Skip
ENGAA Section 1 Part A
Same questionsNSAA: Section 1 Maths and Physics
Skip this if you have completed the same year's NSAA Maths and Physics.
ESAT past-paper roadmap
Which past papers should you use for the ESAT?
There are no released ESAT papers yet, so the best practice comes from Cambridge's older NSAA, ENGAA and TMUA papers. Their formats changed across years, and NSAA and ENGAA reuse many of the same questions.
This guide maps each exam's structure over time, then shows what to do, what to skip and why. For a broader 3-week ESAT preparation plan, see the how to prepare for the ESAT guide.
Written by the ESAT CAMP editorial team
Last updated 20 August 2026
Content
Your Roadmap
Choose your ESAT modules, and we will show you our suggested past papers.
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NSAA Guide
The NSAA format changed in 2020. Here is what to use for ESAT.
2016-2019
Do all
Section 1 · No calculator
Take Maths + two subjects
Required
A
Mathematics
B
Physics
C
Chemistry
D
Biology
E
Advanced Math + Phy
54 questions · 80 min · 89 sec/question
Use: Strong practice for Maths 1 and your chosen sciences. Part E adds harder Maths and Physics.
Skip
Section 2 · Calculator allowed
Choose any two written questions
1
Physics
2
Physics
3
Chemistry
4
Chemistry
5
Biology
6
Biology
2 written questions · 40 min · ~20 min/question
Skip for normal ESAT practice. Use only for extra long-form problem solving.
What changed in 2020?
Part E was removed. Section 1 became shorter, while Section 2 became no-calculator multiple choice.
2020-2023
Do all
Section 1 · No calculator
Take Maths + one science
Required
A
Mathematics
B
Physics
C
Chemistry
D
Biology
40 questions · 60 min · 90 sec/question
Use first: The closest NSAA practice for ESAT Maths 1 and science.
Do all
Section 2 · No calculator
Choose one science
X
Physics
Y
Chemistry
Z
Biology
20 questions · 60 min · 180 sec/question
Use later: Good harder science practice. Skip anything outside the ESAT syllabus.
Some questions repeat in ENGAA. UAT-UK currently publishes NSAA Section 1 only.
ENGAA Guide
ENGAA combines Maths and Physics. Its format changed in 2019.
2016-2019
Section 1 · No calculator
Complete both parts
Skip
A
Mathematics + Physics
28 questions
Mostly overlap
B
Advanced Math + Phy
26 questions
After NSAA: Skip Part A. Part B mostly overlaps NSAA Part E, so do the unique questions only.
Section 2 · Physics
Complete all questions
Do all
S2
Physics
20 questions
Do all: Unique Physics practice for these years. Complete the full paper.
What changed in 2019?
From 2019, Section 1 is 40 questions in 60 minutes. From 2020, Section 2 is 60 minutes and duplicates NSAA Section 2 Physics.
2020-2023
Section 1 · No calculator
Complete both parts
Skip
A
Mathematics + Physics
20 questions
Do all
B
Advanced Math + Phy
20 questions
After NSAA: Skip Part A. Do all relevant Part B questions for Maths 2 and extra Physics.
Section 2 · Physics
Skip if you did NSAA Section 2
Skip
S2
Physics
20 questions
Skip: Same Physics set as NSAA Section 2 Part X. Complete either copy, not both.
UAT-UK currently publishes ENGAA Section 1 only.
NSAA and ENGAA Overlaps
NSAA and ENGAA reuse many of the same questions. If you have already completed NSAA, use this guide to avoid repeating them in ENGAA.
2016-2019
Unique questions only
ENGAA Section 1 Part B
Mostly overlapsNSAA: Section 1 Part E
Complete only the fresh ENGAA questions listed below.
Optional
ENGAA Section 2
Unique to ENGAANSAA: No direct duplicate
Extra harder Physics practice, but less similar to the ESAT.
What changed in 2020?
NSAA removed Part E, so ENGAA Part B became fresh Maths 2 and Physics practice. ENGAA Section 2 also began reusing the NSAA Physics question set.
2020-2023
Skip
ENGAA Section 1 Part A
Same questionsNSAA: Section 1 Maths and Physics
Skip this if you have completed the same year's NSAA.
Complete
ENGAA Section 1 Part B
Unique to ENGAANSAA: No NSAA Part E
Do all relevant questions for Maths 2 and extra Physics.
