Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP) Guide

How to register for the STEP

WHEN IS THE NEXT STEP ?

STEP dates for summer 2025 have not been released yet. To give an indication of the timings, 2024 test dates were 5th June for STEP II and 24th June for STEP III.

WHEN IS THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION?

Applicants must talk to their school or college about registering for STEP, since it is administered through the test centre. We recommend heading to the Cambridge University STEP webpage for more information on what your school will need to do to register you for the test.

However, unlike many other UK admissions tests, the STEP is taken in the summer before the applicant plans to attend university (i.e. around the same time as A-Level exams). This is because the STEP is considered a very challenging admissions test, requiring students to have studied the entirety of their Maths and further Maths A-level (or equivalent) in full before sitting the test itself. The key dates for the STEP registration and testing for 2024 were as follows:

1st March 2024: STEP registration opens
20th April 2024: Last date to request modified STEP papers
4th May 2024: STEP registration closes
5th June 2024: STEP II test date
24th June 2024: STEP III test date
15th August 2024: STEP test results released

For context, the dates for registration opening and closing and the deadline for requesting modified papers were the same in 2023 and 2024, with the test and results dates only differing by two or three days. If past years are to go by therefore, these dates are relatively reliable as a guide for 2025.

Be aware that if the registration deadline falls on a public holiday, there will not be any extension of the registration period, so be sure to register in plenty of time. For test dates, UK centres will hold the test in the morning. International test centre times may vary - consult your local test centre for specific details.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TAKE STEP?

Whilst OCR (the exam board who run the STEP) have not confirmed prices for 2025, the registration fee per STEP paper for UK entrants in 2023 and 2024 was £93, and £129 / €151 / $177 for applicants outside of the UK. Some independent test centres also charge an additional administration fee for candidates to cover costs such as room hire and invigilation. Get in touch with your chosen test centre to clarify if this cost will apply to you.

Tips from a Successful Cambridge Mathematics Student 

HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR THE STEP?

1. Understand the Format: Familiarise yourself with the structure and types of questions in the STEP to better prepare for the test.
2. Review Core Mathematical Concepts: Thoroughly revise fundamental mathematical concepts, focusing on topics typically covered in the STEP.
3. Practice Regularly: Regularly work on challenging mathematical problems to enhance your problem-solving skills.
4. Time Management: Practise answering questions under timed conditions to improve your time management during the STEP. For access to bespoke, true-to-life mock papers with which to practise your timing skills, head to our Admissions Test Resources hub and browse our exclusive collections.
5. Seek Support: Consider seeking guidance from teachers or mentors experienced in STEP preparation to receive valuable feedback and insights. Previous Cambridge Maths students who sat the STEP themselves, such as our mentors here at Oxbridge Applications, are also a great source of knowledge to draw on, as they can give you an accurate picture of what it means to perform like a real Cambridge Mathematician.

STEP PREPARATION MATERIALS

In addition to STEP past papers on the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing website, we at Oxbridge Applications have written a series of additional mock papers. Our students have 33% more questions to practise with. Our mock STEP papers can be found here and are included with our admissions test tuition. All of our STEP tutors are highly-trained Cambridge Mathematics graduates who can share their personally insights of having sat the test. You can contact our Oxbridge-graduate Consultants on +44 (0) 20 7499 2394 or email [email protected] to discuss which of our test training would suit you best. We also have an online testing portal for students who want to sit the exam in timed, test conditions.

How to Pass the STEP Test?

The best advice we can offer to pass the STEP exam is to begin exam preparation early and practise often.

Most students who don’t get through the STEP and miss their offer tell us that they didn’t spend enough time familiarising themselves with the type of questions that can arise. They typically say that they were caught off guard by a particular question and it put their timings off for the rest of the test.

START EARLY

Although you will require content from the entirety of your Maths and Further Maths A-levels, challenge yourself to get ahead of the syllabus so you can begin practising STEP questions. Some students also find it necessary to build up their mental arithmetic and speed doing calculations, since time can often be tight during the STEP test and extra time spent remembering formulae and using the calculator can be a hindrance.

REFLECTION

Reflect on your personal strengths and weaknesses. No two students should have the same revision strategy for the STEP, since you all have varying abilities. Try to identify which part of the syllabus you find easiest or whether you often lose marks on a certain kind of question or topic; this could help you streamline your preparation!

DON'T RESTRICT YOUR PRACTICE MATERIALS

Don’t restrict your practice materials: Once you have tried all of the real past papers, and have moved on to additional materials like our STEP papers, you should then look wider at similar materials. For example, review Maths Olympiad problems, which are of a slightly different format but still develop your problem solving skills.

COLLABORATION 

Work with a friend or teacher to discuss questions and identify your own personal revision goals. Working with others can be a huge motivation and keep you on track in the weeks and months leading up to the test. We have specialist STEP tutors who can work with you one-to-one to refine your test technique.