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The short answer
Cambridge's Engineering Admissions Assessment (ENGAA) and Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment (NSAA) were discontinued in 2023 and replaced, from the 2024 cycle, by a single modular test: the ESAT. It now serves specified courses at Cambridge, Imperial and UCL, and specified Oxford science and engineering courses from 2027 entry.
What actually changed
Consolidation and delivery, more than substance. Instead of two separate Cambridge-only paper tests, the ESAT is one computer-based test at Pearson VUE centres with five modules — Mathematics 1 (compulsory), Mathematics 2, Physics, Chemistry, Biology — from which your course dictates a combination. Engineering routes commonly use Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics, while Natural Sciences applicants assemble the modules their course requires. Multiple-choice, no calculator, 40 minutes and 27 questions per module, scored 1.0–9.0 each.
Using predecessor papers carefully
UAT-UK publishes selected ENGAA and NSAA papers as preparation material and identifies questions outside the current ESAT specification. Start with the current specification and official ESAT material, then use the filtered predecessor papers for additional practice. → Full ESAT preparation guide
One caution
Module combinations are fixed by course. Changing a booked combination may require cancelling and rebooking, so check every university choice before booking.
Check at source
Official ESAT and legacy-paper information
The current ESAT specification is the boundary; older papers are secondary practice material.
2027 entry
- ESAT preparation materials
UAT-UK
The current specification, official tests and filtered paper archive.
- ESAT overview
UAT-UK
The present module structure and test-owner guidance.
- Cambridge admissions tests
University of Cambridge
Current course requirements published by Cambridge.
Related guides