If you aspire to study an undergraduate degree within the hallowed halls of Oxford University, you may need to take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA). This admissions test is a crucial step towards securing a place on a humanities course at this esteemed institution.
The pen-and-paper-based test is split into two sections: Section one is all about testing your problem-solving and critical thinking skills. You’ll face 50 multiple-choice questions that you’ll need to tackle in 90 minutes. Each question earns you one mark.
Section two is all about writing. You’ll have 30 minutes to show off your ability to express your ideas clearly in writing. While this part isn’t assigned a specific score, the admissions tutor will assess it as part of your application process. So make sure to bring your A-game and let your writing skills shine during this section.
Achieving top marks on this tough test is no walk in the park, but acing it could open the doors to your dream university. In this article, we share three top tips to help you excel in the TSA. Let’s dive right in.
- Practise past questions
To begin your preparation, a great starting point is to read the TSA question guide. It breaks down different types of critical thinking and problem solving questions in the test, giving you examples and explanations to work through. It’s a handy resource to get a feel for what to expect.
You’ll find a wealth of past paper questions available through Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing as well. Start by taking your time with the papers, without worrying about the clock. Once you feel confident, kick things up a notch and challenge yourself with timed practice sessions to mimic real test conditions.
Feeling stuck on a particular question? Don’t fret — remember the golden rule from your school days: skip it for now and come back later. You can always come back to the question later when you have more time or a fresh perspective.
- Take a TSA workshop
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you might consider enrolling in a TSA course or workshop. These specialised programmes are designed to enhance your understanding of the material, boost your self-confidence, and familiarise you with the test environment.
However, keep in mind that the market is saturated with these types of courses, and their quality can vary significantly. To help narrow down your options, we recommend seeking help from tutors who have successfully passed the exam themselves.
For instance, UniAdmissions offers a variety of one-to-one TSA tutoring programmes taught and created exclusively by specialists who scored in the top 10% of their TSA year group. According to the educational organisation: “the programmes are designed from the ground up to help gain you your offer; resulting in a success rate triple the national average.”
- Refresh your GCSE maths
The TSA covers mathematics to a GCSE level, so if you want to breeze through the numeracy-based questions, it’s a good idea to brush up on your rudimental maths skills. Remembering formulas for calculating volumes and areas of basic shapes will come in handy, as many questions involve spatial reasoning and measurements.
Moreover, it’s essential to have a solid understanding of fundamental arithmetic operations such as long division, multiplication, and percentage conversions. These skills tend to pop up quite often in TSA questions, so being able to tackle them swiftly and accurately will be a real time-saver during the exam.
There’s lots of free online resources available to help you prepare. One recommended option is the GCSE maths section on BBC Bitesize, which provides a good platform for practising and improving your number-crunching skills.