ESAT percentile calculator
For 2026 entry, the ESAT 90th percentile was 6.5 to 7.0 depending on the module, out of 9.0.
Percentile
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Each module is placed among all 2026-entry candidates who sat it. There is no combined ESAT score, so modules are never merged. Cambridge and Imperial applicants are a stronger group.
| Percentile | Mathematics 1 |
|---|---|
| 25th | 3.6 |
| 50th | 4.4 |
| 75th | 5.3 |
| 90th | 6.7 |
| Candidates | 14,193 |
Questions people ask
What is a good ESAT percentile?
The ESAT has no pass mark. For 2026 entry, the 90th percentile score across both sittings was between 6.5 and 7.0 depending on the module, so a score there put you in the top tenth of everyone who sat it. Competitive courses draw stronger applicants than the full field, so look at the Cambridge and Imperial tools too.
Is the January ESAT easier than October?
January candidates scored lower on average: for 2026 entry the January median in Physics was 3.4, against 4.5 in October. January uses October's scaling, so both sit on one scale; the January group was simply different. That does not show that either sitting helps or hurts.
Why is my percentile different in each module?
Each module has its own group of candidates. For 2026 entry, 5.3 was the 75th percentile score in Mathematics 1 and in Physics, but in Chemistry, where the 75th percentile score was 5.7, it sat between the 50th and 75th.
Is there an overall ESAT score or percentile?
No. UAT-UK reports each module separately, with no total and no combined percentile, so this calculator never merges modules.
How many people sit each ESAT module?
For 2026 entry, across both sittings: 14,193 took Mathematics 1, 12,113 Mathematics 2, 11,290 Physics, 3,146 Chemistry and 1,547 Biology.
What is a 7.0 in ESAT?
A top-10% score. For 2026 entry, 7.0 was about the 90th to 92nd percentile in every module.
What is a bad ESAT score?
There is no fail mark, but below 3.6 was the bottom quarter in Mathematics 1 for 2026 entry. The middle score was 4.4.
What is an ESAT score?
A score from 1.0 to 9.0 for each module you sit, to one decimal place. There is no total across modules and no pass mark.
How difficult is the ESAT?
It is built to spread out strong students: for 2026 entry the middle score was 4.4 in Mathematics 1 and 4.1 in Physics, out of 9.0. Only 10% reached 6.7 in Mathematics 1.
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How we work this out
What it does
Place each module score among the people who sat that module, by entry year and sitting, from UAT-UK's own reports.
ESAT module scores from 1.0 to 9.0, for 2026 entry (sat October 2025 or January 2026) and 2025 entry (sat October 2024 or January 2025). Each module is compared only with the people who sat that module.
Method
- UAT-UK prints the scores at the 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles for each module, entry year and sitting.
- Between two printed points we draw a straight line. 2026-entry Physics 5.0, both sittings, sits between 4.1 (50th) and 5.3 (75th): 50 + 0.9 / 1.2 x 25 = 68.75, about the 69th percentile.
- Below the 25th or above the 90th percentile no points are printed. We say which side of the printed point the score is on, and give a rough figure that assumes scores thin out evenly towards 1.0 or 9.0.
- Under How we work this out we also say which pair of printed percentiles the score is known to fall between. At a printed score that widens to both neighbours, because scores are rounded to one decimal and ties are not published.
Published figures
The published ESAT score distribution
Each module’s 1.0 to 9.0 scores.
| Module and sitting | Candidates | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics 1, both sittings | 14,193 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 5.3 | 6.7 |
| Mathematics 1, October | 10,116 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 7.0 |
| Mathematics 1, January | 4,077 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 5.4 |
| Mathematics 2, both sittings | 12,113 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 5.4 | 6.5 |
| Mathematics 2, October | 8,082 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 7.0 |
| Mathematics 2, January | 4,031 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 5.4 |
| Physics, both sittings | 11,290 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 5.3 | 6.5 |
| Physics, October | 7,717 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 7.0 |
| Physics, January | 3,573 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 5.5 |
| Chemistry, both sittings | 3,146 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 7.0 |
| Chemistry, October | 2,814 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 7.0 |
| Chemistry, January | 332 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 5.7 |
| Biology, both sittings | 1,547 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 7.0 |
| Biology, October | 1,531 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 7.0 |
| Biology, January | 16 | not published |
| Module and sitting | Candidates | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics 1, both sittings | 11,919 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 5.4 | 6.7 |
| Mathematics 1, October | 9,141 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 7.0 |
| Mathematics 1, January | 2,778 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.9 |
| Mathematics 2, both sittings | 10,040 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 6.8 |
| Mathematics 2, October | 7,303 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 7.0 |
| Mathematics 2, January | 2,737 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| Physics, both sittings | 9,237 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 5.6 | 6.8 |
| Physics, October | 6,853 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 7.0 |
| Physics, January | 2,384 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 6.0 |
| Chemistry, both sittings | 2,821 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 6.8 |
| Chemistry, October | 2,570 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 5.8 | 7.0 |
| Chemistry, January | 251 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 5.8 |
| Biology, both sittings | 1,429 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 5.9 | 7.0 |
| Biology, October | 1,428 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 5.9 | 7.0 |
| Biology, January | 1 | not published |