The Thinking Skills Assessment: An Introduction
By Madeleine Leggett, Academic Coach
The TSA is an admissions test commonly used by Oxford and Cambridge, as well as for some subjects at UCL. It’s the admissions test anyone applying for courses such as PPE (Oxford), Human Sciences (Oxford), and Land Economy (Cambridge) have to sit. Your score in the TSA has a strong impact on your chances of getting an interview and offer at these top universities, so understanding how to succeed in it is important.
What does the TSA consist of?
The TSA divides into two sections: Section 1 consists of 50 multiple choice questions and Section 2 consists of a short essay. The former tests critical thinking and problem solving, while the latter tests persuasive reasoning and writing skills. These are skills that are important throughout the Oxbridge application process (particularly during the interviews) and during your degree as well. The TSA helps tutors to assess students’ academic potential and is seen as a fairer, more standardised point of comparison than predicted grades, personal statements, etc.
You are not automatically registered for the TSA when you submit your university application, so make sure you register in time at an approved centre near you. Each test centre (often a local school) has its own deadline for registration, so this is worth looking into. The TSA dates can be found online - for example, in 2020 the TSA takes place on the 5th November.
How can I succeed at the TSA?
Practice, practice, practice - this is the best and most reliable way of improving your TSA score
Learn the format of the questions - the multiple choice questions divide into critical thinking and problem solving questions. There are several subtypes of question within this, such as identifying the flaw in an argument, identifying the main conclusion of a short text, algebra, spatial reasoning, etc. If you familiarise yourself with the types of questions that will come up, you’ll know what to expect and how to answer them
Timing - many TSA questions aren’t that difficult; the problem is you have very little time to answer in. The multiple choice section involves answering 50 questions in 90 minutes (or roughly 3 questions every 5 minutes). It’s critical to work quickly and efficiently in order to do well
As a result, it’s important to practice past papers under timed conditions. Some people recommend practicing papers with only 80 instead of 90 minutes, so you’re even more confident for the real test. Others don’t find this helpful, so try it out and decide if this technique helps you.
Know your strengths and weaknesses - as a result of the tight timings, if a question seems too hard or likely to take too long, it’s not worth wasting time on it. There’s no negative marking in the TSA and as the questions are multiple choice, guessing for certain question types is a viable strategy. You can choose to invest your time on questions you have a better chance of succeeding at instead.
For example, students with dyspraxia may struggle with spatial reasoning questions, and even non-dyspraxic students find these the hardest type to learn (it’s often said that you either get them, or you don’t). Since there are only about two spatial reasoning questions per year, guessing them and then moving on is perfectly valid, and allows you to focus on other questions
Have a strategy for Section 2
In this section, students will have to answer one essay question in half an hour - again, not a lot of time. These essays aren’t marked along a consistent numerical mark scheme, and the way they’re used in admissions varies between subject, college, and admissions tutors. However, what is consistent is what they’re looking for: a well-reasoned argument, strong analysis, backed up by some kind of supporting evidence (e.g. examples, thought experiments, etc), and a strong structure.
Because there’s so little time to write the essay, it’s important that your answer is concise and well-structured. The tutors marking it will not expect a long piece, but every word and minute should count. This means that planning thoroughly before you start writing is essential. Additionally, the essay is closer to a persuasive writing piece in school than a classic balanced essay. The argument should be clear throughout the essay, and when you raise counterarguments, do so in order to knock them down again and thus reinforce the strength of your original argument. It’s best to choose a position (even if it’s a compromise position) and stick with it clearly from the start.
In conclusion…
The TSA can seem intimidating at first, but with practice and discipline, it’s possible to improve your score. To book an academic coach to help you with this process, get in touch via our enquiry form, or call 0131 618 6688.
More information and past papers can be found at the official website: https://www.admissionstesting.org/for-test-takers/thinking-skills-assessment/tsa-oxford/preparing-for-tsa-oxford/.