We upload past test papers and reports on test outcomes as they become available to help prospective students prepare for the PAT. Note that the PAT has evolved over time and that past papers dated before May 2006 are based on an earlier syllabus and are not relevant to the current test.
Changes to the PAT
- From 2024, the PAT questions will be delivered in an online format, with multiple-choice questions only. Answers will be entered online. A digital calculator will be included as part of the online interface for the PAT
- In 2023, the PAT questions were delivered in an online format. Answers were written in booklets. A digital calculator was included as part of the online interface for the PAT
- Physical calculators were permitted from 2018 to 2022
- In 2017, the physics and maths sections were mixed up with one another rather than being two distinct sections
- Multiple choice questions were eliminated in 2015 and then reintroduced in 2017
- From 2015 to 2023, long physics problems worth 20 marks were replaced in favour of shorter questions worth <10 marks
Sample solutions
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 way of solving the problem will gain you marks. 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 below.
To get the greatest benefit from the past papers, don’t look at the solutions too soon and note that the solution presented is by no means the only or the best way to solve the problem – it is just one possible route.