1. Admissions Testing

2. Why use tests? Rising applications per place
Help us concentrate interviewing resources on those most likely to achieve an offer
More forms of data to help select
Differentiating between well qualified candidates
To stretch and challenge applicants
Assess aptitude rather than knowledge
A common set of data with which to compare applicants

3. Types of test
Skills:
Application of pre 16 study but may stretch into post 16 qualifications
Response to new material
Interpretation of data or argument
Critical thinking
Comprehension
Essay writing
Method:
Multiple choice
Short answer questions
Essays

4. Tests for Medical Science Courses
Used for:
Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Biomedical Sciences
Used by:
BMAT – 7 Institutions
UKCAT – 24 Institutions
Method:
BMAT- 2 hours. Multiple choice, short answer + 1 essay from choice of 4
UKCAT – 2 hours. Verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning, decision analysis and situational judgement
How:
Selection for shortlisting
BMAT: Used by 7 (UK) + 1 international –
Cambridge (Medicine & Veterinary Medicine);
Imperial College London (Medicine, Graduate Medicine, Biomedical Science 3yr course, Biomedical Science with Management 4yr course;
University of Oxford (Medicine, Graduate Medicine, Biomedical Sciences);
Royal Veterinary College (Veterinary Medicine, Combined Degree Programme, Graduated Accelerated Veterinary Medicine Programme);
University College London, (Medicine);
Brighton & Sussex Medical School (Medicine)
University of Leeds (Medicine)
Also used by Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, MBBS degree jointly awarded by Imperial College London and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
UKCAT: Used by 24
Aberdeen, Cardiff, Central Lancashire, Dundee, Durham, East Anglia, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Hull York Medical School, Keele, King’s College London, Leicester, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Plymouth, Queen Mary, Queen’s University Belfast, Sheffield, Southampton, St Andrews, St Georges University of London, Warwick

5. LNAT & TSA Used for: LNAT – Law TSA – A variety of subjects Used by:
LNAT – 11 institutions
TSA – Different versions used by Oxford, Cambridge and UCL
Method:
LNAT- 90 minutes, 42 multiple choice questions + 1 essay from 5 choices. Testing interpretation, analysis, comprehension and writing skills
TSA – 90 minutes, 50 multiple choice questions minutes for 1 essay from 4 choices. Testing numerical, spatial reasoning and writing skills
How:
Different sections used at different stages
LNAT: Birmingham, Bristol, Durham, Glasgow, Kings College London, Nottingham, Oxford, SOAS, UCL, NUI Maynooth (Northern Ireland), IE University (Northern Ireland)

6. Example: TSA
Question 1
School examination results in England this year reinforce the trend in improving pass rates. There is, however, no other evidence of improvements in school leavers' abilities - such as the data coming from employers or universities. One can reasonably conclude, therefore, that teachers are simply succeeding in coaching their pupils better for examinations than in previous years.
Which one of the following is an underlying assumption of the above argument?
Question 2
A publisher produces magazines, all of which have a number of pages which is a multiple of 32. Thus, a magazine can have 32, 64, pages. The front cover is always counted as page 1.
The centre spread of the magazine could have pages numbered:
A 15 and 16.
B 30 and 31.
C 50 and 51.
D 63 and 64.
E 96 and 97.
A School examination results are a reliable indicator of pupils' abilities.
B The level of difficulty of examinations has not been falling.
C Employers' expectations of school leavers are unrealistic.
D Teachers in previous years did not attempt to coach pupils for examinations.
E Abilities of school pupils vary from year to year.
Question 1 - The answer is B
Question 2 – The answer is E

7. Example: TSA

8. Mathematics & Physics tests
Used by and for:
MAT - Maths & joint courses or Computer Sciences at Oxford and Imperial College London
PAT – Physics, Engineering Science, Material Science
STEP – NOT REQUIRED BY OXFORD - 2 institutions, but some encourage as good preparation
Method:
MAT hours, Based on core maths modules 1 & multiple choice + 4 from 5 longer questions. Testing application of knowledge to new scenarios
PAT - 2 hours, Maths and Physics tested. Key topics covered e.g waves or algebra available on line
STEP - Up to 3, 3 hour papers, candidates choose 6 questions per paper
How:
MAT used at both shortlisting and final offer
PAT used primarily at shortlisting
STEP used by Cambridge and Warwick but encouraged to take it, i.e. doing so may count towards entry requirements by:
Imperial, Kings College London, Loughborough, UCL, Bath, Bristol

9. HAT & ELAT Used for: History & joint courses
English Literature & joint courses
Method:
HAT- 2 hours, two sources and 4 questions. Testing interpretation, analysis, critical thinking and writing skills
ELAT hours. Compare & contrast 2/3 of 6 themed extracts. Testing close reading skills, responsiveness to unfamiliar material
How:
Used primarily at shortlisting

10. CLAT, LAT, OLAT & MLAT Used for: Classics and joint courses
Beginners languages, classics II or linguistics
Modern Languages from A level
Oriental Studies
Method:
CLAT- 1 hour each for Latin & Greek. Testing translation skills
LAT mins/1hour . Testing interpretation of an invented language. Varies depending on degree programme
MLAT- 30 mins. Testing applications of grammar and sentence translation
How:
Used in selection for interview but can be used to set level at interview
Linguistics aptitude
Language aptitude

11. Logistics Most can be taken within schools
Majority are pen & paper tests
Students may be required to take more than one test

12. Registering the school as a test centre
Registering as a test centre:
Through your UCAS membership
As an open centre
tests/become-a-test-centre/
Stress the candidate’s responsibility to check these details. Good person to speak to is the exams officer even if you don’t have to register for the test.
LNAT is computer based but all others are old school pen and paper.

13. Student Registration for tests
UCAS is very clear on both course search and during the application when students need to take tests
It is a student’s responsibility to ensure they are registered for tests and deadlines, for most tests this is 15th October
Students may be required to take and register for more than one test
15th October Deadline!
Stress the candidate’s responsibility to check these details. Good person to speak to is the exams officer even if you don’t have to register for the test.
LNAT is computer based but all others are old school pen and paper.

14. How to prepare? Dependent on test – aptitude or ability?
Science tests – Revision of early work helpful. Firm knowledge of subject matter helpful
Humanities (English, History, Languages) – Practice of similar exercises from teachers helpful
TSA & LNAT – Unseen essays
All – PRACTICE & Exam technique
Sample papers and marking schemes available
Limited number so spread out attempts

15. Prior academic achievement
Afterwards...
Delivery of marks varies by subject
Don’t expect top marks – pass mark depends on the cohort
Used alongside all other information to decide who should be interviewed
Prior academic achievement
Predicted grades
Personal Statement
Teacher’s reference
Pre-Interview tests
Written work
Interview(s)