MAT — Mathematics Admissions Test (Oxford)¶
What it is — and why it's now legacy. The MAT was Oxford's admissions test for Maths / Computer Science. But Oxford switches to the TMUA from 2026 entry — so for a 2027 maths application the MAT is not a target test. It remains good AS-level problem-solving practice (and well-stocked with past papers + solutions), so it's worth using as practice, not as a goal. The test that matters is the TMUA.
Format & rules (2024–25, stable)¶
- 2 hours 30 minutes; 27 questions, all attempted: 25 multiple-choice (worth 2, 3 or 4 marks) + 2 long-answer (15 marks each) → total /100.
- No calculator.
- No negative marking on the multiple-choice; the long questions are marked on justification/working.
- Syllabus: AS-level pure maths (the first year of A-level + a few early-second-year topics) — no Further Maths; deliberately accessible to students from other systems.
Where to get papers¶
Oxford Mathematical Institute — MAT: past papers 2007–2025 + two specimen papers + solutions.
How to sit it (mock protocol)¶
- 2½-hour timer, no calculator/notes. Pen + paper.
- Attempt all questions; for the two long questions, write full reasoning (that's where the marks are).
- Mark against the official solutions.
How to score & interpret¶
- Raw score out of 100. Oxford shortlisting historically sat in roughly the 50–75/100 band depending on year/course, but boundaries vary — treat it as practice, not a pass/fail.
- AS-level content → a no-calculus start scores low now (the gap, not the ability). Because it's legacy for 2027, prioritise TMUA mocks over MAT.