Test of Mathematics for University Admission

About the test

The test has been developed to help you select students with the best chance of success on challenging undergraduate Mathematics courses.

Key facts

Format:	Paper-based
Duration:	2 hours 30 minutes
Delivery:	Global network of test centres or at your institution
Test dates:	Agreed with institutions and dependent on test administration arrangements

Why use the test?

Focused on the skills needed for university mathematics

The test focuses on key skills needed for progression to university mathematics: applying standard knowledge in unfamiliar situations and mathematical reasoning. School mathematics qualifications typically do not test these skills as extensively.

Identify students with the potential for success

Initial research has shown a positive relationship between scores on the test and first year undergraduate academic performance, helping to ensure that you pick the right students for your maths courses.

Key information at the time of admissions decision making

Because the test is taken around the time students are applying to university, it provides key information on an applicant’s potential, at the time when you are making admissions decisions.

Developed in consultation with leading universities

The test was developed in consultation with leading UK universities, to ensure it meets universities’ requirements. Trialling was undertaken to confirm the suitability of the test.

A common benchmark in a changing educational landscape

Your admissions team needs to compare diverse and changing qualifications from home and overseas. The test provides a common benchmark of ability that can allow you to compare all students directly.

Our global network of test centres enables many applicants to take the test in their home country. More test centres are being added to meet demand.

The test was tailor-made for university mathematics admissions after several years of development. It provides some of the most accurate assessment of ability to perform at degree level currently available. At the same time, it is simple and less daunting, relies only on core A Level knowledge and requires minimal revision. It greatly improves the transparency, fairness and clarity of our admissions process, and levels the playing field for our applicants.

Professor Steven Abel,
Department of Mathematical Sciences,
University of Durham, UK

Who uses the test?

The test is currently taken by students applying to undergraduate Mathematics and related courses at Durham University, Lancaster University, the University of Warwick, the University of Sheffield and the University of Southampton, with more Mathematics departments across the UK interested in adopting the test.

Your institution can make the test an optional part of a student’s application (e.g., to support alternative offer-making), or a compulsory requirement of your admissions process.

Test format
Costs and delivery
Preparing for the test
Test research

Test format

The test is 2 hours 30 minutes long. It has two multiple-choice papers which are taken consecutively.

Paper	What does it test?
Paper 1: Mathematical Thinking	Focuses on assessing candidates’ ability to apply knowledge of mathematics in new situations.
Paper 2: Mathematical Reasoning	Focuses on assessing candidates’ ability to justify and interpret mathematical arguments and conjectures, and deal with elementary concepts from logic.

Costs and delivery

The test can be delivered:

through our global network of authorised test centres
at schools/colleges which have applied to run the test
at your own institution.

For UK university admission:
Students can normally take the test in their own school or college. The 2017 test fee is £29 within the EU (including the UK), or £43 outside of the EU. Test centres may charge an additional administration fee.

We keep test fees to affordable levels to ensure they do not present a barrier to students entering university. For financially disadvantaged students, the test fee can be reimbursed.

For universities in other countries:
The test fee depends on how and where the test is administered. Test fees can be either charged directly to the institution, or passed on to candidates.

Preparing for the test

The best way for students to prepare for the test is to familiarise themselves with the test format and question style, by doing practice papers.

Free sample papers and answer keys are available on the test’s preparation page.

The focus of the test is on mathematical thinking. It uses mathematics that students will have already learned in their school studies, so there should be no need for them to pay for coaching or take a preparation course.

Test research

The test is produced using research and processes conforming to international quality standards. Find out more

Test development was guided by educational research, and in particular by an established mathematical taxonomy which divides mathematics questions into three groups, according to the skills and approaches needed:

dealing with routine questions and procedures, similar to those likely to have been encountered before
applying standard knowledge in unfamiliar situations
reasoning, justifying, and proving assertions couched in a broadly mathematical manner.

While school mathematics qualifications tend to focus on group A, the Test of Mathematics for University Admission is designed to assess a student’s potential to deal with groups B and C, which are key for success in university study.

To ensure accessibility for students, the knowledge required to tackle the test questions is restricted to foundational pure mathematics.

Initial research has shown a positive relationship between scores on the test and first year academic performance. An ongoing programme of research will help to ensure the validity and reliability of the test.