Thinking Skills Assessment
(TSA)
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Important dates 2023
Thu 1st Sep – TSA registration opens
Fri 16th Sep – Last date to apply for modified papers
Fri 29th Sep - deadline for registration
Wed 18th Oct - date for test
Thu 11th Jan 2024 - results released
Overview
The videos below explains what thinking skills are and why they are fundamental to success in higher education. It also includes an introduction to the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA).
For 2023 the TSA Oxford is a paper-based test. It is administered by Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing (CAAT).
It is divided into two sections and calculators cannot be used.
Section 1 : Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
90 minutes
Consists of 50 multiple-choice questions which aim to assess:
Problem-solving skills, including numerical reasoning. Critical thinking skills, including understanding argument and reasoning using everyday language.
Section 2 : Writing Task
30 minutes
The writing task seeks to evaluate a candidate’s ability to organise ideas in a clear and concise manner, and communicate them effectively in writing.
Questions are not subject-specific and candidates must answer one question from a choice of four.
If you are applying for one of the following courses at the University of Oxford you will be required to take both sections of the TSA:
Experimental Psychology, Human Sciences, Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE), and Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics (PPL).
However, if you are applying for Economics and Management or History and Economics, you will be required to take only Section 1.
If you are applying for European Social and Political Studies or International Social and Political Studies at University College London you may need to sit their online TSA.
Very helpful website with good links and videos
As with many of the aptitude tests, the TSA preparation requires students to spend much of their preparation time working through practice tests and exercises. Remember, the tests are designed to examine the way you think rather than covering a specific body of knowledge.
This website, from Uniadmissions, may also be helpful
TSA Section 1 - Critical thinking
TSA Section 1 - Problem Solving
Additional resources and also here.
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