ESAT at University of Cambridge
Cambridge Natural Sciences: ESAT requirements
The short answer
For 2027 entry, Cambridge Natural Sciences (BCF0) requires Mathematics 1 plus two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2.1 Sit it in the October window (12 to 16 October 2026) only. January possible only for an eligible mature-college application with a January deadline; check the exact college/course.2 In Cambridge's 2025 Freedom of Information data for NatSci Physical, offer holders' median Mathematics 1 score was 5.8, against 4.8 for all applicants with that module.3 In the 2025 application cycle, Cambridge made 672 offers from 2,644 applications to Natural Sciences (25.4%).4,5
- Median M1, offer holders
- 5.83
- All applicants 4.8; NatSci Physical, 2025
- Calculated from published counts
One number, and the gap from your own score.
One question per module
Cambridge Natural Sciences asks for Mathematics 1, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2. Try one original question from each.
Mathematics 1
A map has a scale of . A lake has an area of on the map. What is the actual area of the lake?Biology
The graph shows how the rate of reaction catalysed by two enzymes, and , changes with temperature. Which of the following statements are correct? 1 At , the reaction catalysed by enzyme is faster than the reaction catalysed by enzyme . 2 Enzyme has a low rate at because its active site has been denatured. 3 The fall in rate of enzyme above is caused by a change in the shape of its active site.Chemistry
Magnesium reacts with excess dilute hydrochloric acid in the apparatus shown: . At the end, the gas syringe contains of hydrogen. One mole of gas occupies under the conditions used, and . What mass of magnesium reacted?Physics
A trolley of mass moving at collides with a stationary trolley of mass . The two trolleys stick together. How much kinetic energy is transferred to other stores in the collision?Mathematics 2
For which values of does the equation have no real solutions?
ESAT modules for Cambridge Natural Sciences
When to sit the ESAT
Published scores and offer rates
Course-level figures from the university's own statistics and Freedom of Information replies. Offer rates are per application, not per interview.
- Offer holders' median
- All applicants' median
Modules taken by fewer than 10 offer holders are in the table only.
- Offer holders' median
- All applicants' median
Modules taken by fewer than 10 offer holders are in the table only.
| Course option | Module | Group | Number | Mean | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NatSci Biological | Mathematics 1 | All applicants | 1,131 | 4.54 | 4.2 | 1 to 9 |
| NatSci Biological | Mathematics 2 | All applicants | 181 | 4.96 | 4.8 | 1 to 9 |
| NatSci Biological | Physics | All applicants | 84 | 4.77 | 4.85 | 1.3 to 8.9 |
| NatSci Biological | Chemistry | All applicants | 950 | 5.02 | 4.9 | 1 to 9 |
| NatSci Biological | Biology | All applicants | 1,046 | 5.00 | 5 | 1 to 9 |
| NatSci Biological | Mathematics 1 | Offer holders | 287 | 4.89 | 4.5 | 1.4 to 9 |
| NatSci Biological | Mathematics 2 | Offer holders | 31 | 5.41 | 5 | 3.3 to 9 |
| NatSci Biological | Physics | Offer holders | 19 | 5.54 | 5.6 | 2.7 to 8.9 |
| NatSci Biological | Chemistry | Offer holders | 252 | 5.95 | 5.9 | 2.3 to 9 |
| NatSci Biological | Biology | Offer holders | 272 | 6.17 | 5.9 | 2 to 9 |
| NatSci Physical | Mathematics 1 | All applicants | 1,435 | 4.98 | 4.8 | 1 to 9 |
| NatSci Physical | Mathematics 2 | All applicants | 995 | 5.21 | 5 | 1 to 9 |
| NatSci Physical | Physics | All applicants | 1,254 | 5.10 | 4.9 | 1 to 9 |
| NatSci Physical | Chemistry | All applicants | 589 | 5.23 | 5.2 | 1 to 9 |
| NatSci Physical | Biology | All applicants | 28 | 3.91 | 4 | 1 to 7 |
| NatSci Physical | Mathematics 1 | Offer holders | 381 | 6.00 | 5.8 | 2.2 to 9 |
| NatSci Physical | Mathematics 2 | Offer holders | 257 | 6.29 | 6.1 | 1.8 to 9 |
| NatSci Physical | Physics | Offer holders | 335 | 6.19 | 6 | 1.8 to 9 |
| NatSci Physical | Chemistry | Offer holders | 168 | 6.54 | 6.4 | 2.7 to 9 |
| NatSci Physical | Biology | Offer holders | 2 | 5.65 | 5.65 | 5.4 to 5.9 |
| NatSci Unspecified | Mathematics 1 | All applicants | 8 | 3.34 | 3.1 | 1.1 to 7.1 |
| NatSci Unspecified | Mathematics 2 | All applicants | 5 | 3.36 | 3.7 | 1.2 to 5.9 |
| NatSci Unspecified | Physics | All applicants | 4 | 2.38 | 2.3 | 1.8 to 3.1 |
| NatSci Unspecified | Chemistry | All applicants | 2 | 2.95 | 2.95 | 1.4 to 4.5 |
| NatSci Unspecified | Biology | All applicants | 4 | 4.50 | 4.3 | 4 to 5.4 |
| Cycle | Course | Test that cycle | Group | Offers | Out of | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 application cycle | Natural Sciences | ESAT | All applications regardless of domicile in Cambridge annual statistics Table 1.1 | 672 | 2,644 applications | 25.4% |
| 2025 application cycle | NatSci Biological | Not stated | All applications in FOI summary for the course option | 288 | 1,160 applications | 24.8% |
| 2025 application cycle | NatSci Physical | Not stated | All applications in FOI summary for the course option | 384 | 1,465 applications | 26.2% |
| 2025 application cycle | NatSci Unspecified | Not stated | All applications in FOI summary for the course option | 0 | 19 applications | 0.0% |
Free tools for this
Questions people ask
What ESAT score is competitive for Cambridge Natural Sciences?
In Cambridge's 2025 Freedom of Information data for NatSci Physical, offer holders' median Mathematics 1 score was 5.8, against 4.8 for all applicants with that module.3 In the 2025 application cycle, Cambridge made 672 offers from 2,644 applications to Natural Sciences (25.4%).4,5
Which ESAT sitting should I take for Cambridge Natural Sciences?
Sit it in the October window (12 to 16 October 2026) only. January possible only for an eligible mature-college application with a January deadline; check the exact college/course.2
How should I read the published ESAT score distribution?
UAT-UK's percentile tables cover every ESAT candidate. They tell you where a score sits nationally, not what Cambridge Natural Sciences applicants scored. The course figures above are the closest evidence for this course.3
Sources
- 1
- 2UAT-UKChecked 27 Sep 2026.
- 3WhatDoTheyKnow (FOI response)FOI individual applicant tablesFreedom of Information reply. Checked 26 Sep 2026.
- 4
- 5