What is the Oxford MAT?

• The MAT is a two hour and 30 minute paper consisting of multiple choice questions and longer problems.
• It forms part of a student’s application to study Mathematics at Oxford University. Computer Science applicants also sit the test, as do teenagers hoping to take a joint honours degree – for example, Maths and Philosophy.
• It is not just Oxford that values the MAT. Imperial College London also uses it to put candidates through their paces and Warwick University encourages applicants to sit the exam. Cambridge University, however, uses a different type of assessment. 
• Don’t panic: the MAT doesn’t require getting to grips with an entirely new syllabus. Instead, it tests teenagers on what they have learnt in Year 12 and some of what they have learnt in Year 13. 
• Applicants need not have studied Further Maths – although they are likely to have done so – and students from other educational systems (eg Baccalaureate and Scottish Highers) are also very welcome to take the assessment. 

Key points: 

– Length: two and a half hours.

– Required by: Oxford and Imperial College London. Warwick advises students to sit the test.

– Sat by: mathematicians, computer scientists and those applying for joint honours.

– Knowledge needed: primarily Year 12 Maths syllabus. 

Is the Oxford MAT like an A Level Maths paper?

• In short: no. Calculators are not allowed in the exam and neither are formula sheets. It is also slightly longer than a school exam. 
• The types of question are different too, requiring deeper understanding of the subject matter than your typical A Level paper. As you will see below, some questions are worth up to 15 marks. 
• It is worth bearing in mind, however, that the questions a teenager answers will depend on which university course they are hoping to study. 

Key points: 

– No calculators and no formula sheets – unlike A Level Maths.

– Questions vary depending on course.

– Questions are worth up to 15 marks. 

How is the MAT structured?

• The first question on the test paper is multiple choice and contains ten parts, each worth four marks. Don’t think this is the easy part of the paper – multiple choice questions can be fiendishly difficult, as you will see when you read our examples questions below. 
• In Question 1, marks are given solely for correct answers, although candidates are encouraged to show their working out. If nothing else, this is an important habit to get into. 
• Questions 2–7 are longer problems, each worth 15 marks. It is even more important to show working out here as part marksareavailable for the longer questions. 
• All teenagers answer the multiple choice problems and attempt four questions from 2–7depending on which course they hope to study. 
• No bonus marks are awarded for doing extra questions – so now is not the time for showing off!  

Key points: 

– There are both multiple-choice and written questions.

– You do not get extra marks for doing extra questions. 

How can teenagers prepare for the Oxford MAT? 

• There are lots of past papers and detailed solution sheets available online. Oxford’s Mathematical Institute’s webpage is a great place to start.
• It is crucial to know the Maths AS and A Level syllabus back to front. To find a basic breakdown of what topics will be assessed in the MAT, look at this recently updated syllabus.
• Sit some exams under test conditions – the assessment is bound to be nerve wracking but it is a very good idea to get used to the time pressure and to find our how long different sections typically take.
• Our MAT Maths tutors will help your child perform the very best they can with specialist, tailored tuition. 
• Learn not to panic. Often long Maths questions can seem impossible to start with. However, planning a way through the problem and setting subgoals can be helpful. Remember: candidates can still attain marks even if they do not arrive at the final answer. 
• Do not to leap into questions too quickly. Practice taking time to plan and think – and breathe!

Key points: 

– Practise with past papers.

– Learn the Sixth Form Maths syllabus.

– Get used to test conditions. 

What is the pass mark?

• Frustratingly, there is no set pass mark – it varies year on year depending on the difficulty of the paper. 
• According to Oxford University, however, 35% of students who sit the test are interviewed and one in three of them will be offered a place. 
• The test helps Oxford decide who to shortlist – it is not a be all and end all. 
• Oxford will look at your child’s total score and how well they performed in different sections.
• And remember – depth of knowledge is more important than breadth of knowledge, according to experts at the University.

Key points: 

– There is no pre-fixed pass mark.

– 35% of Oxford candidates will be asked for interview.  

Key dates for the diary

• Students need to have registered for the MAT by 15th October 2019 – late registrations are not accepted. On 30th October 2019 everyone will sit the MAT.
•  In early December 2019 teenagers will be told whether they have been shortlisted for interview or not, on the basis of their MAT score and UCAS application.
• In January 2020 your child will find out whether they have received an offer. After that, they can ask for feedback from Oxford, including what MAT score they achieved.

Where will my child take the MAT? 

        Teenagers must sit the MAT in a registered test centre. Most students sit the exam at school, but it is worth checking your child’s school is registered to provide the assessment. Registration takes 24 hours. 

Example questions: 

Fancy yourself as a Mathematician? Try your luck with these questions. 

1) The area of the region bounded by the curve y= √x , the line y= x–2 and the x-axis equals

(a)2,  (b)2/5,   (c)3,   (d)10/3,  (e)16/3                                                                                                                                                                                         

2) A particle moves in the xy- plane, starting at the origin (0,0). At each turn, the particle may move in one of two ways. It may move two to the right and one up, that is, it may be translated by the vector (2,1), or it may move one to the right and two up, that is, it may be translated by the sector (1,2). 

