It can often be difficult for universities to identify the strongest candidates from the application alone, particularly at highly-selective institutions where many students apply with top grades and excellent references. Admissions tests allow students to be academically stretched and assessed and enable universities to distinguish those individuals with the most ability and potential from a highly-qualified field.
Admissions tests are usually required for entry to competitive courses such as medicine and dentistry and often also for a range of courses at competitive universities such as Oxford or Cambridge. Sometimes tests might also be required for certain competitive maths and law courses. Individual course descriptions on university websites will detail if a formal test is required as part of the admissions process. Encourage your students to look into this as early as possible. Registration deadlines and test dates vary and, in some cases, may even be before the application deadline. If a student hasn’t completed the appropriate test by the given deadline, their application will likely not be considered. Some universities will use the test results as a basis to shortlist for interview. At the University of Cambridge, we use some tests (pre-registration assessments) for shortlisting and others (those taken around the time of interview) as an additional indicator in our holistic admissions processes.
Admissions tests are designed to supplement the information in a student’s application and to assess levels of knowledge and understanding relevant to their chosen course. Where relevant, they also assess particular skills, such as writing, language, critical thinking and problem solving.
It is likely that the test will draw on what students have already learnt in the school curriculum and will ask them to apply that existing knowledge to unfamiliar problems. For subjects that aren’t offered at GCSE and A Level/Scottish Highers, students will most likely be assessed on how they think in relation to the subject, and how they develop and express their ideas.
Admission assessments are designed to stretch students so it’s unlikely that everyone will be able to answer every question. Prepare your students for that, especially if they are used to breezing through their work at school or college. Encourage them to stay calm if they get stuck and to systematically think through the problem to get as far as they can.
If a student has decided on the course they wish to apply for, it is assumed that they will already have developed a genuine interest in the subject through super-curricular activities. Students don’t need to learn new material or cram subject knowledge for admissions tests. The most useful preparation is to understand what the assessments will look like and what is expected. If they feel comfortable with the format and content in advance, they will feel much calmer and more relaxed during the assessment.
Specimen test papers are usually available on official test websites. Students should familiarise themselves with a few examples of the different types of questions and practise under timed conditions. For many courses, the solutions to specimen papers are provided so students will be able to review their answers.
Please note: Students should never need to pay for tuition to support admissions tests. All the information needed to prepare is available free of charge through test websites and via past papers.
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Josh, a Computer Science student at the University of Newcastle, shares how he chose his A-levels, offers advice on university applications, and reflects on valuable lessons for future students.
Mayowa studies English Literature at King's College London. She shares her university application journey, her enjoyment of university life, and valuable advice for choosing a course and university.
Mayowa, studying English Literature at King's College London, discusses her GCSE and A-Level subject choices, offering advice for students on making informed decisions.
Sarah, a Biochemistry graduate from Birmingham, discusses how university aided her transition to employment and shares valuable insights for choosing the right career path.
Samra, a Medicine student at the University of Liverpool, shares how she chose her course, the value of her work experience, and advice on overcoming barriers. She also offers tips for applying to study medicine.
Jackson, a Theatre and Performance Studies student at the University of Bristol, shares his insights on choosing qualifications, the significance of enjoying your subjects, and how bursaries and scholarships influenced his university decision.
Eireann, an English and Education graduate from Cambridge, shares how a summer school helped her decide on university and her course. She also offers advice on selecting the right university.
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Amy, an English Language graduate from the University of Glasgow, shares how she chose her university course, why she selected Glasgow, and her experience with scholarships.
Billie-Joe, studying Social Work and Geography at Queen's University Belfast, shares how she chose her GCSE subjects, what she enjoyed in A-Level, and offers advice for subject consideration.
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Hamid studies Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at LSE. He discusses his career aspirations, factors influencing his course choice, and how summer schools shaped his university decision.
Billie-Joe, studying Social Work and Geography at Queen's University Belfast, shares his university selection process, reasons for choosing Belfast, and helpful advice for others.
Bishoy shares his journey in choosing a university and course, highlighting the significance of aligning his degree with career goals and evaluating different options.
Sophie discusses her journey to studying Law at Sheffield, covering her decision-making process, considerations for open days, and advice on personal statements.
Fatima, studying Dentistry at Cardiff University, shares her journey, emphasising diverse work experiences, teacher support during applications, and the benefits of attending a Russell Group University.
Khima, a Law student at the University of Edinburgh, shares how he chose his A-Levels and how his dream job influenced those decisions.
Sophie, a law student at Sheffield, shares her experiences with GCSEs and offers valuable advice for selecting A-Level subjects based on her personal choices.
Saif, a graduate in Accounting and Finance from Manchester, discusses choosing a university and course, highlighting the benefits of access schemes in decision-making.
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Bishoy, studying Aerospace Engineering at Southampton, reflects on his university experience, highlighting the skills gained and what he enjoyed most about student life.
Onome, a Chemical Engineering graduate from Imperial College London, discusses his summer school experience, course highlights, and what mattered when applying for jobs after his masters.
Khima discusses his motivation for studying law at Edinburgh, highlights the city's appeal, and shares tips for open days.
Habiba, studying Maths at Queen Mary University, discusses her course selection factors, extracurricular activities, and shares valuable advice for choosing the right university.
Richard, an Economics and Finance student at the University of York, shares his university life experience, highlighting extracurricular activities and how they prepared him for future employment.
Nathan, an English student at Exeter, shares why he chose his course, the benefits of a gap year, and offers advice on selecting a university subject.
Matt, a Linguistics student at UCL, shares how he chose his GCSE subjects, the skills that supported his studies, and offers advice for selecting subjects.
Saif, a graduate in Accounting and Finance from Manchester, shares insights on making subject choices, emphasising how his GCSE experience influenced his A-Level decisions.
Jess discusses her Sociology experience at Durham, highlighting involvement opportunities, the benefits of university, and advice for those considering applying to higher education.
Gemma, a Communication and Media student at the University of Leeds, shares her experiences navigating university life with a disability and the opportunities she found.
Nathan, an English student at the University of Exeter, discusses challenges he faced transitioning to A-levels and shares insights that helped him realise he could attend university.
Habiba, studying Maths at Queen Mary University, shares how her future plans influenced her GCSE choices and offers valuable advice for making subject selections.
Fatima, studying Dentistry at Cardiff University, shares her insights on excelling in studies, the A-Level transition, and the importance of keeping her subject choices open for future opportunities.
In this case study, Khima, a Law student at the University of Edinburgh, talks about how getting involved in extra-curricular activities made her university experience even better.
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This article will discuss different barriers which LGBTQ+ students may face, and tools we can effectively use to dismantle these barriers.
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The first article in a blog is rarely the most interesting one – I dare say that this will be no exception…
