MAT Past Paper Collection (1996 - 2023)

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MAT Past Papers (2007 - 2023)

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MAT Results and Feedback (2010 - 2023)

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MAT Past Papers (1996 - 2005)

Unfortunately, some of the original MAT papers from this time period are currently unavailable.

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MAT Syllabus (2018)

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Why use MAT Past Papers?

Past papers are the most realistic materials available for MAT preparation, as they are real papers from the exam! Past papers are the most effective way of taking mock exams, as they provide you with actual MAT questions in a realistic format. Plus, there are loads to choose from so you likely won’t run out!

Once you’ve been preparing for a while, you’re more than likely going to want to give the exam a go, which is exactly why past papers are so helpful. With the detailed worked solutions for each paper available, you’ll be able to properly mark your work and monitor your progress.

If you want to use a programme that streamlines this process, why not check out MAT.Ninja? We have every past paper available to you for free, as well as our accurate, automatic marking system to help you track your progress. You can access even more features, including worked solutions and in-depth tutorials, when you upgrade your account!

History of the MAT

The MAT is one of the oldest admissions tests currently used by universities in the UK, with the oldest recorded paper being sat in 1996. It originated as an admissions test exclusive to the University of Oxford for Mathematics. The format used during this time was somewhat familiar but with differences that would affect how you sit the exam:

MAT Format (1996 - 2006)

The original MAT featured only five questions on the paper. All applicants were required to answer all five questions.
The time limit was still 2 1/2 hours.
Question 1 still consisted of ten multiple-choice questions, but applicants only had four options to pick from rather than five.

In 2007, the MAT was changed into the version we are familiar with today, with seven questions that are required by different courses and universities. However, the test was still exclusive to Oxford until 2013, which was the first year in which the MAT was used by Imperial College London. The University of Warwick was later added in 2017.

The only other documented change was in 2018, where various elements of the MAT’s syllabus were altered to match current A-Level standards. It is important to keep this in mind when taking past papers, as some questions in older papers may not be relevant to the current syllabus.

MAT Past Paper Tips

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you optimise your MAT Preparation with these past papers:

Ensure that you’ve used the 2018 MAT Syllabus as much as possible when revising, as this document details literally everything you need to know. Be sure to know this off by heart so you don’t miss any topics or revise something that won’t be covered in the exam.
These past papers are a great way of understanding the MAT format and question types, so you should look through one towards the start of your preparation. That way, you’ll have a better understanding of the actual exam and will have some context to work with when revising.
The older past papers have plenty of questions that will help in your preparation, but be aware that the format of papers before 2007 aren’t representative of the current exam and pre-2018 papers may contain question not featured in the current syllabus.
Make sure you know what questions you need to answer for your course this should be stated in the paper but it's always good to remember for yourself (Bath, Durham and Nottingham applicants will have to remember as it is not stated on the paper).
Don’t rush through all the past papers at once! You’ve got a lot to go through, but you should save most of them for later on in your revision schedule. The ideal strategy is to build up your content knowledge and try some practice questions first. Once you’re more confident in your abilities, you will have a good chance of doing well in the past papers.
The MAT is typically taken on paper, so you may want to print off your past papers for a more authentic experience. Just be aware that you will then need to set up your own timer.
Calculators and other supportive materials are not allowed fot the MAT, so avoid using these when taking mock exams.
Remember to show your working for Questions 2 - 7, as some of your marks will come from demonstrating your process.

Here on Exams.Ninja, you’ll find amazingly in-depth guides to show you through every section of the exam, along with guides to help you with your planning and revision. Check out one of our Definitive Guides below!

Get the most out of your MAT Past Papers with MAT.Ninja

Your MAT.Ninja account gives you access to every MAT past paper and +700 practice questions. You can even upgrade your account to access worked solutions and other amazing features. To access your past papers, just follow these simple steps:

STEP 1

STEP 2

Enter the Exam Arena on the home page.

STEP 3

Choose the past paper that you want to try.

STEP 4

Take the exam!