English Literature Admissions Test

The English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT) is a subject-specific admissions test, used as part of the admissions process for undergraduate courses in English Language and Literature, combined English and Modern Languages, and Classics and English at the University of Oxford. As of 2016, ELAT has also been used by the University of Cambridge for admission to its undergraduate English course.

ELAT is held pre-interview stage, at the beginning of November. Results are issued in mid-January. Results are available via Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing's Results Online website.

ELAT was developed by Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing in partnership with the University of Oxford. The test was developed to help admissions tutors differentiate within a large pool of extremely well-qualified applicants and provide information about applicants’ skills in close reading of literary texts. The test was trialled by Oxford in 2006 and became part of their admissions process in 2007. In 2016, the test was adopted by the University of Cambridge for admission to its undergraduate English course.

ELAT is a 90-minute pen-and-paper test, which seeks to measure those skills needed to succeed on English or English-related degree courses. It assesses students’ ability in the key skill of close reading of unfamiliar literary material. It consists of six literary extracts, from poetry, prose or drama. Candidates write one essay comparing two or three of the passages. Applicants are expected to comment on elements such as the language, imagery, allusion, syntax, form and structure of the passages. Marks are not awarded for references to other texts or authors, or for applying theoretical frameworks.

Candidates are asked to carry out the following task:

Select two or three of the passages (a) to (f) and compare and contrast them in any ways that seem interesting to you, paying particular attention to distinctive features of structure, language and style. In your introduction, indicate briefly what you intend to explore or illustrate through close reading of your chosen passages.

There will be some sort of link between the six passages, which will be explained in the introduction. Answer sheets will be provided to candidates.

Each script is marked by two examiners. Each examiner gives a mark out of 30 and these are combined to give an overall mark out of 60.

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