Admissions tests are very similar to interviews in that they are designed to test how you respond to difficult problems you haven’t seen before. They are about analysis rather than factual knowledge. Think about this. Avoid doing reams of unstructured preparation because good sense and planning are more important.
Ask yourself whether you should practise analysing language/pieces in the newspaper/numeracy. Practice is invaluable, particularly with exams like the LNAT or the TSA, where large sections of reading and/or multiple choice can be difficult to fit into the time.
BMAT essay
PAT & MAT test
TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment)
Sorting your questions: – this tests problem solving and critical thinking. Your maths needs to be on point, so revise all your formulas. For critical thinking, read lots of newspaper articles to practice comprehension. One of the main challenges you will come up against is the timing. 50 questions in 90 minutes averages out at around 1m48 per question, so speed is of the essence. If you are better at either problem solving or critical thinking, do these questions first in case you run out of time.LNAT
HAT
ELAT
Your complimentary “So you want to go to Oxbridge? Tell me about a banana…”
If you’re looking for resources and advice before making your application to Oxford or Cambridge, then you’ve come to the right place! We have been industry-leading experts in applying to Oxbridge since 1999, amassing quite a catalogue of info, tips, and tricks to help you get into the best position possible to get that elusive Oxbridge offer you’ve been dreaming of.
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The BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is marked significantly differently from other Admissions Tests. To be successful in the BMAT you need not only to understand the content and questions that you are given, but also how your answers are going to be marked.
Each question in Sections 1 and 2 is worth one mark. Total raw marks for each section are converted to the BMAT scale, which runs from 1 (low) – 9 (high) and scores are reported to one decimal place. Typical BMAT candidates will score around 5.0 for section 1 and for 2, which equates to approximately half marks. The best candidates will score around 6.0, and a few exceptional candidates will score higher than 7.0. Section 3 essays are double marked.
Each examiner gives a score for quality of content on the scale of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and a score for quality of written English on a scale of A, C, E. If the two marks for quality of essay content are adjacent on the scale, then the average of the two marks is reported (e.g. one examiner gives a 3 and another gives a 4, the score is 3.5). If the two marks for quality of written English are as follows, the scores are combined thus: AA = A, AC = B, CC = C, CE = D and EE = E.
If there is a larger discrepancy in the marks, the essays are marked for a third time, and the final mark awarded is checked by the Senior Assessment Manager. For example, an essay given a 4C by one examiner and 4A by the other will receive a final score of 4B; an essay given 3C by one examiner and 2C by the other will receive a mark of 2.5C.
This mini-mock for the Cambridge TSA will give you a taster of the kinds of multiple choice questions in store.
The final page has the multiple choice answers.
Full mock tests with thorough answers explaining the reasoning behind every option are available here:
This mini-mock for the Oxford TSA will give you a taster of the kinds of multiple choice questions in store, and also sets an essay question like the one you will have to answer in Section 2.
The final page has the multiple choice answers.
Full mock tests with thorough answers explaining the reasoning behind every option are available here:
Your TSA score can make the difference between whether you reach your Oxbridge interview or not. Though this is intimidating, as with all exams, practice and preparation can make a real difference to your performance.
General information about the Oxford TSA can be found here, and for the Cambridge TSA, here. However, we’ve summarised everything you need to know below.
Both TSA exams use the same multiple-choice base, but the TSA Oxford has an additional essay question.
The TSA Cambridge is a 90-minute, multiple-choice test consisting of 50 questions.
The TSA contains:
Students sitting the TSA Oxford must then complete an essay question from a choice of four in 30 mins.
The TSA Oxford must be completed by Oxford applicants for the following subjects:
Section 1 and Section 2
Section 1
The TSA Cambridge must be completed by Cambridge applicants for Land Economy.
Don’t forget that for the TSA Oxford, you need to register to sit the TSA through your school or test centre. Make sure you check that your school is on top of this – or find a test centre through Cambridge Assessment.
Are you a History hero? If you’re applying for History or a combined degree involving History at Oxford, you’ll probably have to take the History Aptitude Test. Testing your skills in analysing unseen sources, this mini-mock is a chance for you to get a sense of the kind of thing you’ll be faced with during the first week of November.
If you would like further practice, you can get full HAT mock tests with full answer packs that will take you through approaches to the questions. Click here to check them out:
Your HAT score can make the difference between whether you reach your Oxford interview or not. Though this is intimidating, as with all exams, practice and preparation can make a real difference to your performance.
General information about the HAT can be found on the HAT homepage here and more information, including preparation advice, from Oxford University here. However, we’ve summarised everything you need to know below.
The HAT is a two-hour test, which requires candidates to read two extracts and answer a total of four questions about them.
Oxford applicants only for the following subjects:
Don’t forget that you need to register to sit the HAT through your school or test centre. Make sure you check that your school is on top of this – or find a test centre through Cambridge Assessment.
Average score of shortlisted candidates: 62/100
Average score of successful candidates: 68/100
– Statistics from 2012 entry
Your MLAT score can make the difference between whether you reach your Oxford interview or not. Though this is intimidating, as with all exams, practice and preparation can make a real difference to your performance.
General information about the MLAT can be found on the MLAT homepage here. You can find a specimen MLAT paper from Oxford and preparation instructions under Modern Languages on this page. However, we’ve summarised everything you need to know below.
The MLAT are paper-based tests, which consist of several parts for different language and linguistics courses. Candidates will need to take a maximum of two papers. Each paper lasts 30 minutes.
Oxford Applicants only for the following courses:
NB: Candidates for different courses will take different papers from the tests, taking a maximum of two papers overall. The precise combinations necessary are set out clearly on the Oxford website here.
Don’t forget that you need to register to sit the MLAT through your school or test centre. Make sure you check that your school is on top of this – or find a test centre through Cambridge Assessment.
Scores can be requested as part of the feedback process, but, as with many other tests, there is no fixed threshold which applicants must exceed to be invited for interview.
PAT paperAre you a Physics Whizz? The PAT or Physics Aptitude Test is a real head-scratcher that anyone applying to study Physics or a combined course involving Physics at Oxford will have to take.
Download the mini-mock paper on the right to have a crack at it. If you need more practice, we have full mock test packs here:
PAT answer sheet downloadOnce you’ve had a go at our PAT test above, you can mark your own answers against this answer sheet which lays out exactly how you can answer the question.
If you’re looking for more practice, you might find our Maths mini-mock useful…
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