How to Prepare for the ESAT

STEP is a challenging maths exam, traditionally used in Cambridge admissions. It is now used in the selection process for several universities because it is an excellent predictor of success in undergraduate mathematics courses. With the exception of Cambridge offer holders, most students are only required to take one paper to meet the conditions of their offer or receive a reduced offer. Students can choose between STEP 2 and STEP 3 (STEP 1 was retired in 2020). This article discusses some factors to consider when deciding which paper to sit.

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Prerequisite Knowledge

The first factor to consider when deciding which STEP papers to take is the prerequisite knowledge required. STEP is designed with A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics syllabi in mind: the prerequisite knowledge for STEP 2 is the same as A Level Mathematics and AS Level Further Mathematics, whilst the prerequisite knowledge for STEP 3 is the same as A Level Mathematics and A Level Further Mathematics.

Students following IB Mathematics ('Analysis and Approaches' or 'Applications and Interpretations') at Higher Level should be familiar with the majority of the STEP specification, though it is worth going through the specification point-by-point since it is primarily designed to overlap with the A Level. Students following other international courses will likely find that their courses overlap with the STEP syllabus substantially, but it would be wise to consult with an expert to ensure that any gaps in knowledge are addressed.

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Which STEP paper should I take?

If you are taking STEP to meet an Imperial offer, or to take advantage of a reduced offer from Warwick, Durham, or UCL, you might only be required to take one STEP paper. In this case, the typical offer condition/requirement is grade 2 in either paper. To learn more about the STEP requirements of different universities, visit this article.

If your offer conditions do not specify which paper to take, you should first consider sitting both papers because it provides an additional chance to meet the offer condition, and STEP is very good preparation for undergraduate-level study. Aside from paying an extra registration fee, there is no disadvantage to sitting both papers: STEP is just an exam, so you don't have to declare your result on your academic record like you would a GCSE or A Level qualification. STEP is always unpredictable, and one paper might simply go better than the other on the day. You might also find that one of the papers happens to be particularly straightforward and plays to your strengths. We generally advise students to prioritise preparation for their preferred paper if they don't need a high grade in both.

If you decide to only take one paper due to additional commitments (such as taking 4 A Levels), we initially recommend trying past papers from both exams to see which you prefer. It is a misconception that STEP 3 is harder because it requires more content from A Level Mathematics: the grade boundaries are set based on the cohort's performance, so a harder paper corresponds to lower grade boundaries. Some people simply suit STEP 3 better than STEP 2, so it is worth considering.

If you are taking STEP for the University of Bath, it will be because you haven't covered enough content in your maths qualifications, i.e., you are not taking A Level Further Mathematics or IB Higher Level Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches. In this case, the university accepts either STEP 2 or STEP 3. Taking STEP 2 would require less self-teaching of A Level content, but you should consider taking both because it would be very good preparation for an undergraduate course.

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Cambridge

Cambridge offer holders don't usually have to decide between the two exams because the typical STEP condition is grade 1 in both STEP 2 and STEP 3. This might vary slightly depending on some specific factors; for example, reapplicants who have had a gap year tend to be asked for S,1, and some colleges occasionally only require 1,2.

A small number of aspiring Cambridge mathematicians take STEP in Year 12 (i.e. a year early) because it is excellent preparation for studying mathematics at undergraduate level and it shows that they are very serious about their Cambridge application! In this case, students usually need to self-teach some content in order to answer the questions (or enrol on a dedicated STEP preparation course). STEP 2 usually requires less self-teaching than STEP 3, so students sitting a year early may decide to take STEP 2 only.

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Need more advice?

You are welcome to book a free consultation to discuss STEP preparation. All consultations are held with Rowan Wright, founding director of Vantage Admissions, who is a past STEP examiner and specialist tutor.

Learn more about STEP: