Elat leaflet 2017

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Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing 

is part of a not-for-profit department of the 

University of Cambridge.

Where can I find out more?

About ELAT:

admissionstestingservice.org/elat

Admissions testing support:

admissionstestingservice.org/help

Key dates for ELAT 2017

Registration opens: 

1 September 

Requests for modified question papers:

By 30 September

Registration deadline: 

15 October by 18.00 BST 

This is the same date as the UCAS application deadline

Test date: 

2 November

Results: 

You can access your ELAT result online from 

15 January 2018. Visit the ELAT website for

further details.

We will automatically send your ELAT result to the 

relevant university.

Register by 15 October 2017

Guide for students 2017

© UCLES 2017 | CE/3189/7Y02

*1351036388*

Cambridge Assessment  

Admissions Testing

1 Hills Road

Cambridge 

CB1 2EU

United Kingdom

All details are correct at the time of going to print in February 2017. 

Any updates or changes can be found on the ELAT website.

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The English Literature Admissions 

Test (ELAT)

ELAT is a pre-interview admissions test of close 

reading skills and textual analysis. 

You need to take ELAT if you are applying to study 

any of the following undergraduate courses:

University of Cambridge: English (Q300)*

University of Oxford:

• 

Classics and English (QQ38 or QQH8)

• 

English Language and Literature (Q300)

• 

all English and Modern Languages courses.

If you are applying for a joint course at the University

of Oxford, you may also need to take a separate test 

in your other subject. You can confirm this at:

ox.ac.uk/tests

What’s in the test?

The test lasts 90 minutes. You write one essay, 

comparing two or three passages of unseen poetry, 

prose or drama.

ELAT is designed to be suitable for any student in 

their last year of pre-university literary study. It is not 

a test of wide reading. There are no extra marks for 

references to specific texts or authors, and you are 

not expected to apply any theoretical frameworks in 

your essay.

Where do I take ELAT?

If you are currently attending school or college, 

you can normally take the test at your school: check 

with your Exams Officer. If your school is not already 

registered as a centre, they can apply to become a test 

centre – even if you are the only person taking a test. 

admissionstestingservice.org/become-a-centre

Once they are a test centre, they will then need to 

register you as a test candidate separately.

We advise that you take the test at school, if possible, 

rather than at an alternative authorised test centre. 

These centres may charge an administration fee.

If you are not attending school or college, you may 

be able to take the test at your old school: check with 

the Exams Officer. If this is not possible, you will need 

to find an authorised test centre where you can take

the test. 

admissionstestingservice.org/find-a-centre

When do I register?

Your centre needs to register you. Registration opens 

on 1

 

September 2017 and closes on 15 October 2017. 

This is done separately from your UCAS application.

You must give your centre your name, date of birth and 

UCAS number exactly as they have been entered on 

your UCAS application.

As late registrations are not accepted, ask your centre 

to register you for ELAT well before the registration 

deadline.

How much does the test cost?

You don’t need to pay a test entry fee.

What if I need Access Arrangements? 

Access Arrangements are available if you have a 

disability or special requirement, and are normally 

entitled to support for exams.

You need to inform your centre of any special 

requirements when they register you for the test. 

They will ask for full details and a copy of your 

medical evidence. Requests for modified question 

papers must be submitted by your centre by

30 September 2017.

How do I prepare for ELAT?

Doing practice papers in timed conditions is an 

excellent way to prepare and gets you used to the 

test format and question style.

You can find free past papers on the ELAT website, as 

well as other resources including the marking criteria 

and sample essays with examiner comments.

admissionstestingservice.org/elat-prep

* Assessment arrangements for mature applicants to the University 

of Cambridge vary – please check the University of Cambridge 

website for details: cam.ac.uk/assessment