Skip
ENGAA Section 2
Same Physics setNSAA: Section 2 Part X
Complete either the ENGAA or NSAA copy, not both.
Unique ENGAA Part B Questions
If you have already completed NSAA Part E, these are the only ENGAA Part B questions from 2016-2019 that you need.
| Year | Unique question numbers |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Q32Q42Q47Q49Q52Q53Q54 |
| 2017 | Q32Q35Q36Q37Q41Q50Q51Q54 |
| 2018 | Q35Q38Q39Q42Q45Q50Q51Q52 |
| 2019 | Q25Q38 |
2016
Q32Q42Q47Q49Q52Q53Q54
2017
Q32Q35Q36Q37Q41Q50Q51Q54
2018
Q35Q38Q39Q42Q45Q50Q51Q52
2019
Q25Q38
Question numbers refer to the ENGAA paper.
TMUA Guide
Two maths papers with the same format from 2016–2023. No science content.
2016–2023
Do all
Paper 1
Applications of Mathematical Knowledge
Maths 2 practice
20 questions
Use: Good extra Maths 2 practice once you finish ENGAA Part B.
Skip
Paper 2
Mathematical Reasoning
Reasoning practice
20 questions
Use later: More logic-based and less similar to ESAT questions.
2–2.5 min / question
TMUA questions are longer than ESAT questions. This gives you useful speed practice without forcing an unrealistic 89-second limit.
The complete tier list
Hover a paper for commentary.
S
A
B
C
Common questions
Are there real ESAT past papers?
No live ESAT papers have been publicly released. UAT-UK provides official specimen and practice tests, plus marked-up NSAA and ENGAA Section 1 papers from 2016–2023.
Which paper is best for ESAT Mathematics 1?
NSAA Section 1 Part A is the cleanest large source. ENGAA Part A also contains Mathematics 1, but it duplicates the same year's NSAA Mathematics and Physics questions.
Which paper is best for ESAT Mathematics 2?
ENGAA Section 1 Part B is the best legacy source. TMUA Paper 1 is useful once you need extra material.
Which papers should Chemistry and Biology students use?
Use NSAA Section 1 Part C for Chemistry or Part D for Biology. Then use the relevant 2020–2023 NSAA Section 2 part as harder supplementary practice.
Should I do NSAA or ENGAA first?
Use NSAA first if you take Chemistry or Biology. If you take Mathematics 2 and Physics, ENGAA is equally important, but check the overlaps before doing the second paper from the same year.
Should I do ENGAA Section 2?
Only after closer material. It is harder Physics, includes out-of-spec content and is less similar to current ESAT. From 2020–2023 it duplicates NSAA Section 2 Part X.
Should I use the original paper timings?
Not for final preparation. The current ESAT gives 40 minutes for 27 questions in each separately timed module. Move towards that format as the exam approaches.
Sources and methodology
We compared the official 2016–2023 NSAA and ENGAA Section 1 PDFs question by question. Duplicate labels are based on the paper text, answer options and diagrams where available. A missing label means “not confirmed”, not necessarily “unique”.
- UAT-UK, ESAT Content Specification for October 2026 and January 2027
- UAT-UK, ESAT preparation materials and official 2016–2023 NSAA/ENGAA Section 1 archive
- UAT-UK, specimen and practice-test guidance
- UAT-UK, TMUA test format
- UAT-UK, historic TMUA papers
- ESAT CAMP, full NSAA/ENGAA duplicate methodology and question list
Paper structures are taken from the instructions printed in the original papers. Overlap claims are based on comparison of the corresponding official PDFs. Secondary archives are needed for Section 2 because those files are not included in the current UAT-UK ESAT archive.
ESAT CAMP is an independent preparation resource. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by UAT-UK, Pearson VUE, Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, UCL or any other university.
Related guides
ESAT past papers
Official ENGAA, NSAA and TMUA papers for ESAT practice.
ENGAA and NSAA papers for ESAT
The two archives overlap heavily. Here is which copy to solve.
TMUA for ESAT preparation
Where TMUA genuinely helps Maths 2, and where it is a detour.
ESAT mock tests
Timed ESAT-style practice with official NSAA and ENGAA past papers.
ESAT Maths 1
Topics, timing and the fast methods the compulsory module rewards.
ESAT preparation guide
A practical 3-week plan: calibration, past papers, mocks and targeted revision.