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About TSA Oxford

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- Thinking skills
  - TSA Oxford

Which courses use TSA Oxford?

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TSA Oxford leaflet 2013
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About the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) Oxford

The Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) Oxford is a 2-hour pre-interview test for applicants to undergraduate courses at the University of Oxford. It is designed to help tutors assess whether candidates have the skills and aptitudes needed to study the following courses:

Economics and Management
Experimental Psychology
Geography
Philosophy and Linguistics
Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
Psychology and Linguistics
Psychology and Philosophy.

Because these subjects require a range of abilities, and candidates come from a wide variety of subject backgrounds, admissions decisions are complex. The TSA helps admissions tutors make an informed selection.

Test format

The TSA Oxford is a pen-and-paper test. It consists of two sections:

Section 1: Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
Section 2: Writing Task.

Separate answer sheets will be provided for each section. Calculators cannot be used.

Section 1: Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)

Section	What does it test?	Questions	Timing
Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)	Problem-solving skills, including numerical and spatial reasoning. Critical thinking skills, including understanding argument and reasoning using everyday language.	50 multiple- choice questions	90 minutes

Section 2: Writing Task

Section	What does it test?	Questions	Timing
Writing Task	The ability to organise ideas in a clear and concise manner, and communicate them effectively in writing. Questions are not subject-specific.	Candidates must answer one essay question from a choice of four	30 minutes

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- As leaders in the field of assessment, all our tests are specifically designed to be fair to all candidates, whatever their age, gender, nationality, culture or ethnic background. Quality and fairness are at the centre of everything we do.
  
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- BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
  
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News
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) to use the BMAT for graduate entry Medicine
  
  26 Mar
  
  As of 2013, the Admissions Testing Service is working with Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) to use the BMAT for graduate entry Medicine.
  
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  Imperial College London to use the MAT
  
  25 Feb
  
  Imperial College is to use the Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) from 2013.
  
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  ELAT and TSA Oxford results released
  
  14 Jan
  
  Download results from Monday 14 January 2013, using our Results Online system.
  
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  Welcome to our new website!
  
  10 Jan
  
  We hope you like our new name and new look.
  
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  University of Oxford works with the Admissions Testing Service
  
  01 May
  
  The Admissions Testing Service is working closely with the University of Oxford...
  
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  New Singapore Medical School uses the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
  
  01 Feb
  
  The BMAT is being used by the newly launched Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore...
  
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Community
- The Student Room is the UK's biggest student community with over 1 million members. The Student Room provides advice and forums on university admissions tests.
  
  Please note: The Student Room is an external organisation and its website is not hosted by the Admissions Testing Service.
©2013 UCLES