Significant changes to the University Admissions Assessments

Bewildered by all the changes to University Admissions Assessments?

Wondering how you can give your students the support they need?

Here is a summary of the key changes to the University Admissions Assessments with links to the relevant websites. You will also find some pointers for the support the AMSP offers you and/or your students.

There have been a lot of significant changes to the Admissions Assessments this year. This article gives the position on 15 July 2024.

The main mathematics Admissions Assessments

Several universities either require or encourage students to take an Admissions Assessment for mathematics, computer science, economics and statistics courses.

There are four main assessments:

• Test of Mathematics for University Admissions (TMUA), used by a consortium of five universities
• Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT), now for students applying to Oxford only
• Sixth Term Examination Papers (STEP), used by several universities
• Advanced Extension Award (AEA) used by a small number of universities

The TMUA

The TMUA is now only used by Cambridge (not for Mathematics courses), Durham, Imperial College, LSE and Warwick
Full details, including how to apply for a bursary and accessibility arrangements, can be found on the UAT-UK website.
There are two sittings, one in October and one in January
Students need to register themselves and take the test at a Pearson-VUE test centre
Note that requests for access arrangements must be made by 29 August for the October sitting
This year, the test will be fully online
Content and question style are unchanged
All the past papers are available on the website

The TMUA is based on the AS level Mathematics specification, with the addition of sequences and series and radians (from the full A level). There is a strong emphasis on reasoning and logic and an assumption that students will be more fluent with the vocabulary of logic than is assumed at A level. A very short booklet is available explaining what is expected, although it’s not very student-friendly.

The MAT

Significant changes to all the Oxford Admissions Tests were announced in early June, and full information about the MAT is available here.

Students should only take the MAT if they have applied to Oxford for Mathematics or Computer Science (including all joint honours courses).
It is no longer being used by Imperial or Warwick for their mathematics courses
Students need to register themselves and take the test at a Pearson-VUE centre
The test will be entirely online, and the number and style of questions has changed
Past papers are still excellent preparation, and a sample paper in the new format is now available
The MAT remains free of charge for 2024
Further support and links can be found on the Oxford MAT webpage.

The MAT is based on the AS Mathematics specification, with the addition of sequences and series. A syllabus document is available on the MAT webpage.

STEP

There are no changes for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle.

From the summer of 2024, the exams will be administered by OCR, and students will take the exams in school. The school Examinations Officer will need to apply for the exams on the student’s behalf.

There are two papers: STEP 2 and STEP 3. (STEP 1 was discontinued after 2019, although the past papers are probably an essential part of early preparation.) We strongly recommend the STEP Support Programme website as it provides a structured approach that students can get started on early in year 12.

STEP 2 requires knowledge of the full A level Mathematics specification, plus AS Further Mathematics.

STEP 3 requires additional knowledge of the full A level Further Mathematics specification.

AEA

AEA is administered by Edexcel (Pearson), and students take the exams in school. The school Examinations Officer will need to apply for the exams on the student’s behalf. Unlike the other assessments, the AEA exam attracts UCAS points.

AEA is based on the full specification for A level Mathematics. Papers set before 2019 only have questions on Pure topics.

Who needs what for the mathematics Admissions Assessments

This list is not exhaustive, but we believe we have identified all the courses which require STEP, MAT, TMUA or AEA. This is a changing landscape, and we may well have omitted courses where one of these Admissions Assessments is encouraged. Some websites have not been fully updated yet. Please let us know at [email protected] if you spot any errors or omissions.

Cambridge

Mathematics – STEP 2 and STEP 3 required

Computer Science – TMUA required – must be October sitting (ie pre-interview)

Economics – TMUA required – must be October sitting (ie pre-interview)

Note that a few Cambridge colleges may also require students to sit a short pre-interview test for mathematics: check individual college requirements and note that students do not need to register for these tests.

Oxford

Mathematics, Computer Science (including joint honours) – MAT required

Imperial

Mathematics – TMUA required (late applicants may be given an offer including STEP instead)

Computer Science courses; Economics, Finance and Data Science – TMUA required

October sitting strongly encouraged

Durham

Mathematics – TMUA, MAT** (see note below) or STEP required for students who only have AS Further Mathematics; TMUA, MAT**(see note below) or STEP strongly encouraged for students with the full A level in Further Mathematics, leading to reduced offers.

October sitting is strongly encouraged

Students will also be considered if they take the AEA and Mathematics Challenges and Olympiads.

London School of Economics

Computer Science, Economics – TMUA required

Mathematics – TMUA encouraged

Bath

Mathematics – STEP, MAT**(see note below) or AEA required for students who only have AS Further Mathematics.

Bath no longer gives reduced offers for students who have taken an Admissions Assessment in addition to Further Mathematics.

Lancaster

Mathematics – AEA encouraged

Sheffield

Mathematics – STEP encouraged

Kings College, London

Mathematics – STEP or AEA is required for students who only have AS Further Mathematics.

University College London

Computer Science – some shortlisted candidates may need to take the Special Tertiary Admissions Test

**NB

• not all universities have updated their websites, but the UAT-UK website is clear that the ONLY universities using the TMUA are Cambridge, Durham, Imperial, LSE and Warwick.

• the MAT may only be taken if students are applying to Oxford; it is currently unclear whether or not other universities will be able to access students’ MAT scores. Students should check directly with the relevant universities.

Other STEM Admissions Assessments

Please do not take this list as definitive, but check individual universities and courses carefully.

Oxford and Cambridge have Admissions Assessments for many subjects – see the relevant websites. Oxford is consistent for each course; Cambridge has many variations between colleges for the same course.

Most medical schools require an Admissions Assessment – we understand that this is now the UCAT for all undergraduate courses. UCAT is administered by Pearson-VUE.

The Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT) is NEW this year for Cambridge and Imperial only. It replaces the ENGAA and NSAA at Cambridge and a range of different assessments for engineering and physics courses at Imperial. It is provided by UAT-UK in conjunction with Pearson-VUE, and it has processes and dates similar to the TMUA.

AMSP Support

AMSP offers extensive support to students at all stages of their preparation for Admissions Assessments. For more details, go to our Support for Students in passing the University Admissions Assessments page on our website.

We also provide a range of professional development resources and events nationally and via our network of local Area Coordinators. For more details, go to our Professional Development to assist teachers supporting students with University Admissions Assessments page on our website.