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The '''Thinking Skills Assessment''' ( |
The '''Thinking Skills Assessment''' ('''TSA''') is a generic admissions [[test (assessment)|test]], which is used as part of the admissions process for entry to some undergraduate courses at the [[University of Cambridge]], the [[University of Oxford]], [[Hanoi University of Science and Technology]], and formerly, [[University College London]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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TSA was developed and is run by [[Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing]]. It was developed to help universities assess whether applicants have the skills and aptitudes considered essential for Higher Education study. Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing produces and distributes practice materials, including specimen questions and past papers, on their website. |
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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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Additional work or tests|url=http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/tests/index.html|publisher=University of Cambridge Undergraduate Admissions|accessdate=9 September 2011}}</ref> |
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The test was first introduced for undergraduate entry to the [[University of Cambridge]] in 2001 and was used as part of the admissions process for a number of undergraduate courses. It is currently used for application to the Land Economy course only.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/land-economy|title=Land Economy|date=17 July 2017|website=Undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk|accessdate=2018-05-30}}</ref> |
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In 2007, the University of Oxford introduced the TSA as part of its admissions process for [[Philosophy, Politics and Economics|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. |
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In 2007, the [[University of Oxford]] introduced TSA as part of its admissions process for [[Philosophy, Politics and Economics]] (PPE). At this stage, the test was known as the ‘PPE Admissions Test’. The use of TSA was extended for entry to Economics and Management in 2008; to Experimental Psychology, and Psychology and Philosophy in 2009, Geography, Philosophy and Linguistics, and Psychology and Linguistics in 2012, and in 2015 to Human Sciences. Since 2016, candidates applying for Chemistry have been required to sit a version of TSA consisting of Section 1 of the test only (TSA S1), with History and Economics requiring the same from 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.admissionstesting.org/images/302047-courses-requiring-tsa-oxford.pdf|title=Courses requiring TSA Oxford : Candidates intending to apply for entry to one of the following courses at the University of Oxford are required to take TSA|website=Admissionstesting.org|accessdate=2018-05-30}}</ref> From 2018, the University of Oxford no longer required applicants to take TSA for entry to their Geography course. |
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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). |
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From 2008 to 2021, [[University College London]] used TSA to assist in the selection of applicants to European and International Social and Political Studies (EISPS). From 2022 onwards, UCL replaced TSA with its own Thinking Skills Test (TST), which is modelled on TSA Section 1 but is delivered and marked internally.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/european-international-social-political-studies/study/how-apply|title=UCL EISPS : How to apply|website=ucl.ac.uk|date=22 March 2018 |accessdate=2024-01-03}}</ref> |
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==Format== |
==Format== |
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TSA consists of one or two sections, depending on the university and course being applied for. Section 2 is used in addition to Section 1 by the University of Oxford for certain courses. |
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There are two variants of the TSA: |
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* Section 1 (90 minutes): 50 multiple-choice questions testing problem solving (including numerical and spatial reasoning) and critical thinking skills (including understanding argument and reasoning using everyday language). |
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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. |
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* Section 2 (30 minutes): Candidates must answer one essay question from a choice of four (questions are not subject specific). It tests the ability to organise ideas in a clear and concise manner, and communicate them effectively in writing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.admissionstesting.org/for-institutions/about-our-tests/thinking-skills-assessment/|title=Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) - Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing|website=Admissionstesting.org|accessdate=2018-05-30}}</ref> |
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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. |
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==Scoring== |
==Scoring== |
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The multiple-choice answers are marked by Cambridge Assessment |
The multiple-choice answers (Section 1) are marked by [[Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing]] with 1 mark available per question. Final scores are calculated to one decimal place on the TSA scale (running approximately 0–100) using the [[Rasch model|Rasch]] statistical technique. |
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The writing task component of TSA (Section 2) used by the University of Oxford is reviewed by admissions tutors.<ref name="admissionstestingservice.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.admissionstestingservice.org/for-test-takers/thinking-skills-assessment/tsa-oxford/scoring-and-results/|title=Scoring and results - TSA Oxford - Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing|website=Admissionstesting.org|accessdate=2018-05-30}}</ref> |
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An average score is about 60, so around 28 out of 50 raw marks. If you score 70 or above, you will find yourself in the top 10 of candidates – this equates to about 38 out 50. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uniadmissions.co.uk/tsa/guides/tsa-results-and-scoring/|title=TSA Scoring: What Is A Good TSA Score? |website=uniadmissions.co.uk|date=16 September 2022 |accessdate=2022-11-04}}</ref> |
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==Timing and results== |
==Timing and results== |
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===The University of Cambridge and The University of Oxford=== |
