TMUA, MAT, STEP, which test do you actually need?

A candidate's guide to UK mathematics admissions tests in 2026 and what changed in 2027.

19 May 2026 · 6 min read

UK undergraduate mathematics candidates have to think about three admissions tests: the TMUA, the MAT, and STEP. Which ones matter for a given candidate depends entirely on which universities they apply to and what subject they read. The landscape also changed substantially for 2027 entry, which this article straightens out.

The short version

For 2027 entry, the TMUA is required (or used) by the seven UAT-UK universities: Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, Durham, Warwick, and UCL (UAT-UK course list 2027). Oxford joined the consortium for 2027 entry and retired the MAT in the process.

The MAT was Oxford’s mathematics and computer-science test. It no longer exists from 2026 onwards. Oxford mathematics and computer science applicants now sit the TMUA (University of Oxford).

STEP is a separate paper, taken by candidates applying for mathematics at Cambridge, Imperial, and Warwick (University of Cambridge). It is the last filter for those courses and is much harder than the TMUA.

A Cambridge mathematics applicant therefore needs both the TMUA (in the autumn) and STEP (the following summer). An Oxford mathematics applicant for 2027 entry needs the TMUA only. An applicant whose target courses are at Imperial, LSE, UCL, Durham, or Warwick (for non-mathematics courses) typically needs only the TMUA.

What each test measures

TMUA

Two papers of twenty multiple-choice questions, seventy-five minutes each. Calculator-free and formula-booklet-free (UAT-UK).

Paper 1 (Mathematical Knowledge) covers AS-level pure mathematics plus the higher end of GCSE the test sometimes draws back on. The content is familiar. The difficulty comes from familiar content asked in unfamiliar ways under time pressure.

Paper 2 (Mathematical Reasoning) covers necessary and sufficient conditions, counter-example construction, error-spotting in proofs, quantifier negation, and translation between English statements and formal logic.

Excluded from the syllabus: $e^x$ , $\ln x$ , integration by substitution and integration by parts, complex numbers, hyperbolics, and any further pure.

Two sittings per cycle: 12–16 October 2026 and 4–8 January 2027 (UAT-UK deadlines). Most applicants sit in October, since the UCAS deadline for Oxford and Cambridge is 15 October.

MAT

If you are reading this in time for 2026 entry, you may still be sitting the MAT. From 2027 entry it no longer exists. Historically it was a two-and-a-half-hour written paper of multiple-choice questions followed by four long problem-solving questions, and it tested differentiation from first principles explicitly. Oxford’s switch to the TMUA from 2027 entry retired it (University of Oxford).

STEP

A three-hour written paper of twelve long questions, of which the candidate attempts six. Marks are awarded for completeness of working as well as the final answer. The mathematical content includes A-level Further Pure plus AS Further Pure: complex numbers, matrices, hyperbolics, series, polar coordinates, and the mechanics or statistics sections if the candidate chooses to attempt them.

Grades from highest to lowest are S (Outstanding), 1 (Very Good), 2 (Good), 3 (Satisfactory), and U (University of Cambridge). A typical Cambridge mathematics offer is grade 1 in both STEP 2 and STEP 3. Warwick mathematics offers usually involve STEP 2 alone. Imperial uses STEP for some mathematics offers as well.

STEP is the hardest of the three by a clear margin. A grade 1 in STEP 3 typically requires solving four of the six attempted questions cleanly, plus partial credit on the other two.

Sequencing for a Cambridge mathematics application

The timing for a Cambridge mathematics candidate is fixed.

October of Year 13: sit the TMUA. Competitive candidates score around 6.5 or above out of 9, depending on the college.
June of Year 13: sit STEP 2 and STEP 3 the week after the A-levels. A typical offer is grade 1 in STEP 2 and grade 1 in STEP 3, though some colleges set 1, 1 or 2, 2 depending on the candidate’s background. STEP grades come out in mid-August.

TMUA preparation falls into the summer of Year 12 and the early autumn of Year 13. STEP preparation runs from the start of Year 13 at the latest, with most successful candidates starting STEP work in the summer before.

Where Lemma fits

Lemma is built around the TMUA: its topic structure, its question style, its time pressure, its calculator-free arithmetic. STEP preparation overlaps with TMUA in topic coverage but the question format is different enough that candidates should use dedicated materials for STEP as well.