ESAT Preparation

Original post by goddam-orator

Heyyyy,
I'm sitting the ESAT this January to apply to Imperial. Can anyone share advice on how they prepared for it? Are there any free websites/ resources that can be used to prepare for it?

some of ESAT ninja is free. TMUA, ENGAA, NSAA past papers on the cambridge website. I found the maths and the timings the hardest so definitely focus on those elements.

Reply 2

OP

Original post by AoiJuniper

some of ESAT ninja is free. TMUA, ENGAA, NSAA past papers on the cambridge website. I found the maths and the timings the hardest so definitely focus on those elements.

Thank you sm! I’ll definitely look at that. The timings are absolutely ridiculous.

Reply 3

wtsnyd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYapYUhZQoo

Original post by goddam-orator

Heyyyy,
I'm sitting the ESAT this January to apply to Imperial. Can anyone share advice on how they prepared for it? Are there any free websites/ resources that can be used to prepare for it?

Hi!

I took the ESAT in October here are some things that helped me out:

•

Time management is extremely important, especially in the Maths papers so it's best to practice the questions under timed conditions as much as possible.

•

The official Pearson website does have this feature (scroll down to sample tests): https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/uatuk.html

•

If you are applying for Maths 1, Maths 2 and Physics then ENGAA papers will be of great use. Other than that, I used TMUA papers to practice Maths. (There is a lot of past papers on Physics and Maths Tutor)

•

ENGAA Papers: https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/admissions/engaa/

•

TMUA Papers: https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/admissions/tmua/

•

Surprisingly, there are actually a few videos that may be helpful, some of which show ways to cut down on time on some of the questions. Linked below:

•

•

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXnrJxzX4FE

•

Even if you run out of papers, do as many as you can again, make note of which ones you got wrong and why.

If you are applying for the other sciences (Chemistry and Biology) I'm not sure I can be of any use apart from the time management. I hope this helps!

Reply 4

Leming

5

Original post by goddam-orator

Heyyyy,
I'm sitting the ESAT this January to apply to Imperial. Can anyone share advice on how they prepared for it? Are there any free websites/ resources that can be used to prepare for it?

Hey there, I am going to share some different tips from others as I saw they already covered the basic ones. But the most important one is to get used to do your working on a mini whiteboard(A4 sized) with an uneraseble whiteboard marker as those are what you would be using during the exam. I had my test in October and I suffered from it, so from now on, try to do the past papers like ENGAA and NSAA with the equipment i said. You would feel much better during the exam.

Reply 5

principal-fright

5

Original post by goddam-orator

Heyyyy,
I'm sitting the ESAT this January to apply to Imperial. Can anyone share advice on how they prepared for it? Are there any free websites/ resources that can be used to prepare for it?

Hi, don't know what advice you've already been given but I did mine in October and the main thing to practice for is the time constraints. I found it very difficult for time so practice qs to find the quickest way there and spot patterns and if you only have 1 min left, GUESS! just have a guess if you have no idea! Use the resources on the UAT UK sites with specimen tests and timed tests and there are worked solutions too. Use old ENGAA and NSAT papers depending if you are doing physics and maths or chem and bio. They are very similar regarding timings as the ESAT - ESAT is a little harder if you ask me but if you become a pro on ENGAA, then ESAT will be so much easier. If you have any friends doing esat, work with them too or go to study sessions etc if you can. Don't stress too much, don't leave it to the last minute so start now and do a bit every day. On your exam day, sleep well and eat well and take water with you to drink during the breaks. Be confident and good luck! Feel free to ask me anything as I've done it already for Cambridge and have an interview and I am happy to give you any more tips/info!

Reply 6

Diididoekekd

1

Original post by principal-fright

Hi, don't know what advice you've already been given but I did mine in October and the main thing to practice for is the time constraints. I found it very difficult for time so practice qs to find the quickest way there and spot patterns and if you only have 1 min left, GUESS! just have a guess if you have no idea! Use the resources on the UAT UK sites with specimen tests and timed tests and there are worked solutions too. Use old ENGAA and NSAT papers depending if you are doing physics and maths or chem and bio. They are very similar regarding timings as the ESAT - ESAT is a little harder if you ask me but if you become a pro on ENGAA, then ESAT will be so much easier. If you have any friends doing esat, work with them too or go to study sessions etc if you can. Don't stress too much, don't leave it to the last minute so start now and do a bit every day. On your exam day, sleep well and eat well and take water with you to drink during the breaks. Be confident and good luck! Feel free to ask me anything as I've done it already for Cambridge and have an interview and I am happy to give you any more tips/info!

any websites or revision guides do you suggest to relearn some of the content?

