Many universities and employers use admissions tests to assess applicants beyond qualifications alone. These tests are often timed, computer-based, and test critical thinking, reasoning, or specialist subject knowledge. Knowing which test applies to you and how to prepare for it can make a significant difference to your application.
What are admissions tests?
Admissions tests are assessments used by universities and some employers to evaluate specific skills or aptitudes. They are separate from your GCSEs, A-Levels, or degree grade. Most are taken online before interview or offer stage. Common examples include the LNAT for law, UCAT for medicine, TMUA and ESAT for maths and engineering, and the Watson Glaser for law firm applications.
Which test applies to you?
The test you need depends on what you are applying for. If you are applying to law at university, you may need the LNAT. If you are applying to medicine or dentistry, you will likely need UCAT. If you are applying to maths, computer science, or economics at certain universities, you may need TMUA. If you are applying to engineering or science at Cambridge or Imperial, you may need ESAT. If you are applying for a law firm training contract, vacation scheme, or spring week, you may face the Watson Glaser. If you are applying for graduate schemes in finance, consulting, or business, you may face numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and situational judgement tests.
How early should you start preparing?
For university admissions tests like UCAT or LNAT, starting 6 to 10 weeks before your test date is a good baseline. For employer tests like Watson Glaser or numerical reasoning, 2 to 4 weeks is usually enough. For harder tests like STEP, TMUA, or ESAT, you may need 3 to 6 months of structured practice. Start by reading the official test specification, taking an official practice test to understand the format, and then building a targeted revision plan.
Where to find official preparation materials
Always use official preparation materials as your primary resource. Each test provider publishes free sample questions and past papers. You should not rely solely on third-party revision guides. Official materials ensure you are practising the correct format, difficulty level, and question style. Practising with unofficial materials that misrepresent the test format can leave you underprepared.
General preparation principles
Across all admissions tests, these principles apply. First, understand the format before you practise. Know how many sections there are, how long each section is, and what is being tested. Second, practise under timed conditions. Many students struggle with time management rather than content. Third, review every mistake carefully. Understanding why an answer is wrong is more valuable than answering more questions correctly. Fourth, build stamina progressively. If a test is two hours long, train yourself to concentrate for that duration.
Checklist
- Identify which test applies to your application
- Download the official specification or format guide
- Complete at least one official practice test
- Review your results and identify weak areas
- Build a weekly preparation schedule
- Practise timed sections regularly
- Complete full mock tests in the final two weeks
Common mistakes to avoid
- Preparing for the wrong test or the wrong sections of a test
- Using only third-party materials without checking the official format
- Practising without a timer and being unprepared for time pressure
- Ignoring mistakes instead of reviewing explanations carefully
- Starting preparation too late to complete enough practice