Oxford PAT Preparation | Learn all the PAT basics and about mock papers | PAT tuition to prepare for the PAT 

04/10/2022 Lipa Bunton Online PAT Tutor

Oxford University uses the Physics Aptitude Test (PAT) as part of the admissions process to evaluate your aptitude in physics and mathematics. No matter your current level of achievement, it is intended to be challenging, so it is crucial that you study thoroughly and cover every topic on the PAT syllabus.

Expert PAT tutors can be useful in this situation, especially to help with the math involved. Tutors can assist you in performing well in the PAT and obtaining a spot on your desired course at Oxford because they have first-hand experience with the exam material, tried-and-true approaches to the questions, and knowledge of how it fits into the larger admissions process.

The PAT Basics: What is the Oxford PAT?

For applicants to Oxford's physics and physics-related degree programmes, the PAT (Physics Aptitude Test) is a subject-specific admissions exam. It is intended to evaluate both your mathematical prowess and your understanding of both math and physics. You will only have two hours to finish as many of the physics and math questions as you can on the exam.

Candidates struggle with a lot of the PAT's components. Not only is the subject matter difficult—many students may not have studied certain subjects in school when it comes time to take the exam—but also the time allotted is limited, and the questions frequently differ in style from those on school-level exams. Therefore, it is essential that you get ready for the PAT in full. To get started right away, contact our team of PAT experts or read on to learn how to start preparing.

Which courses require the Oxford Physics Aptitude Test?

Oxford University requires the PAT in order to enrol in courses that cover physics and related topics. Among them are Engineering Materials Physics, Philosophy, and Science.

These are all extremely competitive courses at Oxford, and admission requires not only a strong PAT performance but also a strong application and a positive interview experience. For assistance in securing a spot on the Oxford course of your choice, contact admissions consultants.

What is included when you sit the PAT physics exam? Can I use a calculator?

The PAT is a two-hour test that covers material found on the math and physics GCSE and A level curricula. It is advised that you review the PAT syllabus for the complete list of expected content because students might not have covered all of it by the time they finished the PAT.

Each year, the PAT paper has a slightly different number of questions: in 2018, there were 23, in 2019, there were 24, and in 2020, there were 26. In the allotted time, you must attempt as many questions as you can.

There are both multiple-choice and non-multiple-choice questions on the test. In the spaces provided below each question, you must demonstrate your preparation for each one. In the PAT, calculators are allowed, but no tables or formula sheets are.

One useful thing when it comes to solving the PAT and this will have been covered at school - make sure the calculator has some batteries!

How is the PAT entrance exam marked?

Total points are awarded for passing the PAT. The number of marks allotted to each question varies, and it will be written in the margin. To determine how much time to spend on each question, we suggest using the total number of possible marks; the higher the marks, the more time you should spend; and vice versa.

In the PAT, you may receive points for the right workings in addition to your ability to select the best answer from a list of options or arrive at the right conclusion. To ensure that you are going for the maximum your final score, you should therefore clearly demonstrate your thinking for each question you attempt.

It's crucial to remember that the PAT is made to be extremely difficult for even the best Oxford applicants. When studying or taking the test, don't expect to correctly answer every question. According to Oxford, the typical overall score ranges between 50% and 60%. We advise aiming for a score of 60% or higher to give yourself the best chance of getting an interview offer.

Shortlisting candidates for Oxford University does not solely depend on PAT results. Instead, they shortlist candidates based on your "R-score," which is determined by using your PAT score along with your contextualised GCSEs. For more details on Oxford's selection process, read the university's report on physics admissions (2020).

When is the PAT exam?

The PAT is scheduled for November 2nd. To ensure your eligibility, you must register for the exam through an authorised testing centre (see list below) before September 30.

There is no way to take the PAT again. Your testing centre can submit a special form on your behalf if you believe you performed poorly due to extenuating circumstances, such as being sick on the day of the test. However, applications must be submitted no later than five days prior to the test.

How do you register to take the PAT? Do I need to do it via the department of physics?

You must have an authorised test centre register you for the PAT on your behalf. Most candidates' schools or colleges are authorised test sites, but you should double-check with your exams officer to make certain. If your school or FE college isn't authorised, then they may sign up to serve as a test centre at any time before September 16th. As an alternative, you can locate a testing facility and sign up there. The Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing (CAAT) website allows you to locate the testing location closest to you.

You will need to provide your personal information, UCAS number, the name of the university (Oxford), course, and course code, all of which can be found on UCAS or the specific subject page for your course, in order to register. Registration will begin on September 1st, and by September 30th, you must have your candidate entry number on hand as proof of entry.

Please be aware that you must register through a test centre before September 30 in order to take the PAT, or any other admissions test at Oxford.

