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Did you know the format of the Oxford PAT is being updated for the 2024 exam? Check out our article on the 3 key changes to the PAT for guidance.
What is the Oxford PAT?
The Oxford Physics Aptitude Test (PAT) is a two-hour online exam combining questions on both physics and maths. Anyone applying for Physics, Physics and Philosophy, Engineering Science, or Materials Science at the University of Oxford is required to sit the PAT.
The test consists entirely of multiple-choice questions across topics from GCSE and A Level. It is positively marked, meaning there are no deductions for incorrect answers, with a total of 100 marks available.
What is in the PAT syllabus?
The Oxford PAT syllabus contains a full list of topics that are covered in the exam.
Most of the syllabus should be familiar to you from studying maths and physics up to this point. However, depending on how your lessons have been taught and the order in which topics have been studied, there may be content that you’re not familiar with.
Topics such as circular motion, electric fields, gravitational fields and electromagnetism aren’t usually covered until Year 13, and as such, you might not have encountered these yet.
How can I learn new content for the PAT?
There are lots of ways to cover this content. Your A Level course textbook is a good place to start, along with asking your teachers for any resources they have for these topics.
Physics & Maths Tutor provide a range of free A Level Physics resources including revision notes, flashcards, and questions by topic. Doing A Level practice questions can help reinforce your understanding before tackling PAT questions.
There are also lots of YouTube tutorials explaining challenging concepts.
What are PAT questions like?
PAT questions are different from A Level exam questions. They often require you to solve unfamiliar problems by applying knowledge from different areas of physics.
PAT questions are designed to assess your problem-solving skills and so are often less structured than A Level exam questions. You may also be required to apply information from the question to solve problems outside the syllabus.
It’s important to approach each question logically. Clearly laying out your answer will give you the best chance of solving it correctly and avoiding mistakes.
Where can I find PAT practice questions and solutions?
The Oxford Physics admissions page has PAT past papers from 2006 to 2023. Note that these past papers are not in the same format as the 2024 exam. Despite this, the multiple-choice questions at the beginning of each paper are especially useful, and other longer questions can also provide valuable experience with the PAT question style.
Solutions to PAT past papers are not generally provided. You can find a bank of PAT past papers, informal solutions and examiner reports on Physics & Maths Tutor.
The Oxford Physics Department has produced two workbooks containing PAT-style questions with solutions books. There are hints in each workbook to encourage students to work through the questions before looking at the answers.
Another good source of PAT practice questions is the British Physics Olympiad. They have an archive of past papers with questions that are less structured than typical A Level questions. They are similar in style and content to the PAT questions, with answers available on their website.
Top tips for the Oxford PAT
Remember that the PAT is designed to be challenging, and there are a lot of questions to answer in two hours. It’s unlikely you will have time to tackle every question for as long as you’d like. This means you need to be strategic.
- You don’t have to answer the questions in order. Skip any you are not confident with and use the flagging feature to revisit them later.
- Manage your time wisely. Aim for one minute per mark and don’t waste significant amounts of time on questions you’re struggling with.
- Put an answer for every single question. You don’t lose marks for wrong answers, so if you don’t know the answer, eliminate some choices and guess.
- Finally, remember to stay calm and give it your best effort!
When is the Oxford PAT?
The PAT will take place on Monday 28th October 2024. You must sit the test at a Pearson VUE authorised test centre, not at your school or college.
To register, visit the portal on the Oxford website between Thursday 15th August and Friday 4th October 2024 and follow the registration steps provided. You will be asked to provide your UCAS ID. If you haven’t submitted your UCAS application yet, you can still book your PAT exam. However, make sure to update your information with your UCAS ID as soon as possible since it is required to link your exam with your UCAS application.
Is the PAT exam online?
For 2024, the PAT will be completed online using Pearson’s OnVUE exam platform. You will select multiple-choice answers directly on this digital interface. You will also be provided with a whiteboard for rough working and written notes, but this will be erased and returned at the end of the exam.
What calculator can I use in the PAT?
A digital calculator is provided as part of the Oxford PAT online exam. You are no longer allowed to bring your own physical calculator into the exam. When doing PAT practice questions, you should therefore use a digital calculator to give you an accurate idea of your timings. Check out our handy guide to using this digital calculator.
Formula sheets, tables and data booklets are also not allowed, so you’ll need to remember all the equations listed in the PAT syllabus!
You can practise using the online exam format with the PAT 2024 practice test provided by the University of Oxford. This is useful for ensuring that you are comfortable with the format of the PAT and that you can use the new digital interface.
How much does it cost to take the PAT?
You do not have to pay to take the PAT. There are also no administration fees.
How do you find out your PAT exam score?
PAT scores are communicated to college admissions tutors to enable shortlisting for interviews in November. All applicants will receive their scores once offers have been allocated in January.
The Oxford PAT is a challenging but essential step for those aspiring to study Physics, Physics and Philosophy, Engineering Science, or Materials Science at the University of Oxford. While it may seem daunting, with the right preparation, strategic approach, and your best effort, you can give yourself the greatest chance of success. Good luck!
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