Frequently Asked Questions about the Aptitude Test

You may also be interested in our list of Questions about Admissions or General Questions about the Oxford Physics Course.

• What is the aptitude test?

• Where will the test be taken?

• When will the test be taken?

• My school will be closed on that day!

• What forms do I have to fill in?

• Is there a fee for the test?

• What is the syllabus for the test?

• Will I need calculators and formula sheets?

• Are sample papers available?

• What is the pass mark for the test?

What is the aptitude test?

Oxford Physics has used an admissions test in mathematics for many years.  Originally this test was sat during the admissions period.  In 2006 this test was replaced by two new admissions tests, one in physics and one in mathematics, each lasting 1 hour, which were sat before the interview period, during late October or early November, and used to draw up a short list of candidates who were invited to interview.  From 2008 these two tests will be combined into a single 2 hour paper.

A specimen paper is available, as is an outline syllabus.  The syllabus is specifically designed so that most UK candidates should be able to sit these tests without extensive special preparation.

Where will the test be taken?

The test must be taken in an appropriate centre, normally the applicant's school.  It is the responsibility of each applicant to make suitable arrangements.

If you are away from your school on that day it is normally possible to make alternative arrangements.  If you are visiting another school on an exchange program you should ask your exchange school to host the test.  If you are travelling on a school trip then it may be possible for you to take the test during the trip under the supervision of a teacher. 

When will the tests be taken?

The 2008 tests are scheduled for the morning of Wednesday 5th November, together with the other Oxford Aptitude Tests and the 2008 BMAT.

My school will be closed on that day!

We are aware that some schools may be closed on that day, and so may be unable to host the test.  However before concluding that your school will indeed be closed you should check carefully as many schools will be hosting the BMAT tests on the same day and so will have made arrangements to open specially.  If you are certain that your school will not be open then you should contact neighbouring schools to see if they are open and willing to host you.  You will also find a list of open BMAT test centres on the web, and these centres may be willing to host you (this is not a formal arrangement, but past experience indicates that most BMAT centres are willing and able to host other tests). If you are unable to locate any suitable centre then it will be possible to take the test in Oxford, but this may involve considerable travel expenses which will be your own responsibility.  Details of the Oxford Centre will be made available nearer the time.

Candidates who cannot possibly take the test on the designated day may in exceptional circumstances be permitted to take the test on the following day.

What forms do I have to fill in?

Most applicants will not have to fill in any forms beyond the normal UCAS application form as the Oxford Application Form has now been abolished.  Applicants for either Physics or Physics and Philosophy will be automatically registered for the admissions test. Candidates applying from UK schools which are registered with UCAS will be assumed to be sitting this test in their own school unless we hear to the contrary. However individual applicants (including all overseas applicants) and UK applicants who are not taking the test in their own schools should fill in a Test Centre Declaration Form, and arrange for this to be returned to the Oxford Colleges Admissions Office by the school or other body hosting the tests.  Details are available at the University web site.  Applicants applying through UK schools which are registered with UCAS and who intend to sit the tests at their own school do not need to fill in this form as the Admissions Office should already have the necessary contact information. If you do not fill in a form then it is vital to ensure that your school is aware that you will be sitting the tests and has made suitable arrangements for you to take them.

Is there a fee for the test?

There is no fee charged for the Physics test. Some test centres may make an administration charge for handling the test, but this is up to each centre and outside our control.

What is the syllabus for the test?

The syllabus is available on the web.  Candidates who have studied physics and mathematics at GCSE and AS level should already be familiar with the great majority of the syllabus.

Will I need calculators and formula sheets?

No calculators or formula sheets may be used when taking the test.  You will only need pen and paper but may also use a pencil for sketching if you wish.

Are sample papers available?

A sample paper is available on the web at both the Physics and University web sites, and from the Oxford Colleges Admissions Office (all three versions should be identical, but in the event of any discrepancy the version on the Physics web site is definitive).  Past papers are posted on the Physics web page as they become available, as are reports on each paper. Past papers and sample papers dated before May 2006 are based on an earlier syllabus and are not relevant to the current entrance test. Past papers and sample papers dated from May 2006 but before May 2008 involved two separate papers and the use of calculators was permitted in the physics test but not the maths test. These papers can, therefore, provide general guidance on the likely content of future papers, but retain the old format and can include quite complicated numerical computations on the physics papers. Please note that we do not provide sample answers or a mark scheme for these papers.

What is the pass mark for the test?

There is no pass mark as such for the test, but there is a threshold mark, below which it is unlikely that candidates will be placed on the interview short-list.  This mark will not be determined until the results of the tests are available, but past experience suggests that a threshold mark in the range of 45% to 50% is likely.

Updated 18 September 2008