Help with ESAT and Imperial

Heyyy,
I’m planning to apply to Imperial for Physics. However, I have not sat the ESAT yet but I will be sitting it in January. Will I be able to send off my UCAS application before sitting the ESAT? Will I even be considered if my application is looked at before sitting the admissions test?

You can send off your UCAS application before sitting the ESAT. Imperial will not look at your application until they have your ESAT mark, but they will look at it once they get it, so don't worry about that.

Would that put me at a disadvantage since they would be more likely to give the places to other applicants who have sat the ESAT earlier? Or do they consider all applicants after the UCAS deadline?

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that they don't look at anyone until after the January sitting, to make it fair.