What is the PhilAT (Philosophy Test)?
The PhilAT is a 60-minute online test for those applying to study at Oxford University.
The parameters are simple - to test a candidate's philosophical reasoning skills – and there is zero expectation that applicants will have studied philosophy in any formal way. This is not a test of your philosophical knowledge.
Although the test platform and provider have changed for this year, the format will remain very similar to previous years.
Oxford advise that candidates will normally be asked to complete a comprehension exercise (Part A) consisting of one question; in Part B they will then write a short essay, or answer a structured question. Questions from Part A and B are given equal weighting, and you should spend around 30 minutes on each.
Students applying to study Philosophy, Psychology and Linguistics (PPL) or Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Oxford, need instead to take the .
Those applying to Philosophy and Modern Languages courses need to take the relevant parts of the . (The Philosophy section of the MLAT is identical to the PhilAT but candidates should register for the MLAT instead).
Tests are administered by Pearson VUE and candidates sit their entrance test at one of Pearson’s dedicated nationwide centres. Exam dates change each year but tests will likely take place in the October of the year prior to your beginning the university course. This is early - so be prepared to get organised. Registration for these tests happens as early as the August preceding the test itself. Check the for the latest updates.
The Philosophy Test format
Oxford advise that the test will normally follow the same two-part format as previous years. Past papers from previous sessions (also available via the link above) are therefore still relevant and helpful to candidates.
The test will be divided into two parts, A and B, with 30 minutes recommended for each section:
Part A: This comprises a short passage taken from a work of Philosophy or Theology, followed by two questions to test your comprehension. The first usually invites an explanation of a key aspect of the passage, written in your own words, whereas the second is more analytical, with a focus on evaluating the core argument advanced or answering an open-ended question around a theme relevant to the passage.
In each case, your focus should be on writing clearly and concisely in response to the precise question posed, paying specific attention to the wording of both the passage and the question itself. This requires a diligent and measured approach, with a real emphasis on quality of answer as opposed to sheer quantity; waffle and obfuscation should be avoided at all costs! Typically, your answer to the second question will be slightly longer than that of the first, so this should be taken into account when allocating time to each.
Part B: The second section provides three questions to choose from, of which you must answer one.
One of these will be centred around an aspect of philosophical logic, such as the structure of a valid argument, although once again no prior knowledge is assumed. An explanation for the relevant feature will be included in the question. You will then be invited to discuss how each of the statements in the question relate to this feature. For instance, are the arguments provided logically valid, and if not, why not?
The other two options will offer more general essay titles, across a range of topics. Politics, philosophy, theology, sociology, and psychology have all featured. These questions are designed to invite a focused discussion and set up for you to advance your own answer, whilst anticipating and engaging with potential counter-arguments. This is a pivotal skill in studying Philosophy and Theology at Oxford, both in your own academic work and in-tutorial discussions with professors and fellow students. As 30 minutes is such a short span of time, conciseness and clarity are once again crucial to satisfactorily addressing the question posed.
How difficult is the Philosophy Test?
The Philosophy Test is designed to be challenging for applicants, so don’t be too concerned when looking over past papers if you struggle to think how you’d answer the questions at first glance. Tutors are on the look-out for key skills such as critical analysis, inference, argumentation, evaluation, and conciseness. These, alongside ensuring the question is directly addressed and your points fully explained, will be the key to performing well in the Philosophy Test - and can be practised!
How important is the Philosophy Test to my application?
The paper is just one part of your wider application, and so will be assessed in conjunction with your academic record, personal statement, predicted grades, submitted written work, and interview performance. However, given the high standard of applications and uniformly excellent predicted grades of prospective students, the test provides an excellent opportunity to show your capabilities in philosophical reasoning whilst grappling with unique and interesting questions. The structure of the paper and the skills targeted under timed conditions also give a small insight into the nature of studying Philosophy and Theology at Oxford.
Where can I find past papers for the Philosophy Test?
These can be found directly on the , with