Oxford PAT 2021 (for 2022 Admissions)

Welcome to the Oxford PAT 2021 thread. This is the place to discuss, post problems, or ask any questions you may have regarding the exam.

What is the PAT?
The PAT (Physics Aptitude Test) is a pre-interview assessment required by the University of Oxford for any variant of physics, engineering or materials science. The exam is 2 hours long and consists of mixed maths and physics questions, featuring both multiple-choice and long answer questions. Calculators are allowed.

Dates
Registration deadline: Friday 15 October, 2021
Exam: Thursday 4 November, 2021 (correct at 27/07/21)

Registration
You can find the details here: https://www.admissionstesting.org/fo...w-to-register/

Official resources
Past papers - https://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/study-...at-past-papers
Syllabus - https://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/study-...t/pat-syllabus (Calculator specification is also on this page)

Other resources

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Oxford's guide on how to prepare - https://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/study-...ysics-aptitude

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Isaac Physics - https://isaacphysics.org/

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iWantToStudyEngineering - https://i-want-to-study-engineering.org/

•

Oxcentric PAT videos - https://youtu.be/TIfusf50d_g

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My written guide to the PAT - https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/sho....php?t=6459250

Mark schemes
Oxford do not offer an official mark scheme for the PAT, but there's several worked solutions published online.

•

Oxford Physics unofficial solutions (limited papers) - https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/study/undergraduates/how-apply/physics-aptitude-test-pat/pat-past-papers

•

Physicsandmathstutor - https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/admissions/pat/

•

Oxford PAT blog - https://oxfordpat.wordpress.com/

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My own solutions to the 2020 paper - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cPzfVBFkf5eF8l73JoPFTTUzGt-dBtCj/view?usp=sharing

Tips
The challenge of the PAT mainly lies in applying your knowledge to unfamiliar situations. The best way to improve at this is to do lots of practice! I would suggest completing all the available past papers, ideally under timed conditions. You can supplement practising on these with some of the other resources I've listed.

In the exam, you can be marked on your workings out so make sure you explain your thought processes clearly to help you obtain the best score! This exam is tricky; in previous years the cut-off marks have been mostly around 50-60, so don't get disheartened if 100% feels like an impossible task!

If you want more in-depth ideas about how to prepare, I'd refer to the post I wrote about the PAT or my Oxcentric videos on the subject (which include most of the main points from the post).

If we have any other successful Oxford folk who have additional insight to provide, your advice is much appreciated!

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1

Nataliee_cotts

I’m really nervous for the PAT I got rejected post interview last year and I really don’t want to mess the PAT up. Have you got any tips for reapplication or if you have time make a video with people you know who have reapplied and got in? Thank you

Reply 2

puddinat

Yes, reapplication is really something curious. Does the university take into account your past application and see what improvements you have made?

Reply 3

puddinat

Anyways, I'm just wondering. How much time do you guys take to prepare in advance?

Reply 4

Nataliee_cotts

Original post by puddinat

Anyways, I'm just wondering. How much time do you guys take to prepare in advance?

It depends how you feel with the content I would say. Last year I really struggled due to gaps in learning. I made the mistake of starting in September. I would suggest now is a good time tbh. I hope this helps!!

Reply 5

corktrees

My teachers for physics didn’t cover a lot of content because of covid and I’m struggling to learn it all now, anyone else?

Reply 6

PhysicsMathsTut

Hi, I have uploaded my solutions to the 2020 paper here: https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/admissions/pat/solutions-2020/

I will be doing a YouTube live to go through some of the questions on Tuesday 28th at 5.30pm: https://youtu.be/8hVMvKUql8Y

Reply 7

Nataliee_cotts

What college are you all applying for?

Reply 8

G2021

Original post by Nataliee_cotts

What college are you all applying for?

Possibly St John’s? Although not too set on it - particularly with the pooling system.

Reply 9

G2021

Just throwing out a physics question here. What are people's takes on forces on inclined planes? Do you prefer to take the components horizontal/vertical or perpendicular/parallel to the plane?

Reply 10

Cloumo

Original post by G2021

Just throwing out a physics question here. What are people's takes on forces on inclined planes? Do you prefer to take the components horizontal/vertical or perpendicular/parallel to the plane?

It depends on which way is easier for calculation. If there is a friction along the slope then chose the slope as an axis. However if you are treating car on a banking road about centripetal force in horizontal direction, it may be easier to resolve vertically and horizontally.
Nevertheless both ways should give you exactly the same answer. Just practice and you would find which way is best for individual scenarios.

Reply 11

Htx_x346

Original post by NemesisRider

•

Oxford's guide on how to prepare - https://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/study-...ysics-aptitude

•

Isaac Physics - https://isaacphysics.org/

•

iWantToStudyEngineering - https://i-want-to-study-engineering.org/

•

Oxcentric PAT videos - https://youtu.be/TIfusf50d_g

•

My written guide to the PAT - https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/sho....php?t=6459250

Mark schemes
Oxford do not offer an official mark scheme for the PAT, but there's several worked solutions published online.

•

Oxford Physics unofficial solutions (limited papers) - https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/study/undergraduates/how-apply/physics-aptitude-test-pat/pat-past-papers

•

Physicsandmathstutor - https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/admissions/pat/

•

Oxford PAT blog - https://oxfordpat.wordpress.com/

•

My own solutions to the 2020 paper - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cPzfVBFkf5eF8l73JoPFTTUzGt-dBtCj/view?usp=sharing

is doing all the past papers enough to get a good mark for the PAT? I'm doing a couple of Isaac physics questions here and there but the Isaac questions are a lot harder so I don't finish them😬

Reply 12

Htx_x346

And also, are ENGAA papers useful for extra practice? :smile:

Reply 13

G2021

Original post by Htx_x346

And also, are ENGAA papers useful for extra practice? :smile:

To be honest I hadn’t came across these until now, they look like pretty good prep, especially for the multiple choice!

Reply 14

Cloumo

Original post by Htx_x346

And also, are ENGAA papers useful for extra practice? :smile:

Definitely do those and NSAA questions after you have done PAT and Bpho senior challenges. They are quite similar in style and difficulty.

Reply 15

Nataliee_cotts

Only 3 weeks to the PAT. It’s like counting down for Christmas

Reply 16

Htx_x346

Original post by Cloumo

Definitely do those and NSAA questions after you have done PAT and Bpho senior challenges. They are quite similar in style and difficulty.

Original post by G2021

To be honest I hadn’t came across these until now, they look like pretty good prep, especially for the multiple choice!

Thanks, yeah I wish I had the time to do them but I don't know if I'd even get through the past papers at this point.

Was reading the 2019 PAT thread and multiple people said they were achieving 70+ for the past papers. I'm barely getting 50👍 tbf I have 6 more papers to do but yeah😪

Reply 17

Nataliee_cotts

Original post by Htx_x346

Honestly, don’t trust people on the student room with the marks and just focus on yourself. Most of them are trolls or trying to make other people worried

Reply 18

Htx_x346

Original post by Nataliee_cotts

Honestly, don’t trust people on the student room with the marks and just focus on yourself. Most of them are trolls or trying to make other people worried

appreciate it, thank you

Reply 19

Htx_x346

for the PAT are y'all learning the reverse chain rule/ integration by substitution/ partial fractions+integration/ integration by parts? I saw a question that would have been easily solvable using integration by substitution but idk if it's worth teaching myself all of chapter 11 basically?

thanks sm

(edited 2 years ago)