Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
If for any reason your school or college cannot apply for centre authorisation or you are no longer in education, please read the information below on taking your test at an open centre. We are encouraging all affected test centres (or candidates, if your test centre is unavailable) to complete the special considerations form.
Knowledge of elementary mathematics, in particular topics in arithmetic, geometry including coordinate geometry, and probability, will be assumed. Questions may require the manipulation of mathematical expressions in a physical context. The PAT will sometimes ask things in a weird way which is not terribly familiar unless you’ve done lots of practice. That being said, it’s not supposed to be impossible. We’ll often see students who spend far too much time on questions because they’re worried about doing something which seems too ‘easy’. Don’t second-guess the examiners! Sometimes the 2 mark questions are just 2 mark questions, so you’ll need to learn how to prioritise. ThechallengeofthePATmainlyliesinapplyingyourknowledgetounfamiliarsituations.Thebestwaytoimproveatthisistodolotsofpractice!Iwouldsuggestcompletingalltheavailablepastpapers,ideallyundertimedconditions.YoucansupplementpractisingonthesewithsomeoftheotherresourcesI'velisted.
The following report provides a summaryof theadmissions process for the subjects of Mathematics, Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematicsand Philosophy, Computer Scienceand Mathematics andComputer Science: Ifyouwantmorein-depthideasabouthowtoprepare,I'dreferto thepostIwroteaboutthePATor myOxcentricvideosonthesubject(whichincludemostofthemainpointsfromthepost). Details of any access arrangements you require (together with evidence to support your request unless your centre already has this information). Description of reflection at plane mirrors, where the angle of incidence (the angle between the incident ray and the normal) = angle of reflection (angle between the reflected ray and the normal). The Mathematical Institute is marking the MAT test as normal. College admissions tutors will have access to a candidate’s UCAS form, the results of the MAT test taken on 19 October, and the results of the additional test, if taken, as well as special consideration forms. Tutors will take all this information into consideration when deciding whether to shortlist a candidate.
Understanding of the terms current ( = charge / time), voltage (potential difference = energy / charge), charge, resistance ( = voltage / current) and links to energy and power (power = voltage x current, power = energy / time). Knowledge of transformers, including how the number of turns on the primary and secondary coils affect the voltage and current.The good thing about inequalities is that by the time you’ve made it to the PAT you’ve finally escaped from ‘draw the following inequality on a number line’ questions! You do need to be able to solve inequalities though, including ones which contain quadratics. The PAT is a subject-specific admissions test, lasting for 2 hours and sat under timed conditions. It is a hybrid test - with online questions and a paper answer booklet. You will need to take this test at an authorised test centre which, in most cases, will be your school or college. All applicants taking this test will be able to practise by taking the 2022 past paper (or equivalent) as a hybrid test in advance of your test day. Please note that as the syllabus and structure of this test has not changed, all the existing resources and practice materials available here are still valuable preparation for you and we strongly recommend exploring these.
Interpretation of graphs, eg force-distance, distance-time, velocity-time graphs and what the gradient of a curve or area underneath a curve represents. The MAT aims to test the depth of mathematical understanding of a student in the fourth term of their A-levels (or equivalent) rather than a breadth of knowledge. It is set with the aim of being approachable by all students, including those without Further Mathematics A-level, and those from other educational systems (e.g. Baccalaureate and Scottish Highers). Distance, velocity, speed, acceleration, and the relationships between them, eg velocity as the rate of change of distance with time, acceleration as rate of change of velocity with time. Understand the difference between vector quantities (eg velocity) and scalar quantities (eg speed). Knowledge and use of equations such as speed = distance / time, acceleration = change in velocity / time or the SUVAT equations. The PAT is now hybrid - with online questions and a paper answer booklet; however, the older papers will still be of use when preparing. Please note that from 2023, only use of the digital scientific calculators provided on the test platform will be permitted. You can explore using this via the online practice PAT.
PAT past papers
These reports provide summaries of theadmissions process for the subjects of Mathematics, Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematicsand Philosophy and Mathematics and Computer Science: If you’re solving a quadratic inequality always draw a graph – it takes 2 seconds to draw a rough sketch, and it’s not worth risking losing the marks by trying to hold it all in your head. (In fact, if we could have a single mantra for every maths and physics exam you ever sit it would be draw a diagram!). Where possible, the additional test will be hosted by schools or colleges. Where necessary, remote invigilation will be arranged at home. The additional test will be made available for printing just before the start of the test on 14 November. The additional test will be administered entirely by the University of Oxford.
The meaning of the terms friction, air resistance and terminal velocity and how they can be calculated.From 2015 onwards, long physics problems worth 20 marks were eliminated in favour of shorter questions worth <10 marks Simplifying integrals by symmetry arguments including use of the properties of even and odd functions (where an even function has f(x)= f(-x), an odd function has f(-x)= - f(x)). I know this is ‘simple to say, hard to do’, but I would encourage you to take a deep breath and try to relax; you’ve been revising so hopefully you’ll be able to perform at your best. It’s a bit of a cliche but if you go into the exam and do your best, then that’s something you should always be proud of, however it turns out. Properties of logarithms and exponentials and how to combine logarithms, e.g. log(a) + log(b) = log(ab) . Elementary trigonometry including relationships between sine, cosine and tangent (sum and difference formulae will be stated if required).
Great Deal 
New Comment