No obvious first step
PAT questions rarely tell you which equation to use. We teach a routine for extracting the physics from the wording before any algebra starts.
PAT
PAT preparation for physics, engineering and materials
The PAT combines physics and mathematics in problems that take several linked steps. The content rarely exceeds AS level, but the combinations are unfamiliar, and students who have only practised structured A-Level questions find the first paper a shock.
- Physics and maths combined
- Multi-step problems
- Timed practice
What happens next
- 1. A free consultation about the student's stage and goals.
- 2. A shortlist of tutors, reviewed by a person before it reaches you.
- 3. A free compatibility trial before anything is paid for.
Founding lessons from £25 per hour. No grade or place is ever guaranteed.
PAT at a glance
Checked each admissions cycle
- Used for
- Oxford physics, engineering and materials science courses
- Format
- One paper mixing physics and mathematics questions
- Content
- Roughly AS-level physics and maths, applied to multi-step unfamiliar problems
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Who PAT preparation suits
Applicants to Oxford physics, engineering and materials science courses, usually preparing alongside Year 13 coursework.
- Year 13 applicants preparing over the autumn term
- Year 12 students starting in the summer before applying
- Students strong in physics but slower in mathematics, or the reverse
- Students who stall when a question offers no obvious first step
What usually gets in the way
These are the patterns we see most often, and what a tutor does about them.
Algebra carried through several steps
Long symbolic manipulation without numbers unsettles students used to substituting early. We practise staying symbolic until the end.
Topics not yet taught
Applicants sit the test before covering parts of the A-Level course. Those topics are taught early rather than skipped.
Pace across a broad paper
The paper moves quickly between topics. Students need a rule for when to leave a question and return.
What we cover
Physics
- Mechanics and circular motion
- Electricity and circuits
- Waves and optics
- Basic astrophysics reasoning
Mathematics
- Algebraic manipulation
- Logarithms and exponentials
- Geometry and trigonometry
- Calculus applied to physics
Technique
- Extracting the model from the wording
- Symbolic working
- Estimation and sanity checks
- Timing across topics
How our tutors prepare students for the PAT
Lessons focus on the first ninety seconds of a problem, because that is where most marks are won or lost. Students narrate their thinking; the tutor corrects the approach rather than the arithmetic.
- Problems worked aloud so reasoning is visible and correctable
- A repeatable routine for turning wording into a physical model
- Symbolic manipulation practised deliberately
- Weekly timed sets, with error causes logged
- Two full timed papers in the final month
A typical first four weeks
Every plan is adjusted at the consultation, but this is the shape most engagements take.
- Week 1
Baseline paper
A timed past paper identifies whether the limiter is physics, mathematics, or approach.
- Week 2
Model-building routine
Practice at reading a problem and stating the physics before touching algebra.
- Week 3
Symbolic and multi-step work
Extended manipulation without numbers, plus sanity-checking techniques.
- Week 4
Timed paper and plan
A full paper under real conditions, marked in detail, with a plan for the remaining weeks.
What families ask
How much content is beyond A-Level?
Very little. The syllabus is close to AS-level physics and maths, but questions combine topics in unfamiliar ways. Check the current syllabus each year.
When should I start?
Summer before Year 13 is ideal for a light start, with focused work through the autumn term ahead of the sitting.
Can the same tutor help with A-Level Physics?
Often yes, and it keeps the work joined up. We will say if a specialist would be a better match.
Do you guarantee an offer?
No. We prepare thoroughly and give an honest read on progress, but offers are decided entirely by the university.
Related support
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Read about ESAT preparationOxford engineering applications
PAT preparation and interview practice, planned around an early deadline.
Read about Oxford engineering applicationsTalk to us about pat preparation
Tell us the stage, exam board and timeline. We will recommend a tutor and arrange a free compatibility trial.
This page was last reviewed by the Tutivate team on 1 August 2026. Admissions requirements and dates change; always confirm details against the official source before making decisions.