How much does the PAT cost?

Candidates are not charged to take the PAT by Oxford University. However, some independent test centres do charge candidates an administration fee; for more information, get in touch with your nearby test centre.

When can you find out your PAT results?

Your PAT results won't be made public by default, but you can ask for them as part of the standard feedback procedure. You do not need to send your results to Oxford University separately; they will receive the results of all tests in time to make their shortlisting decisions in November.

4 tips for Oxford PAT preparation

Check the syllabus

We strongly advise you to review the PAT syllabus details on Oxford's PAT page. The material covered in the exam is intended for A-level Maths and Physics (plus knowledge of material covered at GCSE), but you might not have studied all of it in class by the time of the test. Therefore, you should make sure that you have studied everything on the syllabus on your own time.

The syllabus's topics cover everything from algebra to electricity and magnetism and range in difficulty. Don't skip anything you feel is either too easy (that you may have already covered), or too difficult (that you might not have covered yet). Make sure you give yourself the best chance of success by going over as much ground as you can in-depth.

PAT tutors can assist you in understanding all of the material you'll need to know for the exam because they have in-depth knowledge of the syllabus. To learn how we can assist and to start preparing for your PAT, get in touch with our team right away.

Practise questions from a range of sources - get a PAT course book

When preparing for the topics covered, try to avoid using only your school textbook because PAT questions are frequently less structured than A-level syllabus Physics questions. Use resources from a variety of sources, such as PAT past papers, books and websites, to become familiar with various types of questions, especially multiple choice questions about physics and philosophy. Consider using the following sources:

• Newton Physics
• British Olympics in Physics
• I'm interested in Engineering.org
• The Confusing Problems of Professor Povey

The University of Oxford's PAT workbooks are a very helpful preparation tool as well and have lots of PAT past paper questions, and other resources to test your mathematical and physics skills. To assist you in all subject areas, the two workbooks are filled with numerous questions of varying degrees of difficulty and a mixture of both physics and alternative subject matter. Additionally, they include solution manuals that thoroughly describe various strategies for answering each of the type questions you are likely to have to answer on the date of the exam. These solutions books can help you practise the various approaches and find ones that work for you because there are frequently multiple ways to approach the problems you'll encounter in the PAT.

Take practice tests under timed conditions

Completing lots of past papers and lots of questions under timed conditions, just as you will in the actual exam, is one of the best tactics to use. in your preparation for the PAT. Practice with time constraints will help you determine how much time you should be spending on each question to ensure you finish the paper within the allotted two hours. One of the main areas candidates struggle with is time-keeping and finishing all of the questions in the PAT. To get to the end, use the papers to become so accustomed to the questions you will face in the PAT, and the topics covered in the PAT, that they become second nature. That way you will be confident when sitting the exam you have done your very best to try to get into Oxford. 

Use these excellent resources to prepare and to your advantage since you can find every previous paper from 2006 to 2021 on Oxford's PAT page or on the Physics Department website. The best way to become familiar with the material and the types of questions you will encounter is to get practice doing some problems and work your way through as many papers as you can during your preparation. You'll ultimately benefit greatly on the day of your test as a result of this, and that will help to prepare for the PAT, that will help your university application and Oxford interview.

Prepare for the PAT with revision help from a professional PAT tutor

It's crucial that you are ready to perform as well as you can in the PAT because your performance will determine how likely it is that you will be offered a spot on the Oxbridge course of your choice. Unfortunately, due to a lack of knowledge, skills, or resources, schools and colleges frequently aren't prepared to offer specialised PAT preparation. Only a teacher or an specialist PAT tutor can mark your practise past papers based on their understanding of the subject and the test since Oxford does not publish the mark schemes for each of the past papers.

Due to these challenges, we suggest hiring a qualified Oxbridge PAT tutor to guide you through the procedure and help you with your preparation for the PAT - it is one of the best ways to help support you with your physics syllabus and achieve your dream to study physics at Oxford. Many PAT tutors have previous work experience as Oxford and Cambridge university admissions officers and have years of experience preparing students for the PAT, most score well in the PAT as a result.. They have accumulated a bank of past paper questions over the years and have gained a thorough understanding of the marking criteria and what is required in the PAT, so they are fully aware of what the Oxbridge admissions examiners will be looking for.

Working with and Oxbridge tutor increases your chances of admission to the university of Oxford, one of the best physics-focused universities in the UK, by more than three times. Along with developing crucial independent study skills that will help you succeed in higher education, you'll also gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the subject.

Additionally, you can rely on us to support you through every step of the admissions process to make sure that you not only pass the PAT but also earn top A level or IB grades and do well in your interview.