Reply 7

principal-fright

5

Original post by Diididoekekd

any websites or revision guides do you suggest to relearn some of the content?

go to the pearson vue ESAT page or ENGAA page. There aren't any revision guides as it's not like a qualification but you can access specifications if you google it!

Reply 8

sdfdsguifs

1

Original post by principal-fright

Hi, don't know what advice you've already been given but I did mine in October and the main thing to practice for is the time constraints. I found it very difficult for time so practice qs to find the quickest way there and spot patterns and if you only have 1 min left, GUESS! just have a guess if you have no idea! Use the resources on the UAT UK sites with specimen tests and timed tests and there are worked solutions too. Use old ENGAA and NSAT papers depending if you are doing physics and maths or chem and bio. They are very similar regarding timings as the ESAT - ESAT is a little harder if you ask me but if you become a pro on ENGAA, then ESAT will be so much easier. If you have any friends doing esat, work with them too or go to study sessions etc if you can. Don't stress too much, don't leave it to the last minute so start now and do a bit every day. On your exam day, sleep well and eat well and take water with you to drink during the breaks. Be confident and good luck! Feel free to ask me anything as I've done it already for Cambridge and have an interview and I am happy to give you any more tips/info!

hi, what were some time saving tips that helped you during your exam?

Reply 9

Anonymous #1

Hi I would like to ask if section 2 (only physics) of ENGAA papers will be tested in ESAT physics paper? As I don't seem to find those questions in the UAT UK website. Thanks!

Reply 10

OP

Original post by principal-fright

Hi, don't know what advice you've already been given but I did mine in October and the main thing to practice for is the time constraints. I found it very difficult for time so practice qs to find the quickest way there and spot patterns and if you only have 1 min left, GUESS! just have a guess if you have no idea! Use the resources on the UAT UK sites with specimen tests and timed tests and there are worked solutions too. Use old ENGAA and NSAT papers depending if you are doing physics and maths or chem and bio. They are very similar regarding timings as the ESAT - ESAT is a little harder if you ask me but if you become a pro on ENGAA, then ESAT will be so much easier. If you have any friends doing esat, work with them too or go to study sessions etc if you can. Don't stress too much, don't leave it to the last minute so start now and do a bit every day. On your exam day, sleep well and eat well and take water with you to drink during the breaks. Be confident and good luck! Feel free to ask me anything as I've done it already for Cambridge and have an interview and I am happy to give you any more tips/info!

Congratulations on your interview! I hope it went well. And thanks for the advice, it has been really helpful. I just wanted to ask how long you spent revising for the ESAT, especially now as they is just over a week left from the actual exam. I feel like I'm doing too much but it's always better to be over prepared I guess.

Reply 11

lululemontea

Hi, I have some questions about the exam:

1.

Is the Physics part similar to the ENGAA section 1B? As they don't look reaaally complicated and I'm not sure if questions like ENGAA section 2 will be asked

2.

Are there time limits on the breaks between each section?

Thank you!

Reply 12

Harik0

Original post by lululemontea

Hi, I have some questions about the exam:

1.

Is the Physics part similar to the ENGAA section 1B? As they don't look reaaally complicated and I'm not sure if questions like ENGAA section 2 will be asked

2.

Are there time limits on the breaks between each section?

Thank you!

1.

I would say the physics questions are slightly easier in terms of difficulty and complexity than 1B in general, but the 1B questions are probably similar to the hardest physics questions you can get in ESAT.

2.

In terms of breaks, you don't actually explicitly have a break, but the timer doesn't start immediately for the next section, so if you want to get a few deep breaths in, and ask for more of the erasable whiteboard paper stuff they give you, you can, but definitely you can't get up and walk around or anything (no water either btw).

Reply 13

lululemontea

Original post by Harik0

1.

I would say the physics questions are slightly easier in terms of difficulty and complexity than 1B in general, but the 1B questions are probably similar to the hardest physics questions you can get in ESAT.

2.

In terms of breaks, you don't actually explicitly have a break, but the timer doesn't start immediately for the next section, so if you want to get a few deep breaths in, and ask for more of the erasable whiteboard paper stuff they give you, you can, but definitely you can't get up and walk around or anything (no water either btw).

Thanks! oh and we can get more whiteboard paper??

Reply 14

Harik0

Original post by lululemontea

Thanks! oh and we can get more whiteboard paper??

yes, but you have to request 1 at a time (at least at my centre), which was annoying. But generally, yes, you can.

Reply 15

OP

Does anyone have any tips on how to improve on timings? I have been doing a lot of practice papers but is there any other way anyone who has improved on this?

Reply 16

OP

Also, for anyone who has already done the ESAT and feels comfortable sharing, what results did you get and have you got any offers from Imperial or Cambridge?

Reply 17

Harik0