Thinking Skills Assessment
Encyclopedia
The Thinking Skills Assessment (also known as TSA) is a generic admissions test
, that is used as part of the admissions process for entry to some undergraduate courses at the University of Cambridge
, the University of Oxford
and University College London
.
In 2007, the University of Oxford introduced the TSA as part of its admissions process for Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE). At this stage, the test was known as the ‘PPE Admissions Test’. The use of the TSA was extended for entry to Economics & Management in 2008 and to further subjects in 2009: Experimental Psychology, and Psychology and Philosophy.
Since the 2008-9 application cycle, University College London has used the TSA to assist in the selection of applicants to European Social and Political Studies (ESPS).
The TSA Cambridge, used by the University of Cambridge, and the TSA UCL, used by University College London, is a 90 minute test consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions. The test is designed to measure Problem Solving
and Critical Thinking
skills.
The TSA Oxford, used by the University of Oxford, has an additional component which consists of a 30 minute writing task, where candidates choose to answer one essay question from a choice of four. This section of the test is designed to assess a candidate’s ability to organise and communicate their ideas in a clear and concise manner.
. The writing task component of the TSA Oxford is passed to admissions tutors at the Oxford College to which a candidate has applied.
The TSA UCL is sat during the interview stage for entry to University College London. It is administered as a paper-based test. The University College London admissions interviews are held on specific dates from December – March. Results are reported to the university only.
The TSA Oxford is held at the beginning of November as a pre-interview, paper-based test taken at schools, colleges or equivalent centres globally. Results are issued in mid-January of the following year, via TSA Oxford Results Online.
Test (assessment)
A test or an examination is an assessment intended to measure a test-taker's knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical fitness, or classification in many other topics . A test may be administered orally, on paper, on a computer, or in a confined area that requires a test taker to physically perform a...
, that is used as part of the admissions process for entry to some undergraduate courses at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
History
The TSA was developed and is run by Cambridge Assessment. It was first introduced for undergraduate entry to the University of Cambridge in 2001 and is used as part of the admissions process for a number of courses: Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Land Economy, Natural Sciences, and Politics, Psychology & Sociology (PPS). Not all Cambridge Colleges require the TSA to be taken; the admissions pages of the University of Cambridge website give up-to-date information about which courses and colleges require the TSA.In 2007, the University of Oxford introduced the TSA as part of its admissions process for Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE). At this stage, the test was known as the ‘PPE Admissions Test’. The use of the TSA was extended for entry to Economics & Management in 2008 and to further subjects in 2009: Experimental Psychology, and Psychology and Philosophy.
Since the 2008-9 application cycle, University College London has used the TSA to assist in the selection of applicants to European Social and Political Studies (ESPS).
Format
There are two variants of the TSA:The TSA Cambridge, used by the University of Cambridge, and the TSA UCL, used by University College London, is a 90 minute test consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions. The test is designed to measure Problem Solving
Problem solving
Problem solving is a mental process and is part of the larger problem process that includes problem finding and problem shaping. Consideredthe most complex of all intellectual functions, problem solving has been defined as higher-order cognitive process that requires the modulation and control of...
and Critical Thinking
Critical thinking
Critical thinking is the process or method of thinking that questions assumptions. It is a way of deciding whether a claim is true, false, or sometimes true and sometimes false, or partly true and partly false. The origins of critical thinking can be traced in Western thought to the Socratic...
skills.
The TSA Oxford, used by the University of Oxford, has an additional component which consists of a 30 minute writing task, where candidates choose to answer one essay question from a choice of four. This section of the test is designed to assess a candidate’s ability to organise and communicate their ideas in a clear and concise manner.
Scoring
The multiple-choice answers are marked by Cambridge Assessment using optical mark recognitionOptical mark recognition
Optical Mark Recognition is the process of capturing human-marked data from document forms such as surveys and tests.-OMR background:...
. The writing task component of the TSA Oxford is passed to admissions tutors at the Oxford College to which a candidate has applied.
Timing and results
The TSA Cambridge is normally sat when applicants come to their Cambridge interview in November or December. It is administered as an online or paper-based test, either at the College to which the student is applying, or at a central test site in Cambridge. Results are reported to the university only.The TSA UCL is sat during the interview stage for entry to University College London. It is administered as a paper-based test. The University College London admissions interviews are held on specific dates from December – March. Results are reported to the university only.
The TSA Oxford is held at the beginning of November as a pre-interview, paper-based test taken at schools, colleges or equivalent centres globally. Results are issued in mid-January of the following year, via TSA Oxford Results Online.