, the final registration step is to review a summary page where you must check and confirm all the information you have entered is correct.

Step 3: Book your test – 18 August to 26 September (6pm BST)

All registered candidates (including those with some approved standard access arrangements such as extra time) will be able to book their test from 18 August until 26 September (6pm BST). From this time, a link will be available on your Oxford Admissions Test Registration portal dashboard directing you to Pearson VUE’s test booking platform. Places at test centres are allocated on a first come, first served basis and we strongly recommend booking as soon as possible.

If you have an approved further access arrangement for certain physical access arrangements, for example, a separate room, reader/recorder, screen overlays, or an adjustable workstation, you will have been sent a link to a Pearson VUE form. Once you have completed and returned it, Pearson VUE will contact you to finalise a booking.

If you have an approved non-standard access arrangement, Pearson VUE will create an implementation plan for you and will contact you directly to book your test.

Note: Once you have selected the date of your test, Pearson VUE’s Find a test centre functionality will automatically suggest centres near to the address associated with your user account. If you know that you will be taking your test away from home, you can override the default suggestions and enter another location to search.

If there are multiple sittings at your chosen test centre, you will be invited to select the time you want to book your appointment. It is very important that you scroll to the bottom of the booking page and confirm your test details. Once you have pressed the button, you will be taken to the Pearson VUE dashboard where you will see all the details of your arranged test. You will also receive an email from Pearson VUE giving the date, appointment time and duration, the test centre address and directions.

Registering for and booking your Oxford admissions test video

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 1:00 Overview
  • 2:52 Registering for your test
  • 5:18 Booking your test appointment
  • 7:20 Further guidance and support

Read the video transcript.

Registering for and booking your Oxford admissions test with access arrangements video

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 1:04 Overview
  • 3:13 Registering for your test
  • 4:48 Requesting access arrangements
  • 8:04 Booking your test appointment
  • 10:45 Further guidance and support

Read the video transcript.

Additional support

Test preparation and practice materials

The MAT practice test offers you valuable preparation for your test. It allows you to familiarise yourself with the online test platform and format for 2026-entry. Please note that as this is for practice only, you will not be able to submit this for a score or feedback after taking the test.

MAT practice test

A test preparation guidance video will be made available for candidates soon.

Read the video transcript.

In the meantime, candidates can view the past papers and resources below to get a sense of the types of questions asked in the test. Please note that although the exact format of this year's test may differ slightly from these materials, working through past papers will still be very valuable preparation.

Past and specimen papers

Past papers 

MAT syllabus

View the MAT syllabus.

In order to reflect changes to the AS-level Mathematics syllabus, we removed the following topics from 2018 onwards: the remainder theorem, radians, and the trapezium rule. We have added the following topics to the syllabus: combinations and binomial probabilities, derivative of ekx, differentiation from first principles, graphs of loga (x). Please note that we continue to include sequences and series on the MAT syllabus, including arithmetic and geometric progressions and their sums, and the convergence condition for infinite geometric progressions.

Further resources

You may wish to take a look at the following online resources to help expand your mathematical knowledge. Please note that candidates are not required to take STEP, but may find it useful in helping them prepare for the MAT (although the questions are quite different in style).

General admissions statistics

These reports provide summaries of the admissions process for the subjects of Mathematics / Mathematics and Statistics, and Mathematics and Philosophy:

These reports provide summaries of the admissions process for the subjects of Computer Science, Computer Science and Philosophy, and Mathematics and Computer Science:

The following report provides a summary of the admissions process for the subjects of Mathematics, Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Philosophy, Computer Science and Mathematics and Computer Science:

When do I take the test?

Candidates will take the MAT at Pearson VUE test centres on 22 & 23 October 2025. 

What should I expect on test day?

More information on what to expect on test day will be made available soon.

How do I get my results?

Admissions tutors will receive the results of all candidates' tests directly and in time to make their shortlisting decisions in November. 

Test scores will be automatically distributed to all applicants after college decision letters are sent in January. Applicants will still be able to write to their college to request feedback