Step Exam Dates:  Key Deadlines for Cambridge Maths Applicants

Are you interested in applying for the Sixth Term Examination Paper? Then, you must be aware of the STEP examination dates. The STEP examination is a mandatory entrance test you need to clear to take admission to mathematics and related courses at top UK universities. For example, the University of Cambridge. The STEP examination for 2025 is now over. Now it’s time to look at the next year’s examination calendar and prepare accordingly. In this blog, you will find the STEP examination dates for 2026. You will also get an understanding of how to register, what the fees are, how to prepare, what time to choose, and how to cancel the exam if you wish to.

Cambridge STEP Exam Dates 2026

Are you preparing for Cambridge admissions next year? Get to know the STEP exam dates 2026. The STEP examination is considered one of the most difficult mathematics entrance examinations. However, the good news is that if you clear this paper, you can study mathematics and other related subjects in one of the best institutions in the world. The examination registration is set to open in March 2026.

Event	Date (Tentative)
STEP Registration Opening Date	3 March 2026
Final Date to Request Modified Question Papers	21 April 2026
Closing Date for STEP Registration	4 May 2026
Deadline for Access Arrangement Requests	4 May 2026
STEP Paper 2 Examination	10 June 2026 (Wednesday)
STEP Paper 3 Examination	15 June 2026 (Monday)
Announcement of STEP Results	13 August 2026 (Thursday)
Cut-off for Results Enquiries	20 August 2026

Did you know? The registration deadline is rarely extended. If the examination registration falls on a public holiday or a national holiday, it will not be extended.

Sixth Term Examination Paper Time for UK & International Students

The STEP examination will take place in the month of June next year. The examination time is standard for the UK applicants. However, the exam time can vary for international students (due to geographical differences). The examination time is provided below:

Nationality	Exam Time
UK applicants	9 am
International	Vary (depending on location)

Also Read: MAT Test Date 2025: Key Deadlines for Oxford University Applicants

What are Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3?

The Sixth Term Examination Paper used to be conducted in 3 sittings. Each day, you will have to give an exam. There were a total of 3 exams called: STEP 1, STEP 2, and STEP 3. However, STEP 1 no longer exist. Now, if you want admission to Cambridge, Warwick, or Imperial College London, you only have to clear the STEP 2 and STEP 3 papers. These papers test the following:

1.  STEP 2: Questions are asked from the A Level Mathematics and AS level Further Mathematics.
2. STEP 3: Questions are based on a Further Mathematics A-level syllabus. The questions have the same level of difficulty (some say even more) than STEP 2.

Each paper consists of 12 questions (8 pure, 2 mechanics, and 2 statistics/probability). You only have to answer 6 questions from each paper.

STEP Exam Syllabus 

The STEP exam syllabus for 2026 is not available yet. However, we have provided the STEP exam syllabus for 2025 below. The paper for next year is likely to be similar. The syllabus will most likely be unchanged. You can download the syllabus from below:

Particulars	PDF
STEP Exam Sylabus	Download here

How to Register for the Cambridge STEP Exam?

Now that you know about the STEP examination registration dates and times, let’s learn about the exam registration process. You cannot register for the examination. The registration has to be done by the test centre/your school/college. The exam registration process in India is as follows:

1. Find a test centre: This can be your school or college, or any other authorised test centre like the British Council.
2. Provide the details: You will have to provide the necessary information to the test centre you have chosen. For example, the British Council requires you to fill out a form.
3. Pay the required fees: Thereafter, you will be required to pay the registration fee. The registration charges vary depending on the location of your test centre. 
4. Get your candidate entry number: Get this as proof of your registration.
5. Print out: Keep a printout of the registration form, and take a screenshot of the fee payment as proof. You might need it for entry to the exam hall.
6. Show up: Show up at the exam centre before the time on the exam day.

Step Exam Cambridge Fee in India

The fee for the STEP examination for Cambridge University and other university applicants is provided below. The fees for Indian nationals and other international students are the same. However, if you are taking the test from the UK, the fee would be different.

Category	Fee (GBP)
Registration (per paper – UK candidates)	GBP 98.50
Registration per paper for Indian students	GBP 136.75 / USD 177 / EUR 159.75

Did You Know? The results are not published on the university page. You have to request the results. The results enquiry has fees. The fee is GBP 48.75 per paper!

How to Prepare for the STEP Exam Date?

You can prepare for the STEP examination by following the tips below. Know that STEP is one of the most difficult mathematics papers. You are not allowed to use calculators, the questions are asked beyond the A-level syllabus, and the paper is not MCQ-based like the TMUA examination. This means proper preparation is essential. 

1. Start your preparation early: Unlike the Oxford MAT exam, you cannot prepare for the STEP exam in 6 months. You need to dedicate at least 12 to 18 months for preparation!
2. Learn all topics from the A-Level Syllabus: You must make the core mathematical skills solid. Your foundation must be strong. Therefore, prepare topics like trigonometry, algebra, etc, well.
3. Understand the STEP format: Each paper of the STEP examination comes with 12 questions you only need to answer 6! You need to understand facts about the format before you give the paper.
4. Use online resources and prepare: The previous year’s papers are available on the OCR website. Go through those papers, download them and practice.
5. Practice and develop problem-solving skills: You need to take mock tests and prepare well. Ensure that you are developing your problem-solving skills. You can use resources like NRICH Advanced Problem Solving to prepare.
6. Get a mentor: You need a teacher to tell you where you have made mistakes and how to avoid them. Therefore, seek help from your mentor or school teacher.

Also Read: Oxford MAT Exam Preparation: 5 Tips To Ace the Most Competitive Exam

How to Cancel the STEP examination?

The STEP examination cancellation is possible with a refund. However, the cancellation must be done in advance of the STEP exam dates. Assuming your test centre is a British Council-registered test centre, you can cancel by following the steps below:

1. Contact the British Council, and state you want to cancel the exam
2. Cancel the exam by May 1st at 1700hrs IST. ( A few days before the exam date). 
3. The cancellation procedure will be started by the British Council, and they will cancel your paper.
4. You will receive a refund of 75% of the fees. The 25% fees will be dedicated as part of their administration charges.
5. Get an email of cancellation confirmation.

Timely cancellation allows the exam organisers to accurately account for the number of attendees and to allocate resources accordingly. 

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