Important
The ENGAA is no longer held. It was last set in 2023. From October 2024 it was replaced by the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT), which Cambridge Engineering applicants now take instead.
Overview
The Engineering Admissions Assessment (ENGAA) was the written admissions test for Engineering applicants to the University of Cambridge, set by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Past papers run from 2016 to 2023.
In January 2024 the University of Cambridge announced that the ENGAA, along with the NSAA, BMAT, TSA and the paper-based TMUA, would be replaced from October 2024 by two computer-based tests delivered through Pearson VUE: the ESAT and a new TMUA. Engineering applicants now take the ESAT.
Exam pattern
The 2023 ENGAA, the final one, was a pen-and-paper test in two sections. Section 1 was structured as follows:
| Part | Content | Questions | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Mathematics and Physics | 20 | 30 minutes |
| B | Advanced Mathematics and Advanced Physics | 20 | 30 minutes |
Section 1 lasted 60 minutes in total, all 40 questions were multiple choice, and calculators and dictionaries were not allowed. Candidates handed in Section 1 before being given Section 2.
Marking and results
In Section 1 each question was worth one mark, and wrong answers were not penalised, so candidates were told to attempt every question. Scores for Part A and Part B were reported separately.
What replaced it
The ESAT is a computer-based test made of 40-minute multiple-choice modules taken back to back. Cambridge Engineering applicants sit Mathematics 1, Physics and Mathematics 2, 120 minutes in total. There is no pass mark, and wrong answers are not penalised.
For 2026, Cambridge lists the ESAT test window as 12 to 16 October 2026, with a standard registration deadline of 28 September 2026.
Preparation tips
UAT-UK says old ENGAA papers contain questions of the type found in the ESAT, and it publishes the 2023 ENGAA paper and answer key among its ESAT preparation materials.
Practise without a calculator: the ENGAA did not allow one.
Remember the format has changed: practise for 40-minute computer-based modules, not a paper exam.
FAQs
Is the ENGAA still held?
No. The last ENGAA was set in 2023. Since October 2024, Cambridge Engineering applicants take the ESAT instead.
Are ENGAA past papers still worth using?
Yes, as practice. UAT-UK lists them among its ESAT preparation materials because they contain questions of the type found in the ESAT.