The need for additional methods to identify candidates’ suitability and potential for success in higher education is gaining increasing importance, particularly in response to the widening participation agenda.
Cambridge Assessment has been providing research-led and evidence based solutions for major higher education institutions for over 20 years and is currently developing and delivering carefully-targetted admissions tests to help the selection process. These developments are in response to requests from the higher education institutions.
The tests developed by Cambridge include two distinctive types: Specialist tests and Generic tests.
Specialist Tests
Specialist tests assess the potential the individual has to succeed in the particular subject for which they are applying to study.
For example:
- BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
- English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT)
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) Admissions Test
Generic Tests
Generic tests assess the thinking skills of the individual that can be applied to any subject area.
For example:
- Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
- UniTEST (a joint development between Cambridge Assessment and the Australian Council for Educational Research)
Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP) in Mathematics
The STEP examination is a well-established Mathematics university admissions test, which is used to help select very academically able students for courses which are usually oversubscribed. For further information please see the STEP website.
