The CAT: A Guide

What is it?

The Classics Admissions Test (CAT) is a subject-specific admissions test for applicants to all University of Oxford Classics and joint Schools undergraduate degree courses.

Does it apply to me?

The CAT is taken by students applying to study the following subjects at Oxford only:

Classics I
Classics II
Classics and English
Classics and Oriental Studies
Classics and a Modern Language

When is it?

Entries for the CAT generally open at the start of September and close around mid-October. The test itself normally takes place in early November, but it is worth checking the CAT website to confirm the exact dates.

What do I have to do?

The CAT is a paper-based test comprising of three separate papers, each an hour each. Depending on which course they are applying for, applicants are required to take either one or two out of these three papers. The papers are as follows:

  1. The Latin Translation Test lasts for one hour. Candidates are required to translate two passages of prose from Latin into English.
  2. The Greek Translation Test lasts for one hour. Candidates are required to translate two passages of prose from Greek into English.
  3. The Classics Language Aptitude Test (CLAT) lasts for one hour. Candidates are required to answer a series of questions, focusing predominantly on translation and linguistics.

For more information and past papers, please visit the Admissions Testing website.

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