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  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

For a general introduction to thinking skills – what they are and why they are fundamental to success in higher education – please watch the first video below.

We recommend watching the video below for an overview of the format of the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) and top tips to get you feeling prepared.

TSA is not subject-specific, so there is no curriculum content to learn. It assesses the generic thinking skills you already have, and practising for the test will help you develop these skills.

A good place to start your preparation is by reading the TSA question guide, which explains and works through a sample of the different types of Critical Thinking and Problem Solving questions in the test.

Try to answer some questions from the specimen paper, going at your own pace. Look carefully at the explained answers provided for this paper; they will help you understand how the different TSA questions work and how to approach them.

Then move on to working through some practice papers under test conditions – timed and without using a calculator (you can write down your working out).

There is no need to pay for a preparation course, we provide everything you need for free!

Section 1 practice papers – Thinking Skills Assessment

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

TSA Oxford 2021 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2021 Section 1 Answer Key

TSA Oxford 2020 Section 1
TSA Oxford 2020 Section 1 Answer Key and Score Conversion
TSA Oxford 2020 Section 1 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 2021 Section 2
TSA Oxford 2020 Section 2
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

Further reading

We provide all the free resources you’ll need to prepare for TSA. However, if you’re interested in learning more about thinking skills, here are some suggestions for 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:

Section 2 of TSA is set and marked by the University of Oxford. For further guidance on preparing for this part of the test, visit their TSA page.

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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