Test Day

Before you attend your Test Centre

It is your responsibility to make sure you are familiar with the test rules and UAT-UK policies.

Make sure you have read and understood the Admission and ID Policy and Test Incident Information.

The email you received after booking your test includes important details about your appointment. Any approved access arrangements should appear on your test booking confirmation.

What to do if you’re unwell, injured, or facing issues that could affect your test performance:

If you plan to take your test but face serious and unexpected issues before your test date, please inform us. You must do this before you sit the test via your online account. You may be eligible for Special Consideration. This includes illness, injury, or personal circumstances that arise immediately before your test.

If you do not report this to us, and go on to sit your test, you are declaring yourself fit to test. We will not normally take action if you tell us about illness, injury, or personal circumstances after testing.

What to do if you’re unwell, injured, or facing issues that mean you can no longer take your test:

If you cannot sit your test due to unforeseen circumstances, and it is not possible to rebook, you should let us know. If you are within 48 hours of your scheduled test, you may be eligible for Special Consideration. You can do so via your online account.

If you’re not applying to the University of Cambridge and can’t take the test in October, you’ll need to book again for the January sitting. We will not take Special Consideration into account in this case.

Candidates who cancel their test more than 48 hours ahead and do not rebook will not be matched to UCAS data. So, no information will be sent to the institutions they applied to. This includes Special Consideration. If you have a serious and unexpected reason to cancel your test and can’t sit in either test window, please inform your institution. UAT-UK is unable to grant exemptions from our admissions tests in these cases.

Admission Policy and Test Centre Procedures

Our full Admission and Photo ID Policy can be found here.

You should ensure you have planned your travel to your Test Centre in advance. You should arrive 30 minutes ahead of your scheduled test sitting.

You may be refused entry if you arrive more than 15 minutes late for your appointment. If this happens, your test fees will be forfeited.

Upon arrival, you will be asked to present:

• One form of original, unexpired, photographic ID. It must meet the requirements of this policy. Please see below for accepted forms of ID and further information. If you fail to show a valid form of ID, you will not be permitted to test and you will forfeit your test fee.
• Your appointment confirmation email from Pearson VUE (electronic or printed)

No personal items may be taken into the testing room. This includes all bags, books, notes, phones, pagers, watches, and wallets. You will be instructed to leave these in the locker room.

ID Requirements

Candidates will be asked to present one form of ID that meets the stated requirement in our Admission and Photo ID Policy and is listed as an accepted government-issued ID.

ID must:

• Be the original copy (no photocopies or photos)
• Be unexpired
• Show a photo of true likeness
• Contain your signature
• Be a government issued ID from the list in our Policy

*If your only form of photographic ID is an expired passport, it will be accepted alongside your renewal paperwork.

Permitted forms of ID:

• Passport – accepted at any test centre.
• Photo-card driver’s licence (full or provisional) – accepted in the country of issue.
• EU ID card – accepted in EU test centres (not the UK).
• Government issued ID card – accepted in the country of issue.

ID Exemptions

For UK candidates without a valid form of ID, it is possible to apply for an ID exemption. If an exemption is granted, you will be able to present a Citizen Card OR a letter, with a photograph, from your school. Please contact UAT-UK via your online account to apply.

Test Centre Procedures

Candidates are advised to click through this Test Centre Tour for a step-by-step guide to Test Centre procedures. You can also watch this video to see what a UK Pearson VUE Test Centre looks like.

When you arrive for your test, your photo ID will be checked by staff. Your photograph will be taken for security purposes.

You will be asked to read the test rules and sign them.

You will be asked to leave any personal items in a designated area outside the test room.

Staff will make a visual inspection of your person. This will include any permitted comfort aids, or items approved under our access arrangements policy. This is for security purposes.

Test Centre receptions are restricted to test takers only for security reasons. Waiting areas are not provided for anyone accompanying you to the Test Centre.

After check-in is completed, you will be taken into the testing room and allocated a numbered desk. You will find a PC, keyboard and mouse as well as an erasable notebook and pen for rough work.

You may be recorded for security purposes during your test.

If you need a break (e.g. to use the toilets), raise your hand to notify the invigilator. Unless you have been approved for pause-the-clock breaks, the test cannot be paused. You will lose time when out of the room.

If you have any concerns over the check-in process, please contact Pearson VUE Customer Services . We advise you do this at least 5 working days before your test.

You should also ensure you are familiar with our Test Incident Policy. This applies if you fall ill during your test, or there are any significant disturbances to your test, such as a fire alarm or technical issues. If a problem is not reported during your test, UAT-UK will not normally take any action. If a problem affects your test, make sure you obtain an incident case number before you leave the Test Centre.

Test Rules

Please ensure you are familiar with the UAT-UK Misconduct Policy

You are only permitted to sit each UAT-UK test once per admission cycle. The 2026 entry cycle includes both the October 2025 and the January 2026 test sitting. Any attempt to register or sit a test a second time within the cycle will be considered misconduct. This includes booking under a second UAT-UK account.

Personal information provided to UAT-UK should be correct and up to date. Any attempt to provide incorrect or fraudulent information will be deemed misconduct.

You must not share or discuss the test with anyone else.

You must follow the rules and instructions set out by Test Centre staff.

Any items allowed in the test room are listed as a Permitted Comfort Aid. Other items may be approved under our Access Arrangements policy. You must not attempt to bring in any other unapproved items.

Food and drink (including water) is also not permitted in the test room unless prior approval has been given.

You should avoid causing any unnecessary disturbances during your test or making excessive noise. This may distract other candidates in the Test Centre.