ESAT, January 2027 sitting
ESAT study plan for January 2027
The January ESAT runs from 4 January to 8 January 2027, and booking closes on 21 December 2026 at 6pm. From the week of 2 November that gives you nine weeks: one to find your gaps, six to fix them module by module, and two for full timed sittings.
- Test days
- 4 to 8 January
- Book by
- 21 December, 6pm
- Results
- 8 February
- Each module
- 27 questions, 40 min
Your nine weeks, dated
Most courses ask for Mathematics 1 and two more modules. Below, “module 2” and “module 3” are your other two, in the order you feel least sure of them.
| Week | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1: 2 to 8 Nov | Find your gaps | Sit one timed 40-minute module of each of your three, with no calculator. Mark it and list every miss by its specification heading. Book your January slot. |
| 2: 9 to 15 Nov | Maths 1: number and algebra | Number, ratio and proportion, algebra. Ten minutes of mental arithmetic every day. |
| 3: 16 to 22 Nov | Maths 1: the rest | Units, geometry, statistics and probability. One timed Maths 1 module at the end of the week. |
| 4: 23 to 29 Nov | Module 2, first half | Work through the first half of its specification headings, five questions per heading. |
| 5: 30 Nov to 6 Dec | Module 2, second half | The remaining headings, then one timed module. Fix every miss before moving on. |
| 6: 7 to 13 Dec | Module 3, first half | The first half of its headings. Access arrangements requests close 7 December at 6pm. |
| 7: 14 to 20 Dec | Module 3, second half | The remaining headings and one timed module of each of your three. Bursary requests close 14 December. |
| 8: 21 to 27 Dec | Full sitting | Booking closes 21 December at 6pm. Sit all three modules back to back, timed, then redo every miss without notes. |
| 9: 28 Dec to 3 Jan | Second sitting, then rest | One more full timed sitting early in the week. Redo old misses only, and rest for the last two days. |
What each module tests
Every module has 27 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes, timed separately, with no calculator. Each is scored from 1 to 9, and every module assumes the Mathematics 1 content.
| Module | Topics in the specification |
|---|---|
| Mathematics 1 | Units, Number, Ratio and proportion, Algebra, Geometry, Statistics, Probability |
| Mathematics 2 | Algebra and functions, Sequences and series, Coordinate geometry, Trigonometry, Exponentials and logarithms, Differentiation, Integration, Graphs of functions |
| Physics | Electricity, Magnetism, Mechanics, Thermal physics, Matter, Waves, Radioactivity |
| Chemistry | Atomic structure, The Periodic Table, Reactions, formulae and equations, Quantitative chemistry, Redox, Bonding, structure and properties, Group chemistry, Separation techniques, Acids, bases and salts, Rates of reaction, Energetics, Electrolysis, Organic chemistry, Metals, Kinetic and particle theory, Chemical tests, Air and water |
| Biology | Cells, Movement across membranes, Cell division and sex determination, Inheritance, DNA, Gene technologies, Variation, Enzymes, Animal physiology, Ecosystems, Plant physiology |
Three mistakes to avoid
- Practising with a calculator. The ESAT allows none, so do every practice question by hand from the first week.
- Letting one hard question eat the clock. Each module is timed on its own and spare time does not carry over; there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so move on and answer every question.
- Skipping Mathematics 1 because you sit Physics or Chemistry. Every module assumes the Maths 1 content, so its gaps cost marks everywhere.
Questions people ask
When is the January 2027 ESAT?
4 January to 8 January 2027. In China, Hong Kong and Macau it is on 6 January 2027.
When does ESAT booking close?
21 December 2026 at 6pm UK time.
Can I sit the January ESAT for Cambridge?
Most Cambridge and Oxford applicants must sit in October. If you are not applying to Cambridge, you can choose October or January.
How much does the ESAT cost?
£78 per test in the UK and Republic of Ireland, £133 elsewhere. A bursary covers the full fee for those who qualify.
When do January ESAT results come out?
8 February 2027