by Andy Chamberlain, Head of Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing.
Here are five key points to know about this year’s admissions tests to help ensure your students are registered and prepared.
Some of your students may be taking an admissions test from Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing as part of their university application. This could be for a specific degree course (such as Medicine or Maths) or for a specific institution (see the full list of tests).
- Registration closes on 30 September so make sure your students ask your school’s Exams Officer (if your school is a test centre) or an authorised test centre to register them before that deadline. There is no late entry period this year.
- Some test dates are earlier than in previous years. BMAT and TMUA take place on 18 October 2022. University of Cambridge pre-registration assessments take place on 19 October. University of Oxford Admissions Tests are on 2 November.
- Students in financial need can take the tests for free. If your students are unable to take the tests in your school, authorised test centres typically charge an administration fee on top of any test registration fees. This year eligible UK students can apply for a test voucher code to cover all test fees at British Council test centres in the UK.
- Free preparation materials are available via the Admissions Testing website. Resources include test specifications, sample papers, question and marking guides, and top tips on how to do well. There is no need for students to pay for a preparation course or buy any books.
- Timed exam practice is important as many admissions tests have an element of time pressure. Once students have used the test specification and practice papers to get to grips with the types of questions, they should complete at least one past paper under test conditions. This helps them understand how much time is available for each question.
Admissions tests help level the playing field, allowing for fair comparison of students from all educational backgrounds. So let your students know an admissions test helps them stand out from the crowd. If they have the potential to do well on their chosen course, they will do well in an admissions test.