The NSAA was the science admissions assessment used for Cambridge Natural Sciences, and the ESAT has replaced it. This page gives applicants free practice sets in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics, three worked questions with full explanations, a study plan, and a short summary of the current test facts.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (ESAT (replaced NSAA)) | 27 multiple-choice questions per module (81 for 3 modules)[1] | Admissions Testing Service / UAT-UK (ESAT, which replaced the NSAA), delivered by Pearson VUE · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Time limit (ESAT (replaced NSAA)) | 120 minutes (3 × 40-minute modules)[1] | Admissions Testing Service / UAT-UK (ESAT, which replaced the NSAA), delivered by Pearson VUE · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score (ESAT (replaced NSAA)) | No pass mark; each module scored 1–9[1] | Admissions Testing Service / UAT-UK (ESAT, which replaced the NSAA), delivered by Pearson VUE · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Retake policy (ESAT (replaced NSAA)) | Once per admissions cycle[2] | pearsonvue.com · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Delivery (ESAT (replaced NSAA)) | Computer-based at Pearson test centres worldwide[2] | pearsonvue.com · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Eligibility (ESAT (replaced NSAA)) | Required for Cambridge Natural Sciences; Cambridge applicants sit in October[3] | undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Score release (ESAT (replaced NSAA)) | About 4 weeks after the sitting[1] | Admissions Testing Service / UAT-UK (ESAT, which replaced the NSAA), delivered by Pearson VUE · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Late registration deadline (ESAT (replaced NSAA)) | No bookings accepted after the deadline[4] | Admissions Testing Service / UAT-UK (ESAT, which replaced the NSAA), delivered by Pearson VUE · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Registration deadline (ESAT (replaced NSAA)) | 21 December 2026, 6pm GMT (January 2027 sitting)[4] | Admissions Testing Service / UAT-UK (ESAT, which replaced the NSAA), delivered by Pearson VUE · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Registration opens (ESAT (replaced NSAA)) | January 2027 booking expected to open 28 October 2026, 3pm GMT[1] | Admissions Testing Service / UAT-UK (ESAT, which replaced the NSAA), delivered by Pearson VUE · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Testing window (ESAT (replaced NSAA)) | 4–8 January 2027 (Test Sitting 2)[1] | Admissions Testing Service / UAT-UK (ESAT, which replaced the NSAA), delivered by Pearson VUE · Oct 27, 2026 |
According to Admissions Testing Service / UAT-UK (ESAT, which replaced the NSAA), delivered by Pearson VUE, “Each module lasts 40 minutes and contains 27 multiple choice questions.”[1]
The NSAA has been replaced by the ESAT, which is run by Admissions Testing Service (UAT-UK). Our practice sets keep the NSAA names, and they are useful for building science and maths fluency. The sets are written by us and are not real exam questions.
The ESAT is computer-based and is delivered by Pearson at test centres worldwide. Cambridge requires it for Natural Sciences, and Cambridge applicants sit in October. The test lasts 120 minutes for most candidates and is split into 40-minute modules. Each module has 27 multiple-choice questions, which makes 81 for 3 modules.
There is no pass mark. Each module is reported on a scale from 1 (low) to 9 (high) to one decimal place. Results arrive approximately 4 weeks after your sitting.
You may sit each test only once per admissions cycle. For the January sitting, the test window is 4 to 8 January 2027. Booking is expected to open on 28 October 2026 at 3pm GMT, and the deadline is 21 December 2026 at 6pm GMT. UAT-UK cannot accept bookings after the deadline. Which sitting and which modules apply to you depends on your course and university, so check the official ESAT pages and your university's admissions page before you book.
Prepare for the NSAA - Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What is the pH of a 0.01 M solution of HCl?
Answer: A. 2
Explanation:
The correct answer is 2. HCl is a strong acid, so it dissociates completely and the hydrogen ion concentration equals the acid concentration, 0.01 M. Then pH = -log[H⁺], and the logarithm of 0.01 is -2, so the pH is 2.
The answer 1 would need a much more concentrated acid. The answer 3 or 4 would suggest a weaker acid or a more dilute solution, which would only apply if the acid did not fully dissociate or had been diluted further. The question gives neither.
Rule to remember: for a strong monoprotic acid, concentration of H⁺ equals concentration of acid, and each tenfold dilution raises the pH by a single unit.
Question: Which type of bond is formed between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms within a single water molecule?
Answer: A. Covalent bond
Explanation:
The correct answer is a covalent bond. Oxygen and hydrogen are both non-metals, and inside the molecule they share electrons, which is what a covalent bond is.
An ionic bond is wrong because that needs electrons to transfer fully from a metal to a non-metal, which does not happen here. A hydrogen bond is wrong because it is a weaker attraction between separate water molecules, not the bond inside a molecule. A metallic bond is wrong because it describes a lattice of metal atoms sharing a sea of delocalised electrons.
Rule to remember: ask whether the bond is within a molecule or between molecules, then check whether the atoms are metals or non-metals. Sharing points to covalent, and transfer points to ionic.
Question: A 5 kg block slides down a frictionless incline of 30°. What is its acceleration?
Answer: A. 4.9 m/s²
Explanation:
The correct answer is 4.9 m/s². On a frictionless incline only the component of gravity along the slope accelerates the block, so a = g sin30°. With g as 9.8 m/s², that gives 4.9 m/s².
The answer 9.8 m/s² is wrong because it is free-fall acceleration, which would only apply for a vertical drop. The answer 8.5 m/s² is wrong because it matches the component perpendicular to the slope, which uses cosine and is balanced by the normal force. The answer 2.5 m/s² does not follow from either component.
The 5 kg mass is a distraction, because it cancels: force and mass both scale together. Rule to remember: on a frictionless slope, acceleration is g times the sine of the angle, and it does not depend on mass.
Start by reading the official ESAT pages so you know the format: 40-minute modules, 27 multiple-choice questions in each, and no pass mark. Then check which modules your course needs. Your target is a steady score on those modules, not a single number to hit.
No. The ESAT replaced the NSAA, and Cambridge now requires the ESAT for Natural Sciences. Our NSAA practice sets are still useful for building science and maths skills, but they are not real exam questions. Check the official ESAT pages for the current format and for which modules your course needs.
The ESAT lasts 120 minutes for most candidates. It is made up of 40-minute modules, and each module has 27 multiple-choice questions, which gives 81 questions for 3 modules. Which modules you sit depends on your course, so confirm with your university.
There is no pass mark. Each module is reported on a scale from 1 (low) to 9 (high) to one decimal place. Universities decide how they use your results, so check the admissions page of the course you are applying to.
The test is computer-based and delivered by Pearson at test centres worldwide. The January sitting runs from 4 to 8 January 2027. Cambridge applicants sit in October, so confirm which sitting applies to you on the official ESAT and university pages.
For the January 2027 sitting, the deadline is 21 December 2026 at 6pm GMT. Booking is expected to open on 28 October 2026 at 3pm GMT. UAT-UK is unable to accept test bookings after the stated deadline, so book early.
You are only permitted to sit each test once per admissions cycle. Prepare before you book, and use practice sets to find weak areas first. Results are released approximately 4 weeks after your sitting.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.