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  3. Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
  4. TSA Oxford
  5. Preparing for TSA Oxford

Preparing for TSA Oxford

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

Preparing for TSA Oxford

TSA does not require a lot of extra study as it is a test of skills and aptitudes that students already possess. You can get familiar with the test format by doing practice papers, available for download below.

Anyone offering a paid service to help you prepare for TSA will have no more knowledge than someone who has read the information on this website and done practice tests. So while a test-taker’s performance at any test will improve with some familiarisation or practice, we would not advise anyone to pay for such help.

Section 1 practice papers – Thinking Skills Assessment

TSA Specimen Test
TSA Specimen Answer Sheet
TSA Specimen Answer Key
TSA Specimen Explained Answers

TSA Oxford 2019 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2019 Section 1 Answer Key
TSA Oxford 2019 Section 1 Score Conversion

TSA Oxford 2018 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2018 Section 1 Answer Key
TSA Oxford 2018 Section 1 Score Conversion

TSA Oxford 2017 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2017 Section 1 Answer Key
TSA Oxford 2017 Section 1 Score Conversion

TSA Oxford 2016 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2016 Section 1 Answer Key
TSA Oxford 2016 Section 1 Score Conversion

TSA Oxford 2015 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2015 Section 1 Answer Key
TSA Oxford 2015 Section 1 Score Conversion

TSA Oxford 2014 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2014 Section 1 Answer Key
TSA Oxford 2014 Section 1 Score Conversion

TSA Oxford 2013 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2013 Section 1 Answer Key
TSA Oxford 2013 Section 1 Score Conversion

TSA Oxford 2012 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2012 Section 1 Answer Key
TSA Oxford 2012 Section 1 Score Conversion

TSA Oxford 2011 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2011 Section 1 Answer Key
TSA Oxford 2011 Section 1 Score Conversion

TSA Oxford 2010 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2010 Section 1 Answer Key
TSA Oxford 2010 Section 1 Score Conversion

TSA Oxford 2009 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2009 Section 1 Answer Key
TSA Oxford 2009 Section 1 Score Conversion

TSA Oxford 2008 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2008 Section 1 Answer Key
TSA Oxford 2008 Section 1 Score Conversion

Section 2 practice papers – Writing Task

For guidance on the Writing Task, please visit the ‘Section 2 specimen and past papers’ section on Oxford's TSA page.

TSA Oxford Writing Task Specimen Answer Sheet

TSA Oxford 2019 Section 2
TSA Oxford 2018 Section 2
TSA Oxford 2017 Section 2
TSA Oxford 2016 Section 2
TSA Oxford 2015 Section 2
TSA Oxford 2014 Section 2
TSA Oxford 2013 Section 2
TSA Oxford 2012 Section 2
TSA Oxford 2011 Section 2
TSA Oxford 2010 Section 2
TSA Oxford 2009 Section 2
TSA Oxford 2008 Section 2
TSA Oxford Specimen Section 2

TSA Question Guide

TSA Question Guide 2020

Please note, the Question Guide has replaced the Test Specification. 

Further reading

Thinking Skills by Butterworth, John and Thwaites, Geoff
Critical Reasoning: A Practical Introduction by Thomson, Anne
Thinking from A to Z (2nd Edition) by Warburton, Nigel
Critical Thinking: An Introduction by Fisher, Alec

TSA Section 2: guidance on the Writing Task

In this video the University of Oxford provide guidance on how to approach the essay part of TSA, Section 2:

An introduction to the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)

In the presentation below we explain why TSA is used by universities for admissions, and provide information about the test and how to prepare for it.

For a general introduction to thinking skills, watch A short film about thinking.

TSA Oxford - student views

University of Oxford students talk about their experience of taking TSA for entry to their course, and why the test content is relevant to their studies. They also offer tips for students who are taking TSA.

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