What is the closest the particle may come to the point (25,75)? 

(a)0,   (b)5√5,   (c)2√53,   (d)25,  (e)35

3a) Alice, Bob, and Charlie make the following statements:

Alice: Bob is lying. 

Bob: Charlie is lying. 

Charlie: 1+1= 2.

Who is telling the truth? Who is lying? Explain your answer. 

3b) Now Alice, Bob, and Charlie make the following statements:

Alice: Bob is telling the truth. 

Bob: Alice is telling the truth.

Charlie: Alice is lying.

What are the possible numbers of people telling the truth? Explain your answer.

3c) They now make the following statements:

Alice: Bob and Charlie are both lying.

Bob: Alice is telling the truth or Charlie is lying (or both)

Charlie: Alice and Bob are both telling the truth.

Who is telling the truth and who is lying on this occasion? Explain your answer.

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For more advice, check out our Top Ten Revision Tips and if you are looking for a Physics and Maths tutor click here.

1) Exam board websites

The official websites of exam boards are the most reliable sources of past papers and mark schemes. With archives spanning several years, the likes of AQA, OCR, Edexcel and IGCSE have lots of free past papers.  Our physics and maths tutors recommend seeking out the exam board websites for exam papers and other useful resources such as revision, and specimen exam papers.

Subject specifications and examiners’ reports are also available on these sites. Our Physics and Maths Tutors particularly advise you to read a couple of examiners’ reports, as they highlight mistakes candidates have made in the past, and could prevent your child making similar errors.

2) Physics and Maths Tutor 

Physics and Maths Tutor is a treasure trove. Well-designed and easy to navigate, the website is packed with papers for GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and International A Level students.

Although the site focuses primarily on Maths and Physics, it covers a broad range of subjects, including humanities. It also offers free STEP papers (STEP is used by Cambridge University and Warwick University to assess Maths university applicants), Oxford Physics Aptitude Tests (PAT), Natural Sciences Admissions Assessments (NSAA) and Engineering Admissions Assessments (ENGAA). To top things off, you can also find revision notes, summary sheets and other worksheets on the site.  Physics and Maths tutor should certainly be the first exam paper website to check out.

3) OnMaths 

On Maths is solely devoted to GCSE Mathematics. Catering to students taking higher and foundation papers, the website compiles mini mocks and demon questions, as well as containing a host of standard past papers.

Another great feature is the site’s “predicted” section. This section contains mock question papers which anticipate what will come up in the real assessment. It’s obviously all above board — the creators of the website have no insider knowledge! — and a great way to help your child prepare for exam season. This site is not a one-stop shop like Physics and maths tutor but get a thumbs up from our maths tutors for the maths exam papers.

4) Khan Academy

Khan Academy is an American Maths website so does not specifically align with the English exam system. It still has a lot to offer, however. With educational resources for 5 year-olds as well as for pre-university students, Khan Academy is a great place to find practice tests.

If your child is stuck on a particular area of Maths, the website also has excellent revision videos, topic-based quizzes, and interactive lessons.

5) Cyberphysics

Cyberphysics is a very retro website but don’t be put off! It contains a huge number of physics exam papers from Key Stage 3 all the way up to pre-university. It also has crosswords, powerpoint presentations, reading lists and useful links.

The site is run by an experienced teacher who has worked in selective English schools for almost a quarter of a century, so all the resources are reliable and of the highest quality.

6) Maths Made Easy

Although this website has got “maths” in its title, it also covers Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Designed to support children throughout their school careers, it has example SAT tests, GCSE exam papers and A Level mocks.

For older students, the website subdivides papers by exam board, so teenagers can look at different styles of question and stretch themselves to the full.

7) Save My Exams

Created by official examiners and expert Physics and Maths tutors, Save My Exams specialises in Maths, Physics, Biology and Chemistry, and is aimed at GCSE and A Level students. The website is thoughtfully arranged, with questions organised according to topic and difficulty.

Past papers and mark schemes are free to non-members, but you can buy a subscription to the site at a cost of £35 a year, and gain access to more worksheets and model answers.

8) MyMaths

MyMaths is different to the other websites on this list as schools sign up to it, rather than parents or students. However, if your child’s school is a member, this is a fantastic maths resource.

MyMaths is a fully interactive online learning site aimed at students of all ages and abilities right up to A-Level. Written by practising maths teachers, it is a great source of practice questions and of detailed explanations.

9) Revision Science 

Although this is not the most attractive of websites, it does its job very well. Revision Science — which is for GSCE and A Level students — has an extensive archive of past papers and mark schemes for Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology and covers all the main exam boards.

10) Maths Genie

On the surface, Maths Genie is much the same as Revision Science, with its long list of Maths exam papers and mark schemes. But this is a gem of a site as it also has worked-through, model solutions. These can be invaluable when a student is stuck on a question during exam leave and doesn’t have a teacher or a Maths and Physics tutor there to help them.

If you have found the exam papers website useful and are still looking for additional help you can find a Physics and Maths Tutor or other subject tutors here.

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