Thinking Skills Assessment: Difference between revisions
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==Timing and results== |
==Timing and results== |
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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. |
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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. |
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PIE!!!!!!!!!!! |
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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. |
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==Research== |
==Research== |
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Revision as of 20:21, 9 March 2012
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.
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.[1]
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 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.
Scoring
The multiple-choice answers are marked by Cambridge Assessment using optical mark recognition. 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.
Research
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.[2]
References
- ^ "Additional work or tests". University of Cambridge Undergraduate Admissions. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ Emery, J.L. "The predictive validity of the Thinking Skills Assessment: a combined analysis of three cohorts" (PDF). UCLES. Retrieved 9 September 2011.