PhilAT (Philosophy Admissions 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 which is VV56.

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

• View our FAQs or contact Oxford through the 'messages' option available on the Oxford Admissions Test Registration portal.

• You can also contact us through Oxford’s undergraduate applicant helpdesk with questions regarding your Oxford application.

• Contact Pearson VUE customer service with queries about your test centre booking.

• You can make changes to your test appointment by signing in to your Oxford Admissions Test user account and selecting 'Manage appointment'. 

When do I take the test?

Candidates will take the PhilAT at Pearson VUE test centres on 24 October 2025.