Preparing for TSA Oxford

Preparing for TSA Oxford

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!

In 2021, TSA Oxford will be a computer-based test. Use the computer-based demonstration test to familiarise yourself with the test functionality.

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.

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.