Oxford Maths Aptitude Test: 2024 MAT Preparation Guide
What is the MAT?
The MAT Exam (or Maths Aptitude Test) is an entrance exam used by the university of Oxford and some other UK universities to assess subject aptitude as part of the admissions process. Students taking the MAT exam have 2h30 to complete the online test, without any calculators or formula sheets.
The MAT exam must be sat by all students applying to Oxford for:
Mathematics (including joint courses like Mathematics & Statistics, Mathematics & Computer Science, Mathematics and Philosophy)
Computer Science (including joint courses like Computer Science and Philosophy)
It is also used by Imperial University for students applying to study Mathematics.
The format consists of 27 questions, similar to previous years but with a different distribution. 25 questions are multiple-choice, valued at 2, 3, or 4 marks each. Candidates should attempt all questions. There are also 2 longer response questions, each worth 15 marks. For these, candidates need to type answers without complex symbols, justifying their reasoning as part of their responses. The overall test is scored out of 100 marks, with partial credit awarded for incomplete solutions.
It’s important to acknowledge that the MAT exam is going to challenge you. Do not give up your dreams of Oxford after your first paper! While the MAT exam only includes topics around the level of AS Maths, the questions are not straightforward. They are designed to test how you can apply your Maths knowledge to new questions. While in A Level Maths and Further Maths you are taught methods and then tested on identifying the appropriate method and applying it, the MAT exam questions are designed so that a strong A Level student will not immediately know how to proceed. This is why it’s important to get lots of practice for the MAT exam to get familiar with the question styles and the creative thinking style required to succeed.
U2 Tuition Quick Tip: Don’t obsess over the average scores they give. As a mathematician you should know that half of successful candidates got below the average successful! This may sound obvious but it’s easy for a score below this average to feel like a failure. Also bear in mind that MAT is only one element of the overall picture they look at, even if it is an important element. Finally, they do see your score in the context of any extenuating circumstances you’ve had to deal with (especially regarding your schooling).
How to Prepare for the MAT Exam:
First, go through the MAT exam syllabus and check you are very confident with this material. As you prepare for the MAT exam, you should go deeper than you would for A level: think about proofs even if they aren’t examinable, understand how the results and concepts fit together. As someone who enjoys maths, enjoy the opportunity to really thoroughly understand a relatively small amount of material. This will get you thinking in the MAT exam style.
Then, you should start testing your knowledge and practising MAT exam technique with the MAT exam past papers available online. We recommend you practise with all of them, working in chronological order from earliest to most recent (treating the specimen papers as 2009 papers). The style of the papers has subtly changed over the years, and of course they’ve recently shifted to an online format! Start off with the early papers to ease yourself in and do the later papers in the immediate run up to the exam, so you walk into the exam with the most up to date expectations. Before your MAT exam, you’ll be sent a link to a sample MAT to get used to the online format.
You can access all the MAT past papers and solution on the Oxford MAT exam guidance website.
U2 Tuition Quick Tip: Preparing for the MAT exam can also be great practice for an interview! Try verbalising your thought process in response to each question and explaining your solutions out loud!
It is tempting to think of the MAT exam as an IQ test which cannot be prepared for. You can and should prepare! Practising with MAT exam past papers will get you used to the structure and style of thinking required. It’s important to engage critically with each MAT past exam you complete. As you go through each, think about where you are losing marks. Are you struggling with time management? Not using previous parts of the question? Making silly mistakes? You may like to work with an Oxford MAT tutor who can mark your mock exams and provide extensive feedback, picking up on the areas where you make common mistakes and providing supplementary resources to improve your performance. Find out more.
Remember: The MAT requires you to think really really hard which is tiring! Make sure you take some time off before your exam so you go into it replenished!
Looking for support with the Oxford MAT?
An Oxford MAT tutor is an excellent resource for supporting your preparation for the Mathematics Admissions Test. Tutors help ensure you have a strong understanding of the entire MAT syllabus, introducing new concepts in clear, accessible ways and testing your grasp with regular practice.
Working with an Oxford MAT tutor will deepen your mathematical understanding well beyond the A Level syllabus, encouraging you to apply your knowledge with challenging MAT practice problems. Tutors will offer additional MAT-style questions, detailed answers, and extensive feedback, working through each question one-on-one to strengthen your weaker areas and ensure you’re fully prepared for the Oxford MAT exam.
Further Useful MAT Exam Resources:
Here are some alternative resources that can be another great way to prepare you for the MAT exam. These won’t be in the same style as MAT past exams, but offer a similar kind of content for you to practise with!
Tips for Approaching MAT Exam Questions:
There is a “narrative” to the long questions. Very often you will be required to use earlier parts of the question later on. Think of the long questions as one big questions divided into parts to help guide you through it.
E.g. especially true in 2017 2iiic
If you’re stuck a good place to start is to consider what you do know. Find concepts or results that resemble the question you’re faced with and try to make a connection.
E.g. 2018 2ii - you don’t know what Tn looks like but you do know what T2, T3 and T4 look like, how can you relate this to Tn?
Look at the bigger picture. Often it helps to see the general point or grasp something intuitively before (or instead of) focussing on specifics.
E.g. 2019 2iii - don’t get stuck in with “maths”, just think generally and intuitively about the process. This is also encouraged in graph sketching questions: it often helps to consider what happens when x gets big or small, whether there is any symmetry, etc.
Take a second before diving in. Ask yourself how it is best to approach the question, e.g. algebra or a picture.
Don’t get too stuck on one question, move on and come back. Find a balance, give yourself long enough to have a good think about it but don’t be afraid to move on to a question that you may find more manageable. If you really don’t know, give all the multiple choice questions a guess anyway!
How Can U2 Help You Prepare for the Oxford MAT & Wider Oxford Application Process?
U2 Tuition provides comprehensive support for students preparing for the Oxford Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) as part of our broader Oxbridge mentoring services or through one-on-one tuition sessions. Whether you're applying for Mathematics, Computer Science, or joint degrees like Mathematics & Statistics, we guide you every step of the way.
Our Approach:
Tailored Tutor Matching: We carefully select a tutor who is an Oxford graduate in Mathematics, Computer Science, or whichever subject you are applying to, with substantial experience preparing students for the MAT exam. Many of our tutors have postgraduate degrees and detailed knowledge of the Oxford admissions process, ensuring you receive targeted and effective preparation.
Initial Assessment: We begin with an initial assessment where the tutor assesses the student’s current skills and areas for improvement. Following this session, we provide a comprehensive report with feedback and a personalised plan for MAT exam preparation.
Regular MAT Sessions: In structured sessions, tutors focus on enhancing students' problem-solving skills and helping them recognize patterns in MAT questions. This includes tackling complex mathematical concepts beyond the A-Level syllabus, working through past papers, setting mock exams, and offering strategies for time management. Our goal is to build confidence in the thinking style required for the MAT exam.
Wider Application Support
Beyond MAT preparation, U2’s Oxbridge mentoring aims to develop students to a high level for success at interviews. Regular tutorials mirror the Oxbridge learning style, encouraging students to solve advanced problems, articulate their reasoning, and think critically in a conversational setting.
We provide tailored support across the whole application process, including:
For more information, you can book a free MAT Test consultation with us to discuss your needs.
Sessions start from £70/h + VAT.