Admissions tests and written work
Most Cambridge applicants will be expecting to obtain A grades in their A levels (or equivalent), and it is difficult for Colleges to assess and choose students on that basis alone. Additional forms of assessment have therefore been introduced to make selection as fair as possible.
- How will I be assessed?
- School/college essays
- Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
- Bio-Medical Admissions Test (BMAT)
- Cambridge Law Test
How will I be assessed?
In some cases an interview may be the only additional assessment. In others you may be asked to send in one or two of your school essays, or you may be asked to take a further test or assessment either when you attend for interview or beforehand. All the tests described below are based on knowledge you'll have acquired in your GCSEs or A levels (or equivalent), and/or they assess your own problem-solving ability.
The Cambridge Colleges work closely to ensure that the assessment methods used by all Colleges are broadly similar. However, there may be some differences in the details. The links below set out what is asked by each College for each course.
School/college essays
For a number of our courses, mainly in the Arts and Social Sciences, you will be asked to send sample essays that you have written as part of your school/college courses. These should be as submitted to your teachers, and marked by them. The Cambridge College that is assessing your application will tell you if and when they would like this work sent, and you should wait for their request before sending anything.
Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
You may be asked to take the Thinking Skills Assessment test when you come for interview either online or on paper. This test is designed to assess critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are highly relevant to successful study at degree level. It is not subject-specific, so can be applied to various courses. A number of Colleges are currently using the TSA to assess applicants for Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Land Economy, Natural Sciences and PPS.
More information and examples of TSA questions can be found on the TSA website at: www.tsa.cambridgeassessment.org.uk.
Bio-Medical Admissions Test (BMAT)
All applicants for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine are required to take this test after making their application and before interview. The test will be on 4 November 2009 and is taken at school/college examination centres.
The test is used to assess scientific aptitude and focuses on scientific abilities relevant to the study of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge. Applicants for the Cambridge Graduate Course may be required to sit the BMAT in the future and you should discuss this with an Admissions Tutor. The BMAT is also used by some other universities.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring they enter for the BMAT by 30 September 2009. This means you must, in any event, enter for the BMAT test before submitting your application by 15 October 2009.
Information on how to enter and a list of centres where the test can be taken can be found on the BMAT website: www.bmat.org.uk. Any queries about the BMAT and centre arrangements should be made to the BMAT Support Team (telephone: 01223 553366).
Details of the entry fee will be available on the BMAT website. If you are a UK student, we are concerned that the entry fee should not be viewed as a barrier to access and widening participation. Applicants in receipt of full Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), Job Seeker’s Allowance or Income Support may apply for their BMAT fees to be reimbursed. Please contact the BMAT Support Team for more information.
Further details about the test are on the BMAT website: www.bmat.org.uk.
Cambridge Law Test
Until last year, Cambridge participated in the Law National Admissions Test (LNAT). However, from 2010 entry, the LNAT will not play any part in the Cambridge admissions process. Instead, most Colleges will require applicants for Law to take the Cambridge Law Test.
The Cambridge Law Test is designed to provide an assessment of your potential for our Law course. It will be used as an additional piece of information when making admissions decisions alongside your school/college examination results, the other information provided in your application, and, where applicable, your performance at interview.
Applicants who sit the test in Cambridge will be required to answer one question in one hour. No prior knowledge of the law will be required or expected. In most cases applicants will take the test when they are in Cambridge for interview. The College dealing with your application will contact you about the arrangements if they are using it. There is no need for you to register for this test. Applicants who are offered an interview at one of our overseas interview centres will sit a slightly different version of the test in that they will be required to answer two questions in two hours.
Further information about the test, including specimen questions and answers, will be available from 1 May 2009 on the Faculty of Law website: www.law.cam.ac.uk/admissions/.