AHCAAT (Ancient History and Classical Archaeology Admissions Test)
2025 AHCAAT test date: Friday 24 October
What is the AHCAAT?
If you are applying for Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, you will be required to register for and book to take the Ancient History and Classical Archaeology Admissions Test (AHCAAT).
The AHCAAT aims to test two skills crucial for CAAH students: the ability to engage with and criticise academic argument and the ability to describe and analyse material evidence from the ancient world.
The test consists of two questions. In the first, you will be given a short passage from an academic publication of the kind you will be likely to be asked to read in your first two terms in Oxford, and will be asked to evaluate the coherence of the argument, whether the author supplies sufficient evidence for their claims and in what ways their argument can be criticised. In the second, you will be asked to look at an image of an artefact from the ancient world (statue, relief, vase etc.), for which some contextual information will be supplied, and asked to describe it in detail and reflect on the ways in which it can be used for writing history.
Answers need to be in a short essay format. Both questions are weighted equally (50 marks for each). You will have 90 minutes for the entire test, and we suggest spending about 15 minutes reading and looking and about 30 minutes writing on each question.
This Oxford admissions test is computer-based, and you will need to arrange to take it at a Pearson VUE authorised test centre. Instructions on how to do this can be found under the How do I register and book? tab on this page.
How do I register and book?
Step 1: Check out our comprehensive guidance
Depending on whether you will be requesting access arrangements, please start by reading our guidance for candidates:
- Test registration and booking guidance for candidates
- Test registration and booking guidance for candidates requesting access arrangements
We also strongly recommend that you watch the corresponding 'Registering for and booking your admissions test' video, which you can find below.
Step 2: Register for your test – 18 June to 19 September (6pm BST)
Any time between 18 June and 19 September (6pm BST), go to the Oxford Admissions Test Registration portal and follow the instructions to create your own user account profile and register for your test. It will be easier to do this if you know your course code which is VV14.
Note: you will be asked for your UCAS ID and you will not be able to register without it. So long as you have started a UCAS application, you will have a UCAS ID number. You do not have to submit your application to receive this. Your UCAS ID is a mandatory part of registration because otherwise we will not be able to match your test registration and booking with your UCAS application to Oxford.
As part of registration, you will be able to request access arrangements so long as you are able to upload sufficient evidence from a medical or educational specialist to support this request. You must upload this at the time of registering. Should you not have evidence, please delay registration until you have suitable documented evidence of the arrangement/s you require. Read our Admissions Test Access Arrangement Policy carefully to ensure your evidence is suitable.
If you require access arrangements, we strongly recommend that you register and submit your evidence for approval as soon as possible. It can take five days for standard arrangements and more than ten days for non-standard arrangements to be approved. Getting the approval in place will mean that you are able to book your test early and ideally as soon as booking opens on 18 August.
For all candidates, the final registration step is to review a summary page where you must check and confirm all the information you have entered is correct.
Step 3: Book your test – 18 August to 26 September (6pm BST)
All registered candidates (including those with some approved standard access arrangements such as extra time) will be able to book their test from 18 August until 26 September (6pm BST). From this time, a link will be available on your Oxford Admissions Test Registration portal dashboard directing you to Pearson VUE’s test booking platform. Places at test centres are allocated on a first come, first served basis and we strongly recommend booking as soon as possible.
If you have an approved further access arrangement for certain physical access arrangements, for example, a separate room, reader/recorder, screen overlays, or an adjustable workstation, you will have been sent a link to a Pearson VUE form. Once you have completed and returned it, Pearson VUE will contact you to finalise a booking.
If you have an approved non-standard access arrangement, Pearson VUE will create an implementation plan for you and will contact you directly to book your test.
Note: Once you have selected the date of your test, Pearson VUE’s Find a test centre functionality will automatically suggest centres near to the address associated with your user account. If you know that you will be taking your test away from home, you can override the default suggestions and enter another location to search.
If there are multiple sittings at your chosen test centre, you will be invited to select the time you want to book your appointment. It is very important that you scroll to the bottom of the booking page and confirm your test details. Once you have pressed the button, you will be taken to the Pearson VUE dashboard where you will see all the details of your arranged test. You will also receive an email from Pearson VUE giving the date, appointment time and duration, the test centre address and directions.
Additional support
- View our FAQs or contact Oxford through the 'messages' option available on the Oxford Admissions Test Registration portal.
- You can also contact us through Oxford’s undergraduate applicant helpdesk with questions regarding your Oxford application.
- Contact Pearson VUE customer service with queries about your test centre booking.
- You can make changes to your test appointment by signing in to your Oxford Admissions Test user account and selecting 'Manage appointment'.
Test preparation and practice materials
A test preparation guidance video and practice test hosted by the online test platform will be made available for candidates soon. In the meantime, you may find useful this 2024 video sharing a tutor's insights on the AHCAAT when it was introduced last year.
When do I take the test?
Candidates will take the AHCAAT at Pearson VUE test centres on 24 October 2025.
What should I expect on test day?
More information on what to expect on test day will be made available soon.
How do I get my results?
Admissions tutors will receive the results of all candidates' tests directly before shortlisting decisions in November.
Test scores will be automatically distributed to all applicants after college decision letters are sent in January. Applicants will still be able to write to their college to request feedback.
As the AHCAAT is a new test, it will still be running in its pilot phase in 2025. This means that while it will be used for additional information on a candidate's application, no one applying in the 2025 admissions round will not be shortlisted for interview or not selected for a place at Oxford based on the results of the test.
