u/Different_Natural589

Did my first proper ESAT mock last year and scored way below what I expected, even though I knew the content fine. Took me a while to figure out why.

The problem wasn’t knowledge, it was that I was treating it like an A-level paper: reading each question carefully, working methodically, double-checking. That’s exactly how you run out of time and leave marks on the table.

What actually fixed it: practising timed from the start, and learning to recognise question types fast so I wasn’t solving each one from scratch. Once I’d seen enough of the same patterns, I could go straight to the method instead of thinking my way there every time.

Also learned to skip and come back. Spending 90 seconds on one hard question costs you two easy ones you never reach.

Happy to answer anything on the modules or applying in general.

Sat it last October and wasted time early on the wrong stuff. What actually worked:

- ENGAA/NSAA papers: closest real material since the ESAT replaced them. Do them all, but timed. Pacing is the real difficulty.

- Isaac Physics: free, Cambridge-run, perfect level for the physics/maths side. And a good interview prep too.

- TMUA/PAT papers: for building speed under pressure.

Biggest mistake: reading solutions instead of attempting questions first. Feels productive but teaches you nothing.

Don’t burn all your papers now, save some for timed practice closer to October.

Happy to answer anything on the modules or tips for the ESAT :)

Sat it last October and did badly. Four mistakes, in case anyone’s sitting it this year:

Started in September. Way too late: you want the summer.

Read worked solutions instead of attempting questions first. Feels productive, teaches you nothing.

Never practised under time pressure. The pacing is the real difficulty, not the content.

Didn’t track which spec points I kept missing, so I repeated the same weaknesses for weeks.

Got into Imperial in the end via interview. Happy to answer questions on the modules or on applying with a non-UK qualification.

I sat the esat and know about TMUA last year. Happy to answer any questions about admission tests, applications, preparation advices

I sat Esat and know about TMUA. Happy to answer any questions about admission tests, how to prep, applications

I sat the esat and know about TMUA last year. Happy to answer any questions about admission tests, applications, preparation advices