UK Entrance Exams: Tests Required for University Admission, Jobs, and Visa

Do you want to study in the UK? Then, you must know about the UK entrance exams. Getting admission to a university requires that you clear an admission test. Besides your academic qualifications, you need to pass an English language proficiency test like IELTS or TOEFL. You also need to clear any subject admission tests like LNAT for Law, and MAT for Maths if you are enrolling in a medical or engineering course. Want to know what they are? This blog covers everything you need to know about the UK entrance exam after 12th for university admission, entrance exams you need to clear for medical, engineering, entrance exams for jobs, and visas. 

What are the UK Entrance Exams?

First of all UK does not have a single standardised entrance exam. Universities take into consideration a combination of factors like your academic qualification (12th or Bachelor’s), your English language proficiency, and marks secured on subject-based entrance exams. This means there are different UK entrance exams. The main application portal for undergraduate admission is UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). On the other hand, the postgraduate admissions are directly handled by the top UK universities.

What Exams are Required to Study in the UK After 12th?

Supposedly, you are an international student wanting to enrol in an undergraduate course. In this case, you need to be aware of the UK entrance exams conducted for students after the 12th. The following are the common entrance exams conducted:

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

As an international student, you need to prove that you are proficient in English. This test is taken for this purpose. An IELTS exam is the most common UK entrance exam that assesses listening, writing, reading, and speaking skills. The minimum score you require ranges from 6.0 to 7.0. All UK universities accept the test results.

Exam Format	Duration	Total Score	Score Required
Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking	~2 hours 45 minutes	0–9 band scale	6.0–7.0 overall (varies by university)

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

TOEFL is an alternative English language test. This is a standardised English language test that also assesses your reading, speaking, writing, and listening skills for academic purposes. The scores range from 0 to 120, and you need to score at least 60 for admission.

Exam Format	Duration	Total Score	Score Required
Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing	~2 hours	0–120	Minimum 60 (varies by university)

PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)

PTE exam is another alternative. It is a computer-based English language test that measures your language skills. You need to score 58 or above for admission purposes. The score range is between 10 to 90. Several UK universities also accept these test results.

Exam Format	Duration	Total Score	Score Required
Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening	~2 hours 15 minutes	10–90	Typically 58 or higher (varies by institution)

UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test)

The UCAT is not for everyone. You only need to take this exam if you want admission to a UK medical school or a dental school. This exam assesses your cognitive skills, attitudes, and professional behaviour. You need to take this exam at least a year before university entry

Exam Format	Duration	Total Score	Score Required
Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Situational Judgement	~2 hours	1200–3600 (sum of first three subtests; Situational Judgement scored separately in Bands 1–4)	Competitive scores range from 2500 to 2900+; varies by medical school

Also Read: Check-Out the Most Popular Degrees to Pursue in UK

UK Entrance Exam for Engineering

As an engineering student, you need to clear subject subject-specific entrance test. This is mainly required if you want admission to top universities.

MAT (Mathematics Admissions Test)

Want to take admission at the Oxford University? MAT is the entrance exam you need to clear. This is a computer-based MCQ format entrance test that assesses your mathematical ability and problem-solving skills. You need to clear this exam for Imperial College of London admission as well.

Exam Format	Duration	Total Score	Score Required
Multiple-choice and long-answer mathematics questions	2 hours 30 minutes	Varies (no fixed maximum score)	Strong candidates score 60–70% or higher; varies by institution

PAT (Physics Aptitude Test)

PAT is the entrance exam for those who want to study at Oxford. You need to clear this test for admission to a physics or engineering course. The exam will test your physics and maths skills. You can complete this exam in just 2 hours.

Exam Format	Duration	Total Score	Score Required
Mixed-format physics and mathematics questions	2 hours	Varies (no fixed maximum score)	Competitive score is around 60–70% or higher; varies by institution

ENGAA (Engineering Admissions Assessment)

The ENGAA is an engineering admission test for those who want admission to the University of Cambridge. The exam tests your mathematical, physics, and engineering aptitude.

Exam Format	Duration	Total Score	Score Required
Section 1: Mathematical Reasoning; Section 2: Advanced Physics and Mathematics	2 hours	Varies (no fixed maximum score)	Top applicants score highly; used for relative ranking at Cambridge

UK Entrance Exam for Medical

As a medical school applicant, you need to take a subject-based entrance exam. You need to clear any one of the UK entrance exams.

UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test)

The majority of the dental schools and the medical schools require you to clear the UCAT exam. A consortium of UK universities and partner universities uses these test results to assess the applicants. Your behavioural attributes and mental abilities are tested.

Exam Format	Duration	Total Score	Score Required
Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Situational Judgement	~2 hours	1200–3600 (sum of first three subtests; Situational Judgement scored separately in Bands 1–4)	Competitive scores range from 2500 to 2900+; varies by medical school

BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test)

BMAT test results are required by some universities, particularly Oxford University and the University College London. This exam tests your scientific knowledge and aptitude for medical studies.