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PIE!!!!!!!!!!! |
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For the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, TSA is held in late October/early November as a pre-interview, paper-based test taken at schools, colleges or authorised test centres globally. Results are issued in mid-January of the following year, via Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing’s [https://results.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/candidates/controller/open/login.html results online portal]. |
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==Usage== |
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The exact use of results varies between the subjects which use the test, and candidates need to refer to their chosen course for precise details.<ref name="admissionstestingservice.org"/> |
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==See also== |
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*[[Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing]] |
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An ongoing programme of research by Cambridge Assessment evaluates the predictive validity of the TSA. Research on the relationship between TSA Cambridge scores and 1st year undergraduate examination performance shows that TSA total scores appear to be a strong predictor of the probability of achieving a 1st class examination outcome for the courses that use the test.<ref>{{cite web|last=Emery|first=J.L|title=The predictive validity of the Thinking Skills Assessment: a combined analysis of three cohorts|url=http://www.admissionstests.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/adt/digitalAssets/121131_combined_TSA_validity_report1.pdf|publisher=UCLES|accessdate=9 September 2011}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{ |
{{Reflist}} |
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==External links |
==External links== |
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* [http://www. |
* [http://www.admissionstesting.org/for-test-takers/thinking-skills-assessment/ Official website] |
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{{University admissions tests in the United Kingdom}} |
{{University admissions tests in the United Kingdom}} |
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Latest revision as of 07:38, 11 May 2024
The Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) is a generic admissions test, which is used as part of the admissions process for entry to some undergraduate courses at the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, and formerly, University College London.
History[edit]
TSA was developed and is run by Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing. It was developed to help universities assess whether applicants have the skills and aptitudes considered essential for Higher Education study. Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing produces and distributes practice materials, including specimen questions and past papers, on their website.
The test was first introduced for undergraduate entry to the University of Cambridge in 2001 and was used as part of the admissions process for a number of undergraduate courses. It is currently used for application to the Land Economy course only.[1]
In 2007, the University of Oxford introduced TSA as part of its admissions process for Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). At this stage, the test was known as the ‘PPE Admissions Test’. The use of TSA was extended for entry to Economics and Management in 2008; to Experimental Psychology, and Psychology and Philosophy in 2009, Geography, Philosophy and Linguistics, and Psychology and Linguistics in 2012, and in 2015 to Human Sciences. Since 2016, candidates applying for Chemistry have been required to sit a version of TSA consisting of Section 1 of the test only (TSA S1), with History and Economics requiring the same from 2017.[2] From 2018, the University of Oxford no longer required applicants to take TSA for entry to their Geography course.
From 2008 to 2021, University College London used TSA to assist in the selection of applicants to European and International Social and Political Studies (EISPS). From 2022 onwards, UCL replaced TSA with its own Thinking Skills Test (TST), which is modelled on TSA Section 1 but is delivered and marked internally.[3]
Format[edit]
TSA consists of one or two sections, depending on the university and course being applied for. Section 2 is used in addition to Section 1 by the University of Oxford for certain courses.
- Section 1 (90 minutes): 50 multiple-choice questions testing problem solving (including numerical and spatial reasoning) and critical thinking skills (including understanding argument and reasoning using everyday language).
- Section 2 (30 minutes): Candidates must answer one essay question from a choice of four (questions are not subject specific). It tests the ability to organise ideas in a clear and concise manner, and communicate them effectively in writing.[4]
Scoring[edit]
The multiple-choice answers (Section 1) are marked by Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing with 1 mark available per question. Final scores are calculated to one decimal place on the TSA scale (running approximately 0–100) using the Rasch statistical technique.
The writing task component of TSA (Section 2) used by the University of Oxford is reviewed by admissions tutors.[5]
An average score is about 60, so around 28 out of 50 raw marks. If you score 70 or above, you will find yourself in the top 10 of candidates – this equates to about 38 out 50. [6]
Timing and results[edit]
The University of Cambridge and The University of Oxford[edit]
For the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, TSA is held in late October/early November as a pre-interview, paper-based test taken at schools, colleges or authorised test centres globally. Results are issued in mid-January of the following year, via Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing’s results online portal.
Usage[edit]
The exact use of results varies between the subjects which use the test, and candidates need to refer to their chosen course for precise details.[5]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Land Economy". Undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ "Courses requiring TSA Oxford : Candidates intending to apply for entry to one of the following courses at the University of Oxford are required to take TSA" (PDF). Admissionstesting.org. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ "UCL EISPS : How to apply". ucl.ac.uk. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) - Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing". Admissionstesting.org. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Scoring and results - TSA Oxford - Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing". Admissionstesting.org. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ "TSA Scoring: What Is A Good TSA Score?". uniadmissions.co.uk. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.