Guidance on admissions test registration and booking

Arranging to take your admissions test

In 2024, candidates will need to register for and book their test at a Pearson VUE test centre any time from 15 August to 4 October.

However, we strongly recommend that you do this as soon as possible. It is particularly important that you register early if you are requesting access arrangements, as this involves a few additional steps. You will be required to submit documented evidence of eligibility and have this accepted by Oxford. 

Please read these instructions thoroughly before booking your admissions test. (You can also download our candidate guidance on admissions test registration and booking.)

If possible, we recommend using a computer when following this process. 

If you do not require access arrangements, you can skip Step 2.

It is not necessary to have started or submitted your UCAS application when you book your test.

Step 1: From 15 August, go to the registration portal and follow the instructions to create your Oxford admissions test user account and register for your test.          

• If possible, we recommend following this process on a computer rather than a mobile.

• As part of this process, you will be asked for your UCAS ID number. If you have already opened an application with UCAS, you should enter this now. If you haven't yet started an application, you must return to this account, go to your ‘Profile’ and enter this information as soon as you can once you have opened an application with UCAS. It is really important that you do this, otherwise we may not be able to match your test registration with your application to Oxford.

• Once you have created your profile, you will be asked to select your chosen course from a drop-down menu. It will be easier to do this if you know your course code so find this first on your course page.

• On the basis of your selection you will be automatically registered for the appropriate test or tests. (Most courses require only one admissions test but a few joint courses require more than one.)

• During the application window of 15 August to 4 October, you can return any time to this platform using your login details to:

1. withdraw your admissions test booking
2. rebook your test at a different location
3. change your course selection and register for a different test

• You will also be asked for your contact details. Pearson VUE requires your address in order to suggest nearby test centres. This information is also used by your assigned test centre administrator so they can confirm your ID when you arrive to take your test. Note: your first/given and last/surname/family name must match exactly how it appears on the identification (ID) that you will be presenting at the time of testing. If there is not an exact match, you will not be able to take your test.

Step 2: Let us know if you would like to request access arrangements for your admissions test OR skip to Step 3

• If you do not require access arrangements skip to Step 3.

• You must let us know now if you require access arrangements for your admissions test. If you don’t request these at the time of registration, you will need to go back, withdraw your original booking and register and book again.

• If you select to request access arrangements, you will be presented with a checkbox list to select from.

• Requests should only be for arrangements you would normally have in public examinations and you will need to supply documented evidence of need. Supporting evidence should come from a recognised medical or educational specialist. 

• You will next be asked to indicate why these arrangements are needed and invited to select an option or options from a checkbox list.

• To confirm any request for access arrangements, the University of Oxford needs documented evidence of need, so please upload this as shown below:
  
  

• If you don’t have the documents to hand, please upload them before 6pm BST on 20 September via the platform messaging option – otherwise your test booking will be cancelled.

• After 20 September, you will be able to rebook your test and request these arrangements again any time up until 4 October but only if you upload the required documentation at the time of rebooking.

• To confirm, all candidates registering and booking (or rebooking) an admissions test which requires access arrangements after 20 September, must submit supporting documentation at the same time.

• Depending on the access arrangements requested, the process for booking your test at a Pearson VUE test centre will be slightly different.

• If selecting from category 1, you will be able to go ahead and book your test yourself - please skip to Step 3. Please note that the requested access arrangement is always subject to review and confirmation by University of Oxford.

• If selecting from category 2 you will need to fill out a scheduling form and Pearson VUE will book your test for you, and confirm your test booking via email. Please note that the requested access arrangement is always subject to review and confirmation by Oxford.

• After registering you will be returned to your account dashboard. If you scroll down to the bottom you should see a link to Pearson VUE's website. This will take you to this notice:
  
  
  
  
• If not in the US or Canada, click on the link to the Customer Service webpage. You will be asked to enter the name of your test programme - in this case University of Oxford. From there you will be directed to the scheduling form.

• If selecting from both category 1 and 2, you will need to follow the process for requesting category 2 arrangements and fill out a scheduling form for use by Pearson VUE when they select your test centre.

  

• If your normal arrangements are not listed, please select ‘other’ and describe these in the pop-up box available. In this instance, Oxford will review your request before contacting Pearson VUE on your behalf. Pearson VUE will then be in touch with you directly.

• If selecting category 1 and/or category 2 arrangements and ‘other’, you will need to follow the process for requesting ‘other’ arrangements and Pearson VUE will contact you.

Step 3: Book your test at a Pearson VUE test centre

• If you have not requested access arrangements or have only selected category 1 access arrangements, once you have registered for your test as outlined in Step 2, you will be automatically transferred to Pearson VUE’s test booking platform.

  

  

• When on the Pearson VUE test centre platform, you will be asked to read and agree to Oxford’s test policies before proceeding.

• The ‘Find a test centre’ function will automatically suggest centres near the address associated with your user account. An interactive map will pinpoint the location of any selected centre. 

• If you will be taking your test away from home, you can override this selection and enter another location to search.

• Using your Oxford admissions test account, you may be able to change the location of your test up until 4 October when test registration closes. 

• Any late changes cannot be guaranteed as places are allocated in order of booking. 

• Once you have chosen your test centre you will be asked to ‘Find an appointment’.

• As all Oxford candidates for a particular test will take this on the same day you will need to find and select this date on the calendar. Check your test date via our website. 

  

• If there are multiple test sittings at your chosen test centre, you will be invited to select the time you want to sit your test and book the appointment. 

  

• Finally, you will be asked to check all the booking details are correct before being taken to your dashboard where you will see confirmation that your test has been successfully booked. 

  

Booking confirmation and reminders

• You will also receive direct email confirmation of your test appointment, giving the date, your appointment time and duration, the address of the test centre you have selected and directions.

• If you do not receive this confirmation, please check your spam folders. The two email addresses you should expect to receive emails about your test booking are:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]

• If you now return to your Oxford admissions test account you will also see confirmation of your successful booking.

• Please note that the duration of your test appointment will show as longer than the time of your test. It will allow for you to arrive 15 minutes early, undergo ID and security checks and other preliminary procedures. 

• If at any time you want to withdraw your booking or rebook, you should go to Manage your appointment or Withdraw registration on your Oxford admissions test account.

  

• Remember: if you didn’t enter your UCAS ID when registering for your test, go back to your account profile and do this as soon as possible so we can match your test with your UCAS application.

• Remember: if you applied for access arrangements but have not yet uploaded supporting evidence, go back and do this before 20 September. 

Cancellations and withdrawals

• If you book a test but do not submit your UCAS application by the deadline of 15 October, you will be notified that your test booking has been automatically cancelled. Oxford admissions tests can only be taken by Oxford applicants.

• If you do not submit supporting evidence for your request for access arrangements in time, your test booking will be cancelled. You will be able to rebook without these arrangements OR request them again, provided you can immediately supply the necessary documentation, until the booking window closes on 4 October.

• You can cancel your booking up to 48 hours before your scheduled test time.

Additional support

• View our FAQs or contact Oxford’s undergraduate applicant helpdesk with questions regarding your application

• Contact Pearson VUE customer service (after 15 August) with queries about your test centre booking

• You can make changes to your test appointment by signing into your Oxford admissions test account and selecting 'manage appointment'. 

Read the video transcript.