About TSA Oxford

Registration deadline for the 2022 admissions tests

Please note that the registration deadline for the University of Oxford admissions tests 2022 is 30 September. This is two weeks earlier than in previous years.

Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing - Information for Test Takers - TSA Oxford

About the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) Oxford

The Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) Oxford is a 2-hour pre-interview test for applicants to undergraduate courses at the University of Oxford. It is designed to help tutors assess whether candidates have the skills and aptitudes needed to study the following courses:

Experimental Psychology
Geography
Human Sciences
Philosophy and Linguistics
Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
Psychology and Linguistics
Psychology and Philosophy.

If you're applying for a joint course, you may also need to take a separate test in your other subject. You can confirm which test(s) your course requires at ox.ac.uk/tests. Separate registration is required for each test.

Thinking Skills Assessment: Section 1 (TSA S1)

Candidates applying to study History and Economics* (LV11) and Economics and Management (LN12) will be required to take the Thinking Skills Assessment: Section 1 (TSA S1) as part of their application. TSA S1 is a 90-minute test that consists of 50 multiple-choice thinking skills questions. Test-takers for these subjects will not be required to take Section 2 (the writing task). Applicants must ensure that they are registered to take the test called Thinking Skills Assessment: Section 1 (TSA S1).
* Applicants for History and Economics also need to take the History Admissions Test (HAT).

Test format

TSA Oxford consists of two sections:

Section 1: Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
Section 2: Writing Task.

Calculators cannot be used.

TSA Oxford will be a paper-based test in 2022.

Section 1: Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)

Section	What does it test?	Questions	Timing
Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)	Problem-solving skills, including numerical reasoning. Critical thinking skills, including understanding argument and reasoning using everyday language.	50 multiple- choice questions	90 minutes

Section 2: Writing Task

Section	What does it test?	Questions	Timing
Writing Task	The ability to organise ideas in a clear and concise manner, and communicate them effectively in writing. Questions are not subject-specific.	Candidates must answer one essay question from a choice of four	30 minutes

Please note, applicants for History and Economics and Economics and Management are not required to do the writing task.