For high school students interested in top UK universities, such as Oxford or Cambridge, the application process can feel like a maze. The Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) is one of many admissions tests which is crucial for those looking to pursue a degree in humanities or social sciences.. In this blog, we will clarify the TSA by identifying what is involved, who takes the TSA, and how high school students can best prepare to undertake this important task.
What Is the TSA?
The Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) is an assessed, standardized pre-university admissions assessment which tests the candidate's thinking skills, such as critical thinking and an analytical, problem-solving ability. Further, the TSA provides admissions tutors with evidence of a candidate's ability beyond just academic performance. The TSA test provides a good insight into how a candidate thinks under pressure, their analytical skills and their logical argument development, all important for courses like Economics, Politics,etc.
Who Takes the TSA?
University of Oxford
Taking the TSA is a mandatory part of the admissions process for several undergraduate courses at Oxford, like:
Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
Economics and Management
History and Economics
Human Sciences
Philosophy and Linguistics
Applicants for PPE are required to take both Section 1 and Section 2 of the TSA. For courses like Economics and Management or History and Economics, only Section 1 is required.
University of Cambridge
Cambridge uses the TSA for specific courses, such as:
Land Economy
Psychology and Linguistics
Experimental Psychology
Philosophy
Again, certain courses require you taking both Section 1 and Section 2 of the TSA.
What Does the TSA Test?
Section 1: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
This section assesses:
Problem-solving skills, which include numerical and spatial reasoning.
Critical thinking abilities, like understanding arguments, spotting assumptions, and recognizing flaws in reasoning.
You’ll have 90 minutes to tackle 50 multiple-choice questions, making it a bit of a time crunch. The questions are designed to evaluate how well you can interpret information and reason quickly. An ideal score is as high as 70, so being fast and efficient is key.
Section 2: Writing Task
In this section, candidates must write an essay in response to one of four questions. The topics are general and do not require subject-specific knowledge. This task evaluates the ability to organize ideas clearly and concisely and to communicate them effectively in writing.
How Is the TSA Scored?
Section 1: Each correct answer earns one mark. Scores are calculated on the TSA scale to one decimal place, running approximately from 0 to 100. The scale is an estimate of the candidate’s ability, factoring in question and overall test difficulty using the Rasch statistical technique.
Section 2: This section is reviewed by the admissions tutors of the college to which the candidate has applied. There is no numerical score; instead, the essay is assessed qualitatively.
An average score in Section 1 is about 60, equating to around 28 out of 50 raw marks. Scoring 70 or above places a candidate in the top 10% of applicants.
Preparing for the TSA
Preparation is important in ensuring that you do well in the TSA. Candidates are advised to:
Use past papers to familiarize yourself with the question types and the format. Past papers can be found on the official Oxford TSA website.
Practice critical thinking skills by participating in activities like debating, which will develop your ability to consider an argument or a problem critically.
Practice working against the clock. This will help you to complete on time whilst also maintaining accuracy and quality.
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