Want to study at Oxford, Cambridge or UCL? Then you might need to take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) test. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
Updated: 20 Jul 2026
As of 2026, universities have stopped using the Thinking Skills Assessment as part of their application process. Some unis have started to use the Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions (TARA) instead.
NEXT: Read more about the Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions (TARA)
The Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) was a test that some students were required to take as part of their university application.
The test measured your critical thinking ability (your ability to understand arguments and apply reason) and your problem-solving ability. It was used it to assess whether you had the skills and abilities needed to succeed on the courses you are applied for.
The test was required for applications to University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and UCL (University College London).
The format, length and scoring of the TSA test varied, depending on which uni you applied to.
For Oxford University, the 2-hour test was split in to two sections:
Section one was the Thinking Skills Assessment part, which tested your problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This section was made up of 50 multiple choice questions and lasted 90 minutes. Each question awarded one mark.
Section two was a writing task, which tested your ability to communicate ideas effectively in writing. This part lasted 30 minutes. This section was not marked with a score, but assessed by the admissions tutor as part of your application.
Tests were conducted at a test centre with pen and paper. Students with a disability were entitled to use a laptop or other assistive devices.
For Oxford University, results were released to candidates in early January.
For Oxford University, you has to be registered as a candidate by a test centre. You can find a list of test centres close to you here.
Once you were registered you would be able to sit the exam at the centre.
For University College London, the process was slightly different. Instead of you registering through a test centre, the university organised everything for you. They would send you an invitation with the details of the date and time of the online test.
There was no official fee from the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing company to take the test, however your local test centre may have charged an admin fee.
The TSA test was been designed to test skills you should already have, and was not subject specific. To prepare, past papers could be found on the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing website.
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