PAT Practice Papers: 200 Questions in the style of the Physics Aptitude Test with Detailed Worked Solutions

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In 2017, the physics and maths sections were mixed up with one another rather than being two distinct sections

Below you will find PAT question and answer documents for all PAT past papers, to help you with your PAT preparation Sitat least one past paper in test conditions. This is really important as it will help you get used tohow much time to allocate to each question and keep within the two hour limit. The PAT is now hybrid - with online questions and a paper answer booklet; however, the older papers will still be of use when preparing. Please note that from 2023, only use of the digital scientific calculators provided on the test platform will be permitted. You can explore using this via the online practice PAT. Details of any access arrangements you require (together with evidence to support your request unless your centre already has this information). Understanding of the terms current ( = charge / time), voltage (potential difference = energy / charge), charge, resistance ( = voltage / current) and links to energy and power (power = voltage x current, power = energy / time). Knowledge of transformers, including how the number of turns on the primary and secondary coils affect the voltage and current.

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Knowledge of elementary mathematics, in particular topics in arithmetic, geometry including coordinate geometry, and probability, will be assumed. Questions may require the manipulation of mathematical expressions in a physical context. Refraction, including the definition of refractive index (n) as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a material and Snell’s law n 1sinθ 1=n 2sinθ 2. Elementary properties of prisms and optical fibres including total internal reflection, where total internal reflection occurs at an angle θ cwhen sinθ c=n 2/n 1 Understanding circuit diagrams including batteries, wires, resistors, filament lamps, diodes, capacitors, light dependent resistors and thermistors. Knowledge of current, voltage and resistance rules for series and parallel circuits. Response of a system to multiple forces; Newton's laws of motion; know the difference between weight (= mg) and mass; vector addition of forces. PAT past papers – for the Physics Aptitude Test for Oxford Physics, Engineering, and Materials Science degrees, and joint courses.

Problems may be set which require problem solving based on information provided rather than knowledge about a topic. From 2023, the PAT questions will be delivered in an online format. Answers will be written in booklets. A digital calculator will be included as part of the online interface for the PAT

Knowledge of circular orbits under gravity including orbital speed, radius, period, centripetal acceleration, and gravitational centripetal force. This may include equating the force between two masses due to gravity (F=GM 1M 2/r 2) to centripetal force of a smaller body orbiting a larger body (F=mω 2r or F=mv 2/r) and use of centripetal acceleration (a=v 2/r or a=ω 2r).