The fixed concentration and the fixed time methods were used for quantitative determination of atenolol employing 0.0515 M ammonium meta vanadate as an oxidant in 2.5 M sulphuric acid at 84 degrees C. The two methods are based on reaction rate measurements following the absorbance of vanadium (IV) species produced, spectrophotometrically at 750 nm. The applicability of the methods was tested by assaying atenolol in drug formulations and comparing the results obtained statistically with the BP method.