Exam Format	Duration	Total Score	Score Required
Thinking Skills, Scientific Knowledge & Applications, Writing Task	2 hours	Sections 1 & 2: 1.0–9.0; Section 3: 1E–5A	Competitive scores typically 5.0–6.5+ per section; varies by university

Also Read:  Best Universities in the UK for Nursing

UK Entrance Exam for MS

As a postgraduate international student enrolling in a Master of Science program. You need to clear any of the following entrance exams-

Exam	Purpose	Who Needs It	Skills Tested
GRE (Graduate Record Examination)	Accepted by several UK universities for science and engineering master’s programs.	Applicants to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs.	Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Analytical Writing.
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)	Required mainly for business-related programs (e.g., MBA, MSc Management).	Students applying to business, finance, and management courses.	Analytical Writing, Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)	Proof of English language proficiency.	Non-native English speakers.	Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking.
TOEFL ibt (Test of English as a Foreign Language)	Alternative to IELTS for English proficiency.	Non-native English speakers.	Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing.
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)	Another accepted English proficiency test by many UK universities.	Non-native English speakers.	Speaking & Writing, Reading, Listening.

UK Entrance Exams for Other Graduate Programs (Excluding MS)

If you want admission to any other postgraduate course at a UK university, the following are the entrance exams you need to take:

Exam	Main Use	Relevant Disciplines	Assessed Areas
GMAT(Graduate Management Admission Test)	Common for business-related postgraduate programs.	MBA, Business, Finance, Management	Verbal reasoning, analytical writing, quantitative skills, and integrated reasoning.
GRE(Graduate Record Examination)	Sometimes requested for analytical or research-heavy subjects.	Economics, Psychology, Public Policy	Analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning.
LNAT(Law National Aptitude Test)	Occasionally required for postgraduate law courses.	Graduate-entry Law	Comprehension of complex texts, logical reasoning.
GAMSAT(Graduate Medical School Admissions Test)	Used for graduate-entry medicine admissions.	Medicine (graduate-level)	Scientific knowledge, problem-solving, and critical thinking in the humanities and sciences.
UCAT(University Clinical Aptitude Test)	Needed for some graduate medical and dental programs.	Medicine and Dentistry (graduate-entry)	Logical reasoning, decision-making, numerical skills, and communication.
IELTS / TOEFL / PTE Academic	Proof of English proficiency for international applicants.	All non-native English speakers	Speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English.

How Exams Are Conducted in UK Universities?

The UK University entrance exams are held in various formats. That is, 

• A computer-based test is held for exams like PTE Academic and UCAT at test centres
• Paper-based exams are conducted for exams like BMAT or MAT at test centres
• Online assessments are held by certain universities for international students.

The exam format depends on the entrance exam you are going to take.

Also Read: Conditional vs Unconditional Offer Letter

Which Exam is Required for a UK Student Visa?

To study at a UK university, you need  a UK student visa. For a UK student visa, you need to pass an English language test. You need to clear any of the following exams-

1. IELTS Academic ( accepted by all UK universities)
2. TOEFL ibt (Accepted by all UK universities but may not always be accepted for visa purposes)
3. PTE Academic (Mainly acceptable for visa applications)

Otherwise, you just have a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English. You must also apply through Ecctis for confirmation that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s, master’s or PhD level. GCSE, A-level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, gained by studying in the UK, is also acceptable.

What you’re studying	Level
Degree level or above	Equivalent to CEFR level B2
Below degree level	CEFR level B1

Which Exam is Required for a UK Work Visa?

UK skilled worker visa also need to provide proof that they are proficient in English. Some of the accepted tests include the following. You need at least a B1 score in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

1. IELTS for UKVI (General Training)
2. PTE Academic UKVI

The exact requirements might vary depending on the job or the employer.

Competitive Exams in the UK for Jobs

Several competitive exams are used in the UK for job recruitment, particularly in the public sector:

Exam Type	Purpose	Common Fields	What It Evaluates
Civil Service Fast Stream	Recruitment into leadership roles in the UK civil service.	Government, Public Administration	Cognitive ability, situational judgment, leadership potential.
ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)	Qualifications for becoming a chartered accountant.	Accounting, Finance	Financial reporting, audit, taxation, and business analysis.
SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination)	Required to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.	Law	Legal knowledge, application of law, client interaction.
CEng (Chartered Engineer Status)	Professional recognition in engineering disciplines.	Engineering (all branches)	Technical competence, ethics, design, and innovation skills.
Assessment Centres	Often part of public and private sector hiring processes.	Civil Service, Corporates, Local Government	Teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and decision-making.

Which English Exam is Accepted in the UK?

The UK accepts several English language proficiency tests. You need to take one of the English UK entrance exams for admission. 

1. IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
2. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
3. PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)
4. Cambridge English Qualifications (e.g., C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency)

The acceptance varies depending on the visa category and university.

To learn about which exam you must take (IELTS/TOEFL) watch this video:

Can I Go to the UK Without IELTS?

Yes. You can study in UK without clearing the IELTS exam. However, you must meet any of the alternative criteria,

1. Clear an alternative English language test like TOEFL or PTE Academic 
2. Complete a degree (equivalent to a UK qualification) from an English-speaking country
3. Meet the university-specific assessment criteria. Some universities give you admission if you meet their language assessment criteria.

Nevertheless, you need to know English to study or work in the UK.

TO learn about how to study in the UK without IELTS, watch this video:

FAQs

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This was all about the widely sought after UK entrance exam. If you wish to learn more about studying abroad, connect with the experts at Leverage Edu or call us at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session. We can help you with everything from choosing the perfect university to guiding you